Cameroon has strong potential for renewable energy, particularly solar and biomass. Yet access to electricity remains limited, especially in rural areas of the North, where electrification rates fall below 22% and over 95% of households still rely on wood for cooking.
In Poli, a small town tucked away in the vast savannahs of northern Cameroon, life used to slow down as soon as the sun set. With no access to electricity, households were plunged into darkness, facing uncertainty, insecurity, and daily limitations.
For 55-year-old mother Fadimatou, those dark nights were a source of constant worry. "Before, the children struggled to study", she recalls. "We couldn't see what was going on outside. And when bandits came at night, we had no light – only fear, with no sense of security."
Thanks to PUERTEM project, implemented by UNESCO with support from the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, Fadimatou and 3,000 other households received solar kits designed to reduce reliance on firewood, improve living conditions and help protect ecosystems.
The solar panel I received has changed everything. Now our home is lit at night. The children can study and read the Quran without any difficulty. And when we hear noises outside, we're no longer afraid. We can see clearly, and with light comes a sense of security.
In Poli, the PUERTEM project has brought about a profound human and social transformation by restoring dignity, protecting ecosystems, and empowering communities to thrive in harmony with nature. Women, who once had to travel long distances to gather firewood, can now dedicate that time to other productive or educational activities.
In 2025, as the PUERTEM project entered its second phase, the UNESCO Regional Office in Yaoundé strengthened its partnership with India by hosting the Indian High Commissioner to Cameroon, who praised the transformative potential of the initiative.
I believe this project marks the start of a development revolution. It opens up many new opportunities in agriculture, infrastructure, and food processing, connecting these communities to the world.
For Fadimatou, the future now feels more secure. The solar panel doesn't just light a bulb – it brought hope into her home.
Our nights are no longer filled with darkness. We can see. We can read. We are safe. And above all, we feel valued.
Since its launch in 2020, the PUERTEM project has been a resounding success, achieving a completion rate of 207.85%, with over 12,000 beneficiaries, compared to the 6,000 originally planned.
PUERTEM has expanded to the far north of Cameroon, where the town of Zina, with a population of nearly 40,000, is also lit up once night falls.
