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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
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Asuamah Yeboah, Samuel & Mogre, Diana & Nartey Menzo, Benjamin Prince, 2024. "Beyond the Numbers: Social Factors in Credit Risk," MPRA Paper 122363, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 20 Aug 2024.
    2. 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.
    3. 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).

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