IRESCO is a non-governmental organization, created in 1993 by a group of multi-disciplinary researchers who shared a common interest in contributing to development in Cameroon and beyond. The organization received official recognition of its NGO status from the Cameroon government in 1995. IRESCO's mission is research and studies in the areas of social science and behavioral change to promote development efforts in Cameroon and throughout Africa. IRESCO seeks to improve development efforts by contributing empirically-based information and insight so that development interventions may have a more significant impact on the African population.

The mission of IRESCO is to undertake research in the areas of social and behavioral sciences to promote development efforts in Cameroon and throughout Africa. IRESCO seeks to improve development efforts by contributing empirically-based information and insight so that development interventions may be designed and implemented in a more effective and efficient manner to have a significant impact on the African population.

IRESCO is primarily involved in research to design and plan appropriate health interventions for Cameroon. The strategic areas of IRESCO interventions revolve around research and IEC although research dominates the overall proportion of projects. Research activities include project and program evaluation (planning, monitoring, and evaluation), quantitative and qualitative studies (KAP studies, opinion surveys, and socio-anthropological studies) and market research (socio-economic indicators, consumption habits, and the effectiveness of distribution networks).

IEC activities include the development, production, and dissemination of educational materials and the utilization of communication as a means of promoting behavioral change. Although IRESCO currently provides assistance to the initial phase of project formulation and design, all senior and mid-level management staff mentioned in their interviews the desire to expand IRESCO’s scope to include project implementation and management based upon the results of their research, that is, utilizing their research to better design, implement, and evaluate actual IRESCO development projects in the field.

The SFPS Project through the operations research component (SFPS/OR) and IEC component (SFPS/IEC) plans to support IRESCO in its research endeavors and IEC initiatives. Collaboration in the past year has contributed to train two IRESCO staff in OR methodologies as well as to conduct two studies.

In the future, SFPS/OR in collaboration with other donor partners may assist IRESCO in the development of a long-term strategic research plan, the strengthening of internet connectivity, and the upgrading of computer equipment. The IEC component of SFPS will seek to broaden IRESCO's research portfolio including specific multi-site research protocol development on mass media exposure, health service utilization, source of referral to services, and community mobilization techniques. These activities are a major part of IRESCO's ongoing work and as such will have great impact on the growth and development of the organization.

Contact Information:

Institute for Research and Behavioral Studies (IRESCO)
P.O. Box 2825
Douala, Cameroon
Phone: 237.21.41.33

Executive Secretary: Claude Cheta

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