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The conundrum between political and sectoral decentralizations: The case of Cameroon
Author(s) -
OfoulhastOthamot Gyldas
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
development policy review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.671
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1467-7679
pISSN - 0950-6764
DOI - 10.1111/dpr.12284
Subject(s) - decentralization , devolution (biology) , corporate governance , politics , natural resource , democracy , government (linguistics) , natural resource management , environmental governance , political science , economic growth , public administration , business , geography , economics , linguistics , philosophy , archaeology , finance , law , human evolution
In recent years, alongside implementation of “traditional” decentralization policies, sectoral decentralization experiments in natural resources management have taken place worldwide, mainly under the justification of improving resource conservation and rural development. In the Congo basin, for instance, the epicentre of Africa's tropical rainforests, Cameroon has been engaged in these dual processes of devolution of power to municipalities and municipal involvement in the forestry sector. Drawing on the case of the first municipal forest governance experiment in Cameroon, the article argues that the lack of co‐ordination between the political and sectoral decentralizations is undermining the foundation for effective, democratic and accountable municipal and environmental governance. The case provides useful policy recommendations for donors supporting the global emergence of municipal government capacity.