Abstract

This study seeks to bring out the role played by the Civil Society in poverty alleviation in Cameroon and particularly the case of SOWEDA in Buea. In a nutshell, it also examines the type of projects carried out by SOWEDA and how involved is the local population in the alleviation of poverty in their community.

The research was conducted with the use of primary and secondary data. Questionnaires were used and through this, it was found out that SOWEDA in collaboration with the government, has gone a long way in ensuring that poverty is alleviated but not as much as it ought to, due to inadequate finances and wrong allocation of development projects. In this bid, some recommendations were suggested at the end of this work that could help solve the problems.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background Of Study

Africa is a continent composed of many sub–Saharan African countries. These African countries are mostly developing countries, which are experiencing a rapid increase in population growth outweighing the average income growth rate. This increase in population has led to a corresponding increase in the demand for basic urban service and other human necessities so as to live a better life. A majority of the developing countries population are unemployed and affecting their living standard thus resulting in poverty.

The period 1929, was a period where the world experienced an economic crisis (that is the Great Depression in 1929) which began in America and soon spread to other countries. During this period many countries were confronted with several economic difficulties. Nevertheless, the World economic crisis or recession that started in 1986 did not spare Cameroon.

The period 1960s, 1970s, and early 1980s witnessed rapid economic growth and this ended in 1980. During this period of economic growth, Cameroon had a growth of 7.5% and a favorable balance of trade and payment. The level of unemployment was quite low and the standard of living was high.

The situation changed dramatically after 1986 when the economic crisis set in. In 1990, Cameroon witnessed an economic crisis where the money in circulation dropped, unemployment rose sharply and the cost of living increased and this provoked a corresponding fall in the standard of living. There were some indications of the crisis, as the high rate of unemployment; the unemployment rate in Cameroon in 2006 was 10.6percent, reduction of salaries, increase in crime wave and social insecurity have made Cameroonians live in misery and widespread poverty.

The rich nations of the world through international organizations like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) imposed a system of Structural Adjustment Programme to developing countries like Cameroon for financial assistance. In the process of adjusting the economy structurally so as to obtain financial assistance from outside, the government of Cameroon instead created economic problems like unemployment. All these condemned thousands of families to misery and poverty. The problem of poverty has been complicated by inflation (Enow Botel, 2008). With all of these issues, the government is putting so much effort to combat these situations.

Despite the effort of the government and the market sector, poverty has been increasing at an alarming and unbearable rate. In this respect, the World Bank (1992:1) has estimated that about half of the population of Ethiopia lives in poverty. Researchers recently warned that, if the trend of poverty in the country continues unabated, it may eventually threaten the very survival of the country itself.

In this respect, Aklilu and Dessaleyn, (2008) have stated that,” we believe that poverty, with all its attendant ills, is the most pressing problem facing countries and what is therefore urgently required is a sound and integrated poverty reduction strategy with a firm and abiding commitment by the government to ensure its successful implementation. If we fail to address this deep-rooted problem, and poverty continues to grow through society, as we believe it is going at present, it may lead to profound social dislocation, unrest and may eventually threaten the survival of the country itself.

Seitz (1995:9-21) has demonstrated that neither the government nor the market alone can be relied on to help citizens to alleviate their poverty and to achieve development. It was noted that, though economic growth is necessary, it is not sufficient to bring about improvement to human wellbeing. As a result, the emerging alternative is a civil society approach.

The emergence of civil society organizations as an approach was to see that they could better improve human wellbeing, regarding the numerous societal ills, the government alone cannot single-handedly solve the public problems. Civil Society Organizations generally participate in development projects and especially in regions where government presence is weak.

Civil Society in Cameroon became quite vocal in the 1990s and was bent on opening and expanding the political space. Various groups and organizations thirsted for freedom, injustice, and good governance. The initial group was made up of students and workers unions, later traditional societies then emerged in the names of Takembeng and Anlu and were quite instrumental during the civil disobedience campaign, and the post-October 1992 election results.

As a matter of fact, democracy in Cameroon since 1990 has gone only as far as the political ritual of holding elections, all of which have been marked by gross irregularities and blatant disregard of the fundamental principles of democratic electioneering. NYAMNJOH, 1999 ; ( Mbuagbo and Robert, 2004)

Furthermore, religious groups and organizations also became vibrant and vocal elements of Civil Society and also Cameroon Bar Associations did not remain numb in the search for democratic space.

The roots of Civil Society in Cameroon in the 1990s are many and can be appreciated under economic, social, and political rubrics. Economically, the situation in Cameroon was bad and was aptly captured by the headline in “La Nouvelle Expression, February 24-27, 1995. Furthermore, Takougang and Kriager1998 also provided very illuminating figures from General Agreement on Tariffs (GATT) Text on Cameroon.

