ARTICLE DESCRIPTION: 

Forgwe Azwe Nina, Professor Emmanuel Yenshu Vubo, Youth Policy and the Future of Africa’s Development: The Case of Cameroon, ASIO Publication of Thesis & Dissertation (ASIO-PTD), 2016, August, 1(1): 01-108.

ARTICLE TYPE: Dissertation

dids/doi No.: 02.2016-61128823 / 05.2016-84715759

dids link: http://dids.info/didslink/04.2016-58894445/   

doi Link: http://doi-ds.org/doilink/08.2016-17392323/

In English: Youth Policy and the Future of Africa’s Development: The Case of Cameroon.

Abstract

This study reveals crucial insights on the condition of youths in Cameroon. Young people have been caught in a cycle of poverty, dis-empowerment, unemployment and underemployment. They feel politically neglected, socially and economically marginalized. The government of Cameroon is fairly aware of this state of affairs and has put in place structures and programs to address these issues: the 2006 youth policy, the Youth Socio-Economic Integrated Project for the Manufacturing of Sporting Materials (PIFMAS), the Integrated Support Project for Actors of the Informal Sector (PIAASI) and the Rural and Urban Youth Support Programme (PAJER-U) are examples which show the government’s commitment in rectifying these problems. With these programs, the assumption is that the problems the youth face have come to an end or in the very least, have been tackled to an extent.  This, however, is not the case as the structures put in place in this regard do not provide the opportunities the youth need to effectively participate in the development process of Cameroon.  Among the many reasons that could be advanced for this state of affairs is the fact that there are no adequate bodies put in place to ensure the proper implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes of these structures. These structures and the nature of accessible opportunities should shape the platform on which young people can develop themselves and contribute to the development of Cameroon which is inextricably linked to the development of Africa. The availability of these structures is not enough; they have to serve the purpose for which they were created. This study, therefore, analyses some select youth programmes in Cameroon with the aim of showing how effective they are and to what extent they contribute to the development of young people in Cameroon and the country as a whole. After putting forth a detailed presentation of the institutions under study, the researcher evaluates their impact on the society and young people in particular who are the main beneficiaries of these programmes. The researcher carries out and extensive study of relevant documents, combined with desktop evidence which throws light on the evaluation process of these programmes. This is complemented by data gotten from respondents; both youths and policy makers with the help of interviews and the administration of questionnaires. Among other things, the researcher discovers that the mechanisms available for the evaluation process of these programs have become obsolete and therefore irrelevant. They have become ineffective and therefore programs are implemented haphazardly with no accountability and without a vision of sustainability. The researcher also discovers that the main beneficiaries of these programs who are the youth are not even aware of the existence of these programs which makes it very difficult to assess their impact. The researcher finally brings forth a few recommendations which are relevant to the study.

RESUME

Cette étude présente la condition des jeunes au Cameroun. Les jeunes sont pris dans un cycle de pauvreté, de discrimination, de sous-emploi et de chômage. Ils sont négligés et font l’objet ‘une marginalisation politique, sociale et économique. Le gouvernement du Cameroun, conscient de cet état de chose, a mis en place des structures et des programmes pour faire face à ces problèmes: la Politique de  Jeunes de 2006, le PIFMAS, le PIASSI et le PAJER-U sont des exemples qui témoignent de l'engagement politique du gouvernement. Avec la mise en place de ces programmes, il était entendu que les problèmes de la jeunesse devraient, sinon être totalement résolus, grandement réduits. Ce n’est cependant pas le cas car, les structures mises en place à cet égard ne fournissent pas les possibilités optimales nécessaires aux jeunes pour participer efficacement au processus de développement du Cameroun. Parmi les nombreuses raisons avancées pour expliquer la situation figurent la non-existence de structures spécialisées assurant la mise en œuvre, le suivi et l’évaluation desdits programmes. Ces structures ainsi que l’ensemble des opportunités existantes devraient servir aux jeunes de plateforme pour leur contribution au développement du Cameroun et par là, celui de l'Afrique. La création des structures envisagées n’est pas suffisante. Il s’agit de les employer réellement à la cause à l’origine de leur création. Cette étude, par conséquent, en analysant quelques programmes pour les jeunes du Cameroun entend évaluer leur efficacité d’une part, et d’autre part souligner leur contribution à l'épanouissement de la jeunesse du pays. Après avoir procédé à une présentation détaillée des institutions en étude, le chercheur entend évaluer leur impact sur la société et les jeunes en particulier, principaux bénéficiaires de ces programmes. Pour ce faire, il réalise une étude approfondie des documents pertinents et autres ressources documentaires utiles devant lui permettre de mieux appréhender le processus d'évaluation de ces programmes. Ces données sont complétées par des informations obtenues auprès de répondants, des jeunes et des décideurs publics au moyen d'entrevues et de l'administration des questionnaires. Il est ressorti des analyses que les mécanismes d’évaluation des programmes sont obsolètes et donc devenus inefficaces. Les programmes sont alors mis en œuvre au hasard sans prévision pour leur durabilité. De même, les principaux bénéficiaires de ces programmes que sont les jeunes n’en connaissent pas l'existence d’où les difficultés à évaluer leurs impacts. Pour pallier les problèmes relevés, des recommandations ont été faites.

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