Social Solidarity Economy and village-centric development in North-West Cameroon

Journal article


Che, Charles Fonchingong and Mbah, Marcellus 2021. Social Solidarity Economy and village-centric development in North-West Cameroon. The International Journal of Community and Social Development. 3 (2), pp. 126-144. https://doi.org/10.1177/25166026211015474
AuthorsChe, Charles Fonchingong and Mbah, Marcellus
AbstractAmidst shrinking budgets for community development in most of sub-Saharan Africa, the social solidarity economy is touted as a model in local development. This article situates solidarity initiatives and capability-focused outcomes that deliver enhanced livelihoods, social security and community development. The conceptual framing of social theory, social capital and social economy informs this case study with focus on the Ndong Awing Cultural and Development Association, North-West region, Cameroon. The analysis of semi-structured interviews and secondary sources suggests that solidarity networks such as njangis, cooperatives, quarter development unions and diaspora networks promote village-centric development. These overlapping networks generate scarce financial and human resources–essential packages for livelihoods and welfare. Emerging state policy is yet to calibrate these mechanisms of ground-up, mutual development drives. Galvanising these solidarity assets require meaningful co-productionand revamped state−community relations. This article offers a paradigm shift in how village groups mobilise income, capital and financing of village projects, nurtured through human development and agency.
KeywordsEconomics; Cameroon; Society; West Africa; Community; Villages
Year2021
JournalThe International Journal of Community and Social Development
Journal citation3 (2), pp. 126-144
PublisherSAGE
ISSN2516-6026
2516-6034
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/25166026211015474
Official URLhttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/25166026211015474
Publication dates
Online31 May 2021
Publication process dates
Deposited14 Jun 2021
Publisher's version
License
Output statusPublished
Permalink -

https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/8xz90/social-solidarity-economy-and-village-centric-development-in-north-west-cameroon

Download files


Publisher's version
25166026211015474.pdf
License: CC BY 4.0

  • 66
    total views
  • 51
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Re-centring the social work curriculum: reflections on a decolonizing framework
Che, C. 2023. Re-centring the social work curriculum: reflections on a decolonizing framework.
Reframing social justice through indigenous know-how: Implications for social development, policy and practice
Che, C. 2023. Reframing social justice through indigenous know-how: Implications for social development, policy and practice. Global Social Policy. https://doi.org/10.1177/14680181231170532
Forging a university-aided indigenous community education: village elders and social development in a secondary city of Cameroon
Che, C. 2022. Forging a university-aided indigenous community education: village elders and social development in a secondary city of Cameroon. in: Universities, Society and Development: African Perspectives of University Community Engagement in Secondary Cities Sun Press, South Africa pp. 91-107
Curating indigenous knowledge and practices for sustainable development: possibilities for a socio-ecologically-minded university
Che, C. 2019. Curating indigenous knowledge and practices for sustainable development: possibilities for a socio-ecologically-minded university. Sustainability. 11 (15), pp. 2-11. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11154244
University’s catalytic effect in engendering local development drives: insight into the instrumentality of community-based service learning
Mbah, M. and Che, C. 2019. University’s catalytic effect in engendering local development drives: insight into the instrumentality of community-based service learning. Journal of Sustainable Development. 12 (3), pp. 22-34. https://doi.org/10.5539/jsd.v12n3p22
Community agency, needs mapping and solidarity economics in resource depleted communities
Che, C. 2019. Community agency, needs mapping and solidarity economics in resource depleted communities.
Re-inventing community development: utilizing relational networking and cultural assets for infrastructure provision
Che, C. 2018. Re-inventing community development: utilizing relational networking and cultural assets for infrastructure provision. Societies. 8 (3), p. 84. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc8030084
Shoring up local development initiatives: elderly elite and conscientised empowerment in Cameroon
Che, C. 2017. Shoring up local development initiatives: elderly elite and conscientised empowerment in Cameroon. International Development Planning Review. 39 (2), pp. 123-142. https://doi.org/10.3828/idpr.2016.25
Religiosity and existentialist approach to poverty in North-West Cameroon
Che, C. 2013. Religiosity and existentialist approach to poverty in North-West Cameroon. International Journal of Religion and Society. 4 (3), pp. 165-179.
Citizen strategizing amid a solidarity economy in Cameroon: are village development associations (VDAs) resilient?
Che, C. 2013. Citizen strategizing amid a solidarity economy in Cameroon: are village development associations (VDAs) resilient? GENEVA UNRISD.
Firming up institutional policy for deprived elderly in Cameroon
Che, C. 2014. Firming up institutional policy for deprived elderly in Cameroon. Politics and Policy. 42 (6), pp. 948-980. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12101
Growing old in Cameroon: gender, vulnerability and social capital
Che, C. 2013. Growing old in Cameroon: gender, vulnerability and social capital. United States of America University Press of America.
Space partners or mortal enemies: contentious lands, farmer-grazier conflicts and women's militancy in Cameroon
Che, C. and Ufong Besing, M. 2015. Space partners or mortal enemies: contentious lands, farmer-grazier conflicts and women's militancy in Cameroon. in: Tukumbi, L. (ed.) Land Reforms and Natural Resource Conflicts in Africa: New Development Paradigms in the Era of Global Liberalization Routledge African Studies. pp. 55-74
Optimizing community-driven development through sage tradition in Cameroon
Che, C. 2016. Optimizing community-driven development through sage tradition in Cameroon. Global Social Welfare. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-016-0052-6
Legitimating social inequality: political elites, ethnic peddling and dislocated constituencies
Che, C. 2016. Legitimating social inequality: political elites, ethnic peddling and dislocated constituencies. European Scientific Journal. 12 (26), pp. 164-184. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2016.v12n26p163