In Cameroon’s Far North Region, a cooperative named Walla Bidou, meaning “No Hunger,” began with a bold mission: to fight food insecurity while creating income opportunities for local families through pig farming and the sale of fried pork.
For four years, the cooperative became a source of livelihood, food, and hope for its members. However, when a severe swine disease outbreak struck, operations came to a standstill. Livestock losses deeply affected the group, threatening the progress they had worked so hard to build.
Just when the future seemed uncertain, support arrived through a 2 000 000 Francs CFA grant from Global Health Systems Solutions (GHSS) under the Education and Economic Empowerment Project (EEE-P), with support from the Mastercard Foundation. This timely intervention helped the cooperative restart its pig farming activities and, even more importantly, encouraged a strategic shift into fish farming.
That decision changed everything.
Today, Walla Bidou has transformed adversity into opportunity. With thriving fishponds, a recovering pig herd, and a more diversified source of income, the cooperative has strengthened its resilience and improved food availability in the community. The initiative has also created seven new jobs for young people, offering not only employment but also practical skills in aquaculture and entrepreneurship.
Beyond income generation, the cooperative is contributing to broader food security by increasing access to affordable protein through pork and fish. It is also fostering social cohesion, restoring confidence among members, and inspiring others in the region to embrace sustainable and innovative livelihood models.
Walla Bidou’s journey is a powerful reminder that with the right support, communities can recover, adapt, and thrive. Its name now reflects more than a dream — it reflects a lived reality.
Walla Bidou: “No Hunger” is no longer just a name. It is a promise fulfilled.
