Cameroon: 60% gap in funding for education is putting girls at risk

Buea, Cameroon, March 2026 — In the Anglophone regions of Cameroon, a staggering 60% funding gap for education is putting the lives and futures of thousands of girls at serious risk. Years of armed conflict, school closures, and shrinking humanitarian budgets have created a perfect storm that is robbing girls of their right to learn — and exposing them to forced marriage, exploitation, and abuse.

A crisis decades in the making

Since 2016, the conflict between government forces and separatist groups in Cameroon's North-West and South-West regions has forced the closure of over 4,000 schools. More than 700,000 children have been out of school at one point or another during the crisis, with girls disproportionately affected.

Despite the scale of need, international funding for education in Cameroon remains critically low. Humanitarian education appeals for 2026 are currently underfunded by 60%, leaving organizations like HopeAid struggling to keep temporary learning spaces open, train teachers, and distribute learning materials.

Girls bear the brunt

In crisis settings, girls are 2.5 times more likely to be out of school than boys. When schools close or become unsafe, families often prioritize boys' education or pressure girls into early marriage as a coping mechanism. In the affected regions of Cameroon, reports of child marriages have increased sharply since the conflict began.

HopeAid's field teams have documented alarming trends: girls as young as 13 being forced into marriages, children being recruited by armed groups, and families selling daughters into domestic servitude to survive. Without access to safe learning environments, girls lose not just their education but their childhood.

"Every day a girl is out of school is a day closer to losing her future. We cannot let funding gaps decide the fate of an entire generation."

HopeAid's response

Despite the funding shortfall, HopeAid continues to operate 45 temporary learning spaces across the North-West and South-West regions, reaching over 6,200 children — 60% of whom are girls. Our accelerated education programs help children who have missed years of schooling catch up and reintegrate into the formal education system.

Our programs also provide psychosocial support, child protection services, and community awareness campaigns against early marriage and gender-based violence. We work closely with local communities, including religious and traditional leaders, to shift attitudes and keep girls in school.

However, without urgent additional funding, these programs are at risk of scaling back or closing entirely. The humanitarian community needs an immediate infusion of resources to prevent this crisis from deepening further.

How you can help

The situation in Cameroon demands urgent international attention and funding. Your support can help HopeAid keep schools open, protect vulnerable girls, and provide the education that is their best pathway out of crisis.

Donate today to help ensure that girls in Cameroon are not left behind. Every contribution — no matter the size — helps keep a girl safe, learning, and hopeful for her future.

Tags: Education Cameroon HopeAid Field Stories