IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v11y2019i24p6990-d295311.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Challenges and Prospects of Sustaining Donor-Funded Projects in Rural Cameroon

Author

Listed:
  • Gregory Nguh Muluh

    (Grassfield Participatory and Decentralised Rural Development Project (GP-DERUDEP), North West Region, P.O. Box 1116, Bamenda 5112, Cameroon)

  • Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi

    (Department of Geography & Environmental Studies, Catholic University of Cameroon (CATUC), Bamenda P.O. Box 782, Bamenda 5112, Cameroon
    Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Technische Universitat Dresden, 01737 Tharandt, Germany)

  • Ngwa Kester Azibo

    (Higher Institute of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bamenda University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 277, Bamenda 5112, Cameroon)

Abstract

For more than five decades, developing countries (including Cameroon) have been primary beneficiaries of donor-funded projects targeting many sectors, including agriculture and rural development. Cameroon’s rural landscape witnessed a series of project interventions which emphasized sustainability. Although research efforts have been directed towards understanding the planning, implementation and impacts of donor-funded projects, not enough scientific information exists on the determinants, challenges and prospects of sustaining donor-funded projects in rural communities in Cameroon. For this study, the Investment Fund for Communal and Agricultural Micro-projects (FIMAC I) scheme, was used to diagnose the determinants, challenges and prospects for sustaining development projects in the North West Region (NWR) of Cameroon. A representative sample of 150 beneficiaries drawn from 20 farming groups in the NWR was conducted, to generate data which was complemented by interviews. The binary logistic regression results reveal the following: Although there is a significant change in the level of incomes for the FIMAC I project beneficiaries, its sustainability (mirrored through continuity) is dependent upon a myriad of socio-economic factors including family size, length of stay in the community, gender, education and the status of the beneficiary. Furthermore, the less transparent loan application process and the lack of collateral security were the main challenges faced by project beneficiaries. We argue that the introduction of soft loans with minimal demands for collateral security could increase beneficiary participation in projects, while beneficiary groups should further diversify their sources of capital and productive activities. The study does not only contribute to existing theoretical constructs on sustainable rural development, but also makes a succinct request for future studies to unbundle the conditions, under which donor-funded projects are rendered sustainable in rural contexts.

