About Us

Who are we?

The Society for Initiatives in Rural Development and Environmental Protection (SIRDEP) is a non-governmental apolitical, and non-lucrative business organization operating in Cameroon with its headquarters in Bamenda, North West Region. SIRDEP was founded in 1992 and later secured official recognition from the state of Cameroon on May 4, 1993. Membership is composed of a multi-disciplinary team of seasoned professionals in development work with advanced training as foresters, agronomists, agro-economists, livestock specialists, rural engineers, sociologists and gender specialists. All the members have established skills and experiences in development with emphasis on project management, capacity building, agriculture/livestock production, knowledge management, and natural resource management. This quality of membership coupled with a well-qualified staff constitute SIRDEP’s greatest asset.

Incidentally, the four founding members (Mbony Wilson, Mbah Grace, Ekwoge Gladys, and Muflam Christopher) worked in the German Technical Assistance (GTZ)-funded project named Promotion of Adapted Farming Systems based on Anima l Traction (PAFSAT) until 1992. At that time the project was phased out and discussions were underway to integrate its realizations and activities into either the North West Development Authority (MIDENO), or the Provincial Delegation of Agriculture for the North West. In response, the four founding members of SIRDEP, who were part of PAFSAT staff, created SIRDEP as an alternative way to render services to the grassroots effectively.

Convinced in their own abilities, the four members took the risk to get SIRDEP functioning at the time when no legal framework governing the creation of NGOs existed in Cameroon. SIRDEP’s creation was therefore linked to the existing Law no. 90/053 of December 19, 1990 bearing on the creation of Associations, to have official recognition of the state of Cameroon given that all NGOs operating in Cameroon at the time had their origin from out of the country.

Despite its small start and the difficulties operating in an unfavorable environment, we have come a long w ay to record big successes, namely: establishing evidence of quality professional service delivery to the grassroots population, community-based organizations, and development organizations; supporting human development and environmental protection; and creating employment opportunities and wealth.

SIRDEP is a learning organization whose work lays emphasis on rural development, responding to the fact that close to 80% of the active population of Cameroon is involved in agriculture. It is also estimated that close to 70% of the rural population lives below the poverty line, reason for which SIRDEP targets individual farmer /groups, rural and poor urban populations, family units, rural communities with local councils, NGOs, governmental organizations, and other stakeholders having an interest in rural development.

Throughout its history, SIRDEP has approached development with a heavy emphasis on participation, fostering meaningful partnership, which prepare its clients to gain autonomy and achieve sustainable development within their environment.

Our mission

SIRDEP is committed to improving the wellbeing of its beneficiaries in Cameroon by building on their potentials through innovative strategies..

Our Vision

SIRDEP becomes a sustainable development organization widely recognized and impacting the socio-economic and environmental conditions of communities and providing quality services to other stakeholders

Strategic Objectives for 2026-2028

• SIRDEP will seek to achieve the following strategic objectives during the period:
  SO 1: To alleviate hardship among the target population within the context of the humanitarian crisis in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon
• SO2: To contribute to the protection of target population
• SO 3: To empower the target population build resilience to climate change and sustainably manage their environment
• SO 4: To strengthen SIRDEP’s internal systems and structure


• Experienced: One of the oldest indigenous NGOs in the Cameroon with a wealth of experience, we continue to evolve our services and improve our impact in development work.
• Credible: we have a well-documented history of delivering our services with integrity and effectiveness.
• Accountable: our credibility is linked directly to take responsibility for our actions. We are committed to continually implementing mechanisms to maintain high accountability quality.
• Quality services: Our long-term viability is linked to our capacity to deliver services and advice that meet the specific needs of our beneficiaries and value to their mission.
• Capacity Building: Facilitating a learning environment and experience base for our beneficiaries and partners is a pillar of delivering quality services.
• Competent: Our competent members are our greatest and we seek only the finest, most engaged development professionals.
• Multi-disciplinary: The nature of development work requires a diverse approach and the skills sets to address a wide number of social, economic and environmental issues, SIRDEP has a multidisciplinary team of experts.
• Collaborative: Collaborative is at the core of our approach to development. We recognize that our ability to positively influence partners and beneficiaries is contingent on their active participation which is part of the solution.
• Proactive: we work in a dynamic sector with ever-changing trends; our ability is to recognize needs in a proactive and flexible manner has been a cornerstone to our long-term sustainability.
• Innovative: Difficult problems require innovative solutions; we are continually assessing innovative practices and approaches and incorporating them into our service delivery methods.
• Sustainable: We have a well-documented capacity to navigate and succeed in the midst of turbulent economic, political, and social times, we are relentlessly seeking to build a more autonomous model for service delivery.