Towards a pro-community-based water resource management system in Northwest Cameroon: practical evidence and lessons of best practices

This paper examines community-based water supply management (CBWSM) in three rural districts of Northwest Cameroon as well as a review of the literature focusing on some successful communitybased natural resource management initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa. Using empirical and secondary data collec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:GeoJournal 2021-04, Vol.86 (2), p.943-961
Main Authors: Tantoh, Henry Bikwibili, Simatele, Danny Mulala, Ebhuoma, Eromose, Donkor, Kwabena, McKay, Tracey J. M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Best practice
Best practices
Community involvement
Community participation
Devolution
Environmental Management
Geography
Human Geography
Leadership
Literature reviews
Natural resource management
Natural resources
Participatory research
Poverty
Research methodology
Research methods
Resource management
Rural areas
Rural communities
Social Sciences
User groups
Water resources
Water resources management
Water supply
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Summary:This paper examines community-based water supply management (CBWSM) in three rural districts of Northwest Cameroon as well as a review of the literature focusing on some successful communitybased natural resource management initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa. Using empirical and secondary data collected through participatory research methods, it is argued that CBWSM has failed to achieve sustainable water supplies in Northwest Cameroon. Findings revealed that centralized control, the prevalence of poverty, passive involvement of public, private and grassroots community has continued to thwart water supplies within these districts. It is important to note that in any natural resource management system, power becomes a crucial factor as it determines who has and does not have access to common-pool resources. This paper argues that argues that strong traditional leadership, resolute devolution, and active participation of rural communities will facilitate and invigorate a platform for capturing the views of diverse user groups and this can bring about a peoplecentered and community-driven development process. Some aspects of best practice arising from successful case studies in Cameroon can contribute significantly to promoting the development of effective CBWSM in other rural communities with similar characteristics in and out of Cameroon. This will be possible only if rural groups are involved and engaged in the management of their resources while integrating some aspects of best practice.
ISSN:0343-2521
1572-9893
DOI:10.1007/s10708-019-10085-3