1. DEFENCE SPEECH
The President of Jury,
Distinguished Members of Jury,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Evening.
2. TOPIC:
‘Decentralization and Sustainable Local Development in
Cameroon: The Case of the Fundong Council’.
For many decades, decentralization and local development have been
encouraged by many African countries including Cameroon as a means
for generating a dynamic approach to development by including local
stakeholders and beneficiaries in project development and
implementation.
3. This is based on the premise that decentralized governance provides a
structural arrangement and a level playing field for stakeholders and
players to promote peace, democracy and development.
4. Figure 1: The Virtuous Circle of Effective Democratic Sub-national Government
•local political processes
•wide participation
•opportunities for direct
democracy
•accountability mechanisms
•Significant tasks
•Sufficient resources •Capacity
•Autonomy
•Central government backing
•Good central-local relations
including a civil society capable of
engaging with local government
governmentsocit
5. Generally, the study intended to analyse the
performance of the decentralization policy in
terms of effectiveness in the delivery of services
deemed necessary by the local population of
Fundong. The study also hoped to highlight
inadequacies which could be addressed to
improve performances and lead to development.
6. More specifically, the study aimed
at;
•Examining the legal and institutional framework of
decentralization in Cameroon.
•Analysing the role of the different stakeholders in
Cameroon and Fundong in particular.
•Assessing the extent to which the results of
decentralization have been felt so far in Fundong.
7. To achieve these objectives the study
analysed the performance of
decentralization from 2004 to 2012 while
considering 1996 as the year that the
current form of decentralization is based
on
8. This study is conceived and built on the
hypothesis that when decentralization is
conceived, planned, implemented and
sustained as a structural arrangement to
support and facilitate the involvement of the
local population in the process of their own
development, it stands strong chances of
promoting sustainable development.
9. This means that the decentralization policy can
lead to sustainable development because,
through participatory management, the
grassroots citizens develop a sense of
ownership of the resultant development
programmes.
10. The designers of decentralization policy in
Cameroon hoped that when implemented
properly, it would reduce the workload at the
centre, create political and administrative
accountability, promote responsiveness and in
the long run lead to development
11. Map of Cameroon showing Bamenda the North Wesr Region where
Fundong is found.
12. However, the problem is; how effective is this process in
achieving its development goal in Cameroon and under what
circumstances can decentralization policies yield development
results? More specifically, what roles do the stakeholders in
Fundong in particular play in the realization of these goals?
13. The theories made use of in this study were;
the Interdependence theory of Robert
Keohane and Joseph Nye who posit that the
State is no longer the sole actor in
international relations because of the presence
of others like multinationals and NGOs.
14. The theories of public policy analysis were also used to enhance
understanding of the dynamism of the stakeholders in the process.
These include; the referential approach of Pierre Muller, the Advocacy
Coalition Theory of Paul Sabatier and Jenkins-Smith Hank, and the
policy network approach of Patrick Le Gales and Mark Thatcher.
15. METHODOLOGY USED
• This study made use of both qualitative and
quantitative research. Primary and secondary
data were used. Primary data was done with
the help of questionnaires administered
during focus group discussions with quarter
heads, community based organisations,
opinion leaders and so on, and a random
sampling of opinions
16. The major sources of secondary data were
books, journal articles, legal instruments,
seminar proceedings and documented
information from NGOs, MINATD and
other credible sources. As concerns data
treatment and analysis, the SPSS 19.0
version software was used.
17. ORGANISATION OF STUDY
• The objectives of this study were achieved by
focusing attention on various issues. There is a
general introduction which provides the
object and subject of research. Part one
covers the framework of decentralization in
Cameroon. The first chapter explores the
process. The second chapter examines the
stakeholders in the process.
18. Part two provides an assessment of the implementation of
decentralization in the Fundong community. Chapter three in part
two covers community awareness and participation in local
governance and development. The fourth and last chapter assesses
sustainable local development in Fundong.
21. Firstly, Decentralization as
a policy process is not
well-understood by the
Fundong population even
though they participate in
it.
22. •Besides, the population participate
through local elections, village
development committees and local
associations, quarter heads, faith based
associations among other methods
23. •Moreover, the local stakeholders in Fundong are the local authorities, the customary
authorities consulted in matters of tradition, specialised civil society organizations, the
private sector and the local population as elucidated by appendix C (1).
24. DEVELOPMENT ACHIEVED
Finally, in terms of development, basic In the social domain, PLAN
social amenities have been provided
like in education, construction of school Cameroon carried out
classrooms, provision of study materials sensitization campaigns on
and facilities like libraries and books, child protection, child abuse,
scholarships etc.
• In the health domain, the health centre child labour and other
in Fundong has been given equipments advocacy campaigns have
while in the villages health care services been done. Civil status
like vaccination campaigns,
sensitization campaigns on STDs and secretaries have also been
reproductive health education, have supported with materials
been given.
like booklets, communal
stamps and stationeries etc.
26. •Limited access to information
•Insufficient human and material resources
•Negative attitude towards implementation- women not feeling involved especially
•High illiteracy
•Gender inequality
•Ineffective bureaucratic structure
29. SUGGESTIONS ON EFFECTIVE
IMPLEMENTATION
• Encouraging participation from • The institution of accountability
women and other marginalised on all the stakeholders in the
groups process
• Organisation and coordination of • Access to information
the interventions of the • Encouraging decentralised
stakeholders cooperation
• Reinforcement of the capacities • Need for a favourable institution
of the local actors
30. CONCLUSION
Decentralization in Cameroon and Fundong in particular is on an upward
thrust. However, the fruits of decentralization in Fundong are still at an
early stage of success, given that little has been achieved so far.
That brings us to the end of the presentation.
31. END OF CONCLUSION
• We acknowledge the fact that the work was not perfect. We
therefore welcome your comments and constructive criticism
in the hope of bridging the lapses in the work and making any
further research on a similar topic more effective.
