Abstract

NGOs constitute an essential part of civil society and they have the potential to play key roles in resolving conflicts and restoring civil society. NGOs can support to form well-knit local infrastructures or peace constituencies comprising of people from different sectors of civil society whose aim is to attain sustainable peace and whose activities are based on long term commitment.

The main objective of this study was to investigate the role of NGOs in the management of the Anglophone conflict. The study makes use of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, the Relative Deprivation Theory and the Human Needs Theory. The survey research design was used for this study. The sample size consists of 60 respondents. Questionnaire and interview was used to collect data from respondents. Descriptive statistics were used for data analyses. Findings indicates that Findings indicates that NGOs in Cameroon especially the have hastily gained an international reputation due to the political conflict; they became the eyes and ears of the world, NGOs provide a deep access into local environments where conflict is serious. Findings indicate that the Cameroon government collaborate to a very little extent with NGOs as far as the Anglophone conflict is concern.

Human rights NGOs are highly unpopular with politicians in Cameroon because they demanded observation of the rule of law as well as respect for human rights, which those who were found in breach of did not like. The State does not tolerate independent civil activity. Findings also, indicate that the factor affecting the sustainability of the NGOs according to the interviews is the issue of funding.

Across the respondents of NGOs many challenges have been highlighted. These can be placed under three broad rubrics i) financial, ii) environmental and iii) challenges associated with migration, brain drain and skills flight. Under the first rubric, NGOs has been finding it difficult to be well sustained within the context of the global economic crisis whose effects are being felt in the donor countries. This study had the following recommendations: In order to promote and protect human rights, there is need for the NGOs and the government to make a shift towards working as partners in development.

Although on the one hand government wants to control the functioning of NGOs, realistically it needs NGOs to perform the function that they are unable to. In order for the NGOs and government to complement each other, the political hegemony of the regime must be weakened. In that case, the NGOs will be willing and able to engage into more adversarial confrontation with the state, thereby creating a better relationship between the institutions.

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