Stakeholder engagement
Indigenous and tribal peoples and poverty reduction strategies in Cameroon
The participation of indigenous peoples in the PRSP process in Cameroon
Authors:
B. Tchoumba
Publisher:
International Labour Organization , 2005
The Cameroonian poverty reduction strategy paper (PRSP), approved in 2003, is presented as a document developed in a participatory manner. However, beyond official discourse on participation and consultation with the population in this process, questions still arise as to the consideration of indigenous and tribal peoples' interests and aspirations in this context. This issue becomes even more important as official approaches to the development of indigenous peoples have often focused on their assimilation or conversion to the dominant lifestyle, rather than on a genuine social integration with due respect to their cultural identity. This study assesses the participation of indigenous peoples in poverty reduction efforts, particularly the PRSP, in Cameroon.
The author find that indigenous peoples are marginalised and excluded from poverty reduction efforts in Cameroon. Their basic concerns are, consequently, not taken into consideration. Futher to this, the author concludes that:
- when specific projects or programmes are developed for minority groups, they are not informed of their contents and their implementation is always delayed compared to other programmes
- the proposed development initiatives are often aimed at assimilating indigenous and tribal peoples or converting them to the dominant way of life rather than truly integrating them through the respect of their cultural identity
- efforts are being made in the areas of agriculture, education and health without taking into account the basic rights of these populations and following culturally unsuitable approaches
- national poverty reduction efforts must include the perceptions and strategies of indigenous peoples and should adopt an approach based on the recognition of their collective rights as a people with their own cultural norms
- national efforts to reduce poverty must take into account the land and resource use patterns of indigenous and tribal peoples, including those of the nomadic people and shifting cultivators
- national poverty reduction efforts must integrate an approach based on basic human rights, in particular the internationally recognised rights of indigenous and tribal peoples
- it is vital to have political will to recognise their rights as governed by international legal instruments - with a particular emphasis on capacity building.
[adapted from author]