According to them, real gross domestic product (GDP) per capita rose from US$500 in 1970 to a peak near US$200 in 1986 but then fell back to US&500 by 1994. While there was a 40% drop in the volume of petroleum exports between 1990 and 1993, Cameroonians productivity was the worst among 41 African countries from which statistics were available.

Socially, unemployment was near astronomical figures. University and professional, school graduates could hardly get jobs, and moreover, Cameroonians were deported from Gabon and felt more frustrated in Cameroon as they remained idle, causing untold misery to themselves and their families, increasing the rate of poverty in the country.

Politically, the Cameroon of 1990 was pegged on divide and rule. The net effect was that the Cameroon society from the height of the state-level appeared to be people exclusively by a multitude of private individuals chosen for their loyalty to the state rather than on merit. The Beti ethnic group from which the president comes occupied almost all the important positions in the government. (Poggi 1978; Ndembiyembe 1997).

The situation became very positive for the emergence of civil society when absolute monarchical rural is arbitrary. Also, authoritarian regimes in depoliticizing as well as atomizing their respective society gave rise to civil society. Here the civil society designs itself to change government policies (Holm et al, 1996: O’Donnell and Schmitter, 1991) The Cameroon situation in the 1990s illustrates all the seeds that are necessary for civil society to germinate.

Taking the case of SOWEDA, a CSO’s created by a presidential decree of 17 December 1987. The southwest development authority (SOWEDA) is parastatal cooperation set up by presidential decree to serve as an overseer in identifying and implementing government programs aimed at improving the economic and social development of the people of the South West Region.

The main activities of the authority are geared towards raising the standards of living of the population, through the development of its agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors, improvement of rural infrastructures, provision of loans, reinforcement of capacities of government services, councils cooperatives, CSO’s and communities whose knowledge is crucial for rural development.

SOWEDA as an apex structure creates projects under its supervision to ensure that prescribed activities are carried out in partnership with state institutions, NGO’s and CSO’s. Presently SOWEDA is executing two projects that are; the livestock and fisheries development project and the RUMPI Area Participatory Development Project. These projects were identified and formulated by SOWEDA.

1.2 Problem Statement

The role and importance of local community-based voluntary associations NGO’s government organizations such as SOWEDA and their studies on poverty alleviation and development have been underlined by different authors looking at the difficulties faced by the organizations.

In this regard, Fowler (1996:39-40) has asserted that CBOs, with traditional roots, are more effective in realizing sustainable development. Similarly, Gardner and Lewis, (1996:94) have argued that projects are often most successful when they work through pre-existing social structures and institutions.

However, the last decades of the 20th century witnessed debates over the role of citizens in societal transformation in Cameroon particularly and Africa as a whole after the end of the cold war and the failure of Africa totalitarian states to provide minimum social-economic, and political resources to their citizens. Questions have been pivoted around what strategies to use in solving the citizen’s problems.

Today, the adverse impact of poverty is evident in every society. Reasons why some international donors and NGOs, have set up special funds to alleviate poverty in sub-Saharan African countries where the rate is assumed to be high. But the question is; Are these organizations successful in the poverty and development campaigns?

Cameroon with its consequences of the economic crisis saw the emergence and benefited from the evolution of civil society organizations and their activities, CSOs are therefore out to promote development in the nation, bringing total change through their activities they carry such as poverty reduction, environmental protection just to mention a few. The CSOs with its program have some limitations.

Nevertheless, the activities of CSOs and specifically SOWEDA in alleviating poverty in the Buea municipality have been very immense since the creation of the organization. But despite the numerous efforts put in by SOWEDA, poverty is still at an increasing rate in this municipality.

There is, however, a shortage of food supply to meet up with the growing population of students and immigrants. Also, there is a lack of basic social necessities, a lack of constant flow of water, poor farm-to-market roads, lack of markets. For example, the Molyko community does not have a market despite the concentration of people in that locality. In a nutshell, the emergence of a strong Civil Society in Cameroon after the economic crisis of the 1990s gave rise to many Civil Society organizations;

What then is the impact of this new sector of the society (SOWEDA) in poverty alleviation and the development of communities such as Buea?

What challenges does the Civil Society (SOWEDA) face in carrying out its function of poverty alleviation in Buea?

How can the life of the people of Buea be improved by the Civil Society (SOWEDA)?

1.3 Objectives of the Study

This section is divided into two sets that is; the main objective and specific objective of the research study.

1.3.1 Main Objective

To assess the role of SOWEDA in poverty alleviation in Buea municipality.

1.3.2 Specific Objectives

1. To identify the effort and difficulties of SOWEDA in financing their projects.
2. To examine the relationship between this establishment and the local people in alleviating poverty.
3. To examine the role of SOWEDA in poverty alleviation.
4. To assess the participation of the local people and the establishment in poverty alleviation.
5. Making appropriate policy recommendations.