Suggested Citation

  • Gregory Nguh Muluh & Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi & Ngwa Kester Azibo, 2019. "Challenges and Prospects of Sustaining Donor-Funded Projects in Rural Cameroon," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-25, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:24:p:6990-:d:295311
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/24/6990/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/24/6990/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nkonya, Ephraim & Phillip, Dayo & Mogues, Tewodaj & Pender, John & Kato, Edward, 2012. "Impacts of Community-driven Development Programs on Income and Asset Acquisition in Africa: The Case of Nigeria," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(9), pages 1824-1838.
    2. Abbot, Joanne I. O. & Thomas, David H. L. & Gardner, Anne A. & Neba, Sama E. & Khen, Mbony W., 2001. "Understanding the Links Between Conservation and Development in the Bamenda Highlands, Cameroon," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 29(7), pages 1115-1136, July.
    3. Cook, Nathan J. & Wright, Glenn D. & Andersson, Krister P., 2017. "Local Politics of Forest Governance: Why NGO Support Can Reduce Local Government Responsiveness," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 203-214.
    4. Allen M. Featherstone & Christine A. Wilson & Terry L. Kastens & John D. Jones, 2007. "Factors affecting the agricultural loan decision‐making process," Agricultural Finance Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 67(1), pages 13-33, May.
    5. Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi & Roland Azibo Balgah & Gertrud Buchenrieder & Magdalene Silberberger & Hene Pridedinorah Batosor, 2020. "An empirical analysis of credit-financed agribusiness investments and income poverty dynamics of rural women in Cameroon," Community Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(1), pages 72-89, January.
    6. Béné, Christophe & Arthur, Robert & Norbury, Hannah & Allison, Edward H. & Beveridge, Malcolm & Bush, Simon & Campling, Liam & Leschen, Will & Little, David & Squires, Dale & Thilsted, Shakuntala H. &, 2016. "Contribution of Fisheries and Aquaculture to Food Security and Poverty Reduction: Assessing the Current Evidence," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 177-196.
    7. Michal Lyons & Carin Smuts & Anthea Stephens, 2001. "Participation, Empowerment and Sustainability: (How) Do the Links Work?," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 38(8), pages 1233-1251, July.
    8. Labonne, Julien & Chase, Robert S., 2011. "Do community-driven development projects enhance social capital? Evidence from the Philippines," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(2), pages 348-358, November.
    9. Collier, Paul & Dollar, David, 2002. "Aid allocation and poverty reduction," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(8), pages 1475-1500, September.
    10. Clift, Roland, 2007. "Climate change and energy policy: The importance of sustainability arguments," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 262-268.
    11. Nawaz AHMAD, 2011. "Impact of Institutional Credit on Agricultural Output: A Case Study of Pakistan," Theoretical and Applied Economics, Asociatia Generala a Economistilor din Romania - AGER, vol. 0(10(563)), pages 99-120, October.
    12. Gertrud Buchenrieder & Josephine Nguefo Gnilachi & Emmanuel Olatunbosun Benjamin, 2019. "Poverty alleviation through microcredit in Sub-Saharan Africa revisited," Agricultural Finance Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 79(3), pages 386-407, May.
    13. Shahidur R. Khandker & Gayatri B. Koolwal & Hussain A. Samad, . "Handbook on Impact Evaluation : Quantitative Methods and Practices," World Bank Publications, The World Bank, number 2693, September.
    14. Ambe J Njoh, 2011. "Citizen Participation and Sustainability: Lessons from Cameroon," Development, Palgrave Macmillan;Society for International Deveopment, vol. 54(3), pages 376-383, September.
    15. Gibson, Clark C. & Andersson, Krister & Ostrom, The late Elinor & Shivakumar, Sujai, 2005. "The Samaritan's Dilemma: The Political Economy of Development Aid," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199278855.
    16. Shafic Mujabi & Samson Omuudu Otengei & Francis Kasekende & Joseph Mpeera Ntayi, 2015. "Determinants of successful implementation of donor-funded projects in Uganda," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 42(12), pages 1139-1154, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jeremiah Mkomagi & Devotha Mosha & Athman Ahmad, 2022. "Beneficiaries’ attitudes towards resources withdrawal for selected donor-funded agriculture-related projects in Tanzania," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 11(3), pages 206-216, April.
    2. Owusu, Raphael & Kimengsi, Jude Ndzifon & Moyo, Francis, 2021. "Community-based Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR): Determinants and policy implications in Tanzania," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cieslik, Katarzyna, 2016. "Moral Economy Meets Social Enterprise Community-Based Green Energy Project in Rural Burundi," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 12-26.
    2. Arild Angelsen, 2017. "REDD+ as Result-based Aid: General Lessons and Bilateral Agreements of Norway," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(2), pages 237-264, May.
    3. Molenaers, N. & Gagiano, A. & Smets, L. & Dellepiane, S., 2015. "What Determines the Suspension of Budget Support?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 62-73.
    4. Lessmann, Christian & Markwardt, Gunther, 2012. "Aid, Growth and Devolution," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(9), pages 1723-1749.
    5. Arraiz, Irani & Calero, Carla & Jon, Songqing & Peralta, Alexandra, 2015. "Planting the seeds: The impact of training on mando producers in Haiti," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 212622, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    6. Arraiz, Irani & Calero, Carla & Jon, Songqing & Peralta, Alexandra, 2015. "Planting the seeds: The impact of training on mando producers in Haiti," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 212622, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    7. Kurosaki, Takashi & Khan, Hidayat Ullah, 2014. "Community-Based Development and Aggregate Shocks in Developing Countries: The Experience of an NGO in Pakistan," PRIMCED Discussion Paper Series 54, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
    8. Broich, Tobias, 2017. "U.S. and Soviet foreign aid during the Cold War: A case study of Ethiopia," MERIT Working Papers 2017-010, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    9. Rehman, Shafiqur & El-Amin, Ibrahim, 2012. "Performance evaluation of an off-grid photovoltaic system in Saudi Arabia," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 451-458.
    10. Teresa Molina Millán & Karen Macours, 2017. "Attrition in randomized control trials: Using tracking information to correct bias," FEUNL Working Paper Series novaf:wp1702, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Faculdade de Economia.
    11. Rodriguez-Alvarez, Ana & Llorca, Manuel & Jamasb, Tooraj, 2021. "Alleviating energy poverty in Europe: Front-runners and laggards," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    12. Samuel Sebsibie & Workineh Asmare & Tessema Endalkachew, 2015. "Agricultural Technology Adoption and Rural Poverty: a Study on Smallholders in Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia," Ethiopian Journal of Economics, Ethiopian Economics Association, vol. 23(2), December.
    13. Ezebilo, Eugene E. & Mattsson, Leif, 2010. "Socio-economic benefits of protected areas as perceived by local people around Cross River National Park, Nigeria," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 189-193, March.
    14. Lise Rakner, 2012. "Foreign Aid and Democratic Consolidation in Zambia," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2012-016, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    15. Sarkar, Jayati & Selarka, Ekta, 2021. "Women on board and performance of family firms: Evidence from India," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    16. Juliana Yael Milovich, 2018. "Does Aid Reduce Poverty?," OPHI Working Papers ophiwp122.pdf, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
    17. Blessing Chiripanhura & Miguel Niño‐Zarazúa, 2015. "Aid, Political Business Cycles and Growth in Africa," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(8), pages 1387-1421, November.
    18. Higgins, Daniel & Arslan, Aslihan & Winters, Paul, 2021. "What role can small-scale irrigation play in promoting inclusive rural transformation? Evidence from smallholder rice farmers in the Philippines," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    19. Xia, Junqiang & Falconer, Roger A. & Lin, Binliang & Tan, Guangming, 2012. "Estimation of annual energy output from a tidal barrage using two different methods," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 327-336.
    20. Ann Mari May & Gale Summerfield, 2012. "Creating a Space where Gender Matters: Elinor Ostrom (1933-2012) talks with Ann Mari May and Gale Summerfield," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(4), pages 25-37, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:24:p:6990-:d:295311. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.