Shoring up local development initiatives: elderly elite and conscientised empowerment in Cameroon

Abstract

The elderly elite constitute a category of social actors implicated in local development through consciousness-raising. The analytic ideas of empowerment and agency, asset-based approaches, social capital, and relational networking inform this paper. Utilising a case study approach, and empirical accounts from the Ndong Awing Cultural and Development and Association (NACDA), in the North-West Region of Cameroon, this article explores conscientised empowerment, a strategy deployed to awaken the local community for social change. The interplay of sociocultural dynamics, gender considerations, community mobilisation and sustainability are intricately balanced, resulting in the community being revived through a renewed development mindset. While expectations of elite involvement remain grandiose; the elite involved in this village-centric development project navigate community aspirations while safeguarding their self-interests. Though elite involvement proves contentious, the community is galvanised by a development manifesto calibrated through relational networking. Local development policy and planning require the harnessing of incremental community resources, building on the agency of key stakeholders, in synergy with the state and other external partners, to realise an effective repositioning of social development.

Re-inventing Community Development: Utilizing Relational Networking and Cultural Assets for Infrastructure Provision

“…Currently, NACDA counts 63 branches (locally and overseas); women's wing (25 branches), youth wing with 15 branches; quarter development unions (9). Also, it comprises other social networks (tax groups) operating nationally [3]. The organisation celebrated its 50 th anniversary from November to December 2012.…”

“…Mathie and Cunningham [2] aver that communities can self-evaluate and drive the development process themselves. It hypothesized when this happens, then outcomes will be sustained, and people will become more self-reliant [30,3].…”

“…This is achieved through a carefully tailored narrative of development through reliance on inner capabilities and assets. This message is embedded in speech by AEEF president during the launch of one of NACDA's flagship initiatives: 'let's build our community and not wait on others to do it for us' [3]. The relational networking perspective espoused are informed by the community conscientization at the consequences of inaction.…”

“…The Awing maxim enshrined in the constitution flags up this commitment: 'holding on to each other towards modernizing Awing' [3]. The community must be taken on board through a development-oriented mindset, conceptually framed as conscientised empowerment.…”

“…The NACDA has a track record of operationalised wards and development assemblies, amplified through strategic leadership and capacity building, a prevalent approach to grassroots development in Cameroon's north west region [14,3]. The foundational elements of community development are perceived through the prism of relational networking and utilization of cultural assets by VDAs, creating a people-oriented and outward-facing community.…”