SEKAKOH held its 2026 Annual General Assembly in Ntui from 17 to 20 September 2026, bringing together Board members, management, staff and other participants to review the organisation’s work, discuss emerging challenges and agree on priorities for the period ahead.

The gathering provided an opportunity to reflect on SEKAKOH’s conservation and community-development activities, assess its institutional progress and strengthen the role of the Board in fundraising, partnerships, communication and strategic support.

The Assembly also created space for open discussion on the changing funding environment facing local conservation organisations, the need for stronger donor relationships and the importance of maintaining regular communication between Board members and the Executive Team.

Reviewing SEKAKOH’s Conservation Work

SEKAKOH currently works across four key conservation landscapes in Cameroon: Kom-Wum Forest in the North West Region, Ebo Forest in the Littoral Region, Mpem and Djim National Park in the Centre Region, and Bénoué National Park in the North Region.

The organisation’s work is guided by four strategic pillars: Knowledge Valorization, Ecosystem Health, Community Development and Institutional Resilience.

During the AGM, participants reviewed ongoing and recent activities in wildlife monitoring, law-enforcement support, community livelihoods, agroforestry, forest monitoring, environmental education and institutional strengthening.

SEKAKOH’s recent work includes the deployment of camera traps, support for anti-poaching patrols, community nurseries, participatory land-use planning, sustainable grazing initiatives, beekeeping and community-based forest monitoring using digital tools.

These interventions reflect SEKAKOH’s approach of combining biodiversity conservation with practical support to the communities living around important ecosystems.

Keeping Communities at the Centre

A recurring message throughout the Assembly was that conservation efforts are more sustainable when local communities are fully involved.

SEKAKOH’s mission places community participation, research and training at the centre of biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural-resource management.

Participants reviewed examples from Mpem and Djim, where farmers and grazers have been involved in participatory land-use planning and pasture management, as well as activities supporting beekeeping and improved agricultural practices.

In Ebo, recent activities have included agroforestry, community forest monitoring and livelihood support intended to reduce pressure on forest resources and strengthen local participation in conservation.

The Assembly reaffirmed the importance of continuing to link conservation objectives with community needs and sustainable livelihoods.

Responding to a More Competitive Funding Environment

Fundraising and partnership development formed a major part of the discussions.

Participants noted that local conservation organisations are operating in an increasingly competitive funding environment, with fewer opportunities and growing pressure on smaller grants.

The Assembly agreed that SEKAKOH should continue strengthening proposal quality while also investing more deliberately in long-term donor relationships, partnership development and direct engagement with prospective funders.

SEKAKOH already works with a range of partners and funders, including the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, Global Nature Watch (Global Forest Watch), New England Biolabs Foundation, Global Greengrants Fund, Bristol Zoological Society and PPI/IUCN France, among others.

Discussions also highlighted the need to progressively increase access to multi-year and institutional funding, which can support organisational stability beyond short project cycles.

A Stronger Role for the Board

One of the clearest outcomes of the General Assembly was the need for Board members to play a more active role between annual meetings.

Participants discussed how Board members can support SEKAKOH by using their professional and personal networks to create introductions, identify opportunities and open doors to institutions, companies, universities, development agencies, public authorities and other potential partners.

The meeting emphasised that Board members do not need to manage technical fundraising processes themselves. Their role can begin with making an introduction or identifying a possible opportunity, after which the Fundraising and Partnership Lead, working with the Executive Team, can follow up.

The Assembly encouraged members to make specific, measurable commitments and to report back on progress within agreed timelines.

Turning Networks into Practical Opportunities

SEKAKOH has continued to strengthen its institutional presence within national and international conservation networks.

Its current positioning includes the Alliance for the Conservation of Great Apes in Central Africa, UNEP, UNCCD, GEF CSO Network, Global Rewilding Alliance, Nature Needs Half Coalition and ICCA Consortium.

Participants agreed that network membership should translate into practical value through learning, technical collaboration, funding intelligence, joint initiatives and stronger partnerships.

The Assembly therefore encouraged a more deliberate effort to convert institutional memberships into concrete conservation and partnership opportunities.

Improving Communication and Visibility

Communication was another important area of discussion.

Participants acknowledged that SEKAKOH has accumulated substantial field experience but needs to communicate its work more consistently to partners, communities and the wider public.

The meeting encouraged stronger use of the organisation’s website, social media platforms, Google visibility tools, photographs, field stories and project updates.

Communication is already recognised under SEKAKOH’s institutional-resilience pillar, alongside fundraising, governance, staff development and organisational capacity.

BoD members were encouraged to support this effort by engaging more regularly with SEKAKOH’s online platforms and helping to share verified information about the organisation’s work.

Strengthening Institutional Resilience

The General Assembly also reflected on the importance of building a stronger and more resilient organisation.

SEKAKOH’s long-term strategy recognises the need for stronger systems, skilled personnel, multi-year partnerships, unrestricted funding and greater institutional autonomy.

Recent institutional support, particularly from the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, has already contributed to important improvements, including office development, staffing and operational capacity.

Participants agreed that these gains should be consolidated through stronger internal systems, continued staff development and diversified funding.

Looking Ahead

By the close of the SEKAKOH Annual General Assembly 2026, participants had moved beyond reviewing past activities to identifying practical areas for action.

These included stronger donor engagement, improved Board participation, greater use of personal and institutional networks, better communication, closer follow-up of partnership opportunities and continued support to community-led conservation.

The Assembly also reinforced the need for regular communication between Board members and the Executive Team rather than waiting until the next AGM to discuss emerging challenges or opportunities.

The meeting closed with a shared understanding that SEKAKOH’s next phase of growth will depend on stronger collaboration and support across all levels of the organisation.

As SEKAKOH continues its work across Cameroon’s key biodiversity landscapes, the focus remains the same: protecting biodiversity while supporting the people and communities whose lives are closely linked to these ecosystems.

SEKAKOH — Living in Harmony with Nature.