Within the framework of its National Poverty Reduction Strategy, Cameroon has launched a National Project for Participatory Development (known by its French acronym, PNDP) that decentralises various public services. The project seeks to alleviate poverty at the grassroots level. It does so by addressing five aspects: agricultural and pastoral development, the environment, water and forests, agronomic research, and protection of civil society. Currently, five provinces of the State are participating in the project.
The PNDP seeks to promote the development of human capacity, establishment and effective operation of institutions (including professional organisations, professional and associative structures, local collectives, and administrations), and policy development, implementation, follow-up, and assessment.
In particular, the PNDP advances five specific objectives. The PNDP supports the development of agricultural, environmental, and protective policies within the context of Cameroon’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). The PNDP also seeks to facilitate the modernization of Governmental administration and approaches, strengthening the capacity of civil society, and support technical, social, and organisational innovations. Finally, the PNDP seeks to promote the development of Cameroon’s national capacity to better participate in international dialogues, negotiations, and processes relating to agriculture and the environment (including the agricultural agreement of the WTO, Congo Basin forest initiatives, etc.).
The main partners in the PNDP are the national Government administrations, civil society, and public and quasi-public institutions. The relevant Government administrations include the Ministries of Agriculture, Water, Environment, Forests, Planning and Regional Development, etc. Civil society organisations include professional agricultural organisations, vocational organisations, NGOs, and agro-industrial enterprises. The public and quasi-public institutions include the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), the Agronomic Faculty of Science (FASA), the national organisation of firefighters and sappers, etc.
The PNDP is coordinated by an attaché and includes 14 technical personnel. These personnel provide advice, conduct research, and are responsible for projects. The PNDP works with decentralised administrations through projects that are identified as priorities by local institutions. These projects emphasize the wellbeing of the local communities. These projects have great promise, since they respond to specific needs that are articulated by the communities they serve, rather than being imposed on the populations concerned, and the projects are managed by representatives who are close to the local communities.
For more information, see http://www.spm.gov.cm or contact Mr. Jean-GuyMotto Mallo mottomallo@yahoo.fr or Ms. Mary Fosi mary_fosi@hotmail.com