Key data for Cameroon

NCI28th HRCI40th HANCI36th
HANCI-Africa compares 45 African countries for their performance on 22 indicators of political commitment to reduce hunger and undernutrition. All the countries compared in the index have high rates of hunger and undernutrition. The comparative approach of the index means that country scores are calculated in relation to the political commitment of the other countries in the index.
Existing rates of: Stunting: 28.9% Wasting: 4.3% Proportion of population underweight: 4.3% Source: Government of Cameroon (DHS,2018)

Strong Performance

  • Cameroon has introduced a multisectoral and multistakeholder policy coordination mechanism to support delivery of the National Nutrition Policy/Strategy.
  • Policymakers in Cameroon benefit from regular nutrition surveys that are statistically representative at national level. The last survey was published in 2018.
  • The Government of Cameroon promotes complementary feeding practices.
  • In Cameroon, constitutional protection of the right to social security is strong.

Areas for improvement

  • Spending on agriculture (6% of public spending in 2018), does not meet government commitments set out in the African Union’s Maputo Declaration (10% of public spending).
  • Cameroon’s spending in its health sector (3.1% of public spending in 2017) does not fully meet (15%) commitments set out in the Abuja Declaration.
  • The Government of Cameroon has not ensured tenure security for rural populations. Land titling is weak and land markets do not function well.
  • In Cameroon, law does neither give women economic rights or agricultural land access rights equal to men. This increases women and children’s vulnerability to hunger and undernutrition.
  • Cameroon does not yet have a National Nutrition Policy/Strategy.
  • The Government of Cameroon has achieved two high doses of vitamin A supplementation for only 47% of children in 2018.
  • Weak access to improved sanitation facilities (39.1% in 2017) obstructs better hunger and nutrition outcomes.
  • In Cameroon, constitutional protection of the right to food is weak.
  • Social safety nets in Cameroon are basic and only cover few risks for a limited number of beneficiaries.

Hunger Reduction Commitment Index (HRCI)

Public Spending Score Year HRCI rank of 45
Public spending on agriculture as share of total public spending
?
6%201816th
Public spending on health as share of total public spending
?
3.1%2017Joint 43rd
Policies Score Year HRCI rank of 45
Access to land (security of tenure)
?
Weak2019Joint 43rd
Access to agricultural research and extension services
?
Moderate2019Joint 21st
Civil registration system — coverage of live births
?
66.1%201426th
Functioning of social protection systems
?
Weak2018Joint 8th
Laws Score Year HRCI rank of 45
Level of constitutional protection of the right to food
?
Weak2019Joint 29th
Equality of women’s access to agricultural land
?
Not in Law2019Joint 39th
Equality of women’s economic rights
?
Not in Law2019Joint 16th
Constitutional right to social security
?
Yes2013Joint 1st

Nutrition Commitment Index (NCI)

Public Spending Score Year NCI rank of 45
Separate budget for nutrition
?
Sectoral only2019Joint 16th
Policies Score Year NCI rank of 45
Vitamin A supplementation coverage for children
?
47%201832nd
Government promotes complementary feeding
?
Yes2013Joint 1st
Population with access to an improved water source
?
76.5%201730th
Population with access to improved sanitation
?
39.1%201719th
Health care visits for pregnant women
?
87%201833rd
Nutrition features in national development policy
?
Moderate2010-202030th
National Nutrition Policy/Strategy
?
No2019Joint 33rd
Multisector and multistakeholder policy coordination
?
Yes2019Joint 1st
Time bound nutrition targets
?
Yes2019Joint 1st
National nutrition survey in last 3 years
?
Yes2018Joint 1st
Laws Score Year NCI rank of 45
Enshrine ICBMS in domestic law
?
Many Aspects Enshrined2019Joint 13th