Overview

Centre pour l’Environnement et le Développement (CED) is an independent, non-governmental organisation founded in Cameroon in 1994 in response to forest management crises and environmental pressures in the early 1990s. It works to build a society where natural resource governance supports long-term social, ecological and economic sustainability in Central Africa.

Mission and focus areas

CED’s mission centres on protecting the rights, interests, culture and aspirations of local and indigenous communities in the forests of Cameroon and the wider Congo Basin by promoting environmental justice and sustainable natural resource management. Its work addresses land and forest governance, the environmental and social impacts of extractive industries, climate change, biodiversity, community land rights, and gender and youth issues. Through advocacy, research and capacity development, CED contributes to improved policy frameworks and practices that align with sustainability and community-centred resource governance.

Structure and governance

CED is headquartered in Yaoundé, Cameroon and functions as a non-political, independent organisation. It was founded by a group of Cameroonian and international individuals and has evolved a structured governance and capacity-building framework over time, including a formal gender policy and partnerships with civil society, community groups and international actors. Its network extends support to NGOs and associations across the Congo Basin, reflecting a collaborative governance and operational model.

Programs and offerings

CED delivers a range of programmes and resources, including participatory mapping, legal and policy analysis, research publications, and community training. Its outputs include reports on forestry, extractive industries and environmental justice, as well as tools for land rights advocacy and sustainable resource management. The organisation also disseminates insights through its online library, cartographic resources and multimedia content, enabling practitioners to access evidence-based materials for advocacy, policy engagement and implementation of sustainable practices.

Mission

To contribute to the protection of the rights, interests, culture and aspirations of local and indigenous communities in the forests of Central Africa.