BOX 10 (continued) Although the project is still under execution, some key changes have been observed in the communities. In terms of women’s empowerment, an emphasis has been put on the involvement of community women in sustainable livelihoods activities generally undertaken by men. In a community where women are not involved in animal healthcare, men and women can now sit together to attend workshops and practical training sessions for animal healthcare. Moreover, trained women are more eager to put in practice the acquired knowledge. As in most indigenous communities, women are considered as the guardians of traditional knowledge on medicinal plants. Their expertise is commonly required for the documentation of traditional knowledge and practices for the conservation of biodiversity used in human and/or animal healthcare and related ailments treated or relieved by such herbs/plants. The project is building the capacity of women to apply their existing knowledge in conjunction with new skills and knowledge, and in doing so to have a positive impact on the livelihoods and welfare of the community at large. The project is helping to preserve traditional knowledge and to pass this on to younger generations, thus building their capacity for forest management using the best of indigenous and conventional expertise. Two other projects (CMR/SGP/OP4/RAF/07/01 or CMR/SGP/OP4/RAF/07/02) with indigenous communities are building capacity in other 68 livelihood activities: through these projects, Bakola and Bagyeli indigenous peoples, and especially those who are gatherers and hunters, have been involved in agriculture for subsistence or for income generation, and in beekeeping. The Government of Cameroon plans to implement a 5-year project entitled the Cameroon Millennium Villages Project (CMVP) with the financial support of the Government of Japan and in partnership with the United Nations system. This project intends to improve the living conditions of the target population in 2 clusters of Cameroon by offering them a range of supports designed to contribute to the achievement of the MDGs. The focus areas are Meyomessi and its surrounding areas, situated in the Forest Region. Particular attention will be given to the Baka indigenous peoples. A GEF regional project entitled conservation of trans-boundary biodiversity in the minkebe – odzala - dja interzone in Gabon, Congo and Cameroon will contribute to support this process. The project will assist the three governments in designing and implementing a coherent land-use plan that designates protected areas, permanent forest and rural development areas, building the capacity to control resource use, to monitor trends in biodiversity and ecosystem functions, through an effective law enforcement system, collaborative management schemes with the private sector and communities, including, in particular, indigenous people, and implementation of a cost-effective monitoring system. Source: UNDP Cameroon M A R G I N A L I S E D M I N O R I T I E S I N D E V E LO P M E N T P R O G R A M M I N g