Abstract

The economic downturn and consequent impoverishment in Cameroon have led to a large increase in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are being heralded by some as the development panacea. This has triggered some readjustment in the dynamics of interaction between the Cameroonian state and NGOs with the promulgation of the 1999 law to control NGOs. This paper critically explores the emerging trends and the roles played by international and local NGOs in the face of the burgeoning interests of civil society. The analysis points to some benchmarks and challenges faced by these actors in capacity building and socio-economic empowerment of local communities in Cameroon. Findings indicate that international NGOs are more organised, more focused, decentralized, technically proficient, and financially viable and have deeper penetration into communities than local NGOs that are plagued by lack of expertise, poor management and funding difficulties. The paper concludes that in spite of attempts by the Cameroonian state to regulate the activities of the NGO sector; there are still inadequacies.

Key words: Cameroon, liberalisation, NGOs, local development, gender mainstreaming, civil society.