Cameroon : Service d'Appui aux Initiatives Locales de Développement
A difficult context. Cameroon, «Africa on a smaller scale», has many assets which should be able to make it the driving force of the economy in this sub-region of central Africa: relative stability as far as the macro-economy is concerned, good conditions for private sector initiatives, a young and fairly well trained population, and relative political as well as institutional stability.
Nevertheless, a majority of Cameroonians have great problems to overcome their poverty.
- 4 out of 10 Cameroonians have to live with less than a dollar a day;
- indicators of human development have been in a free fall over the last years ;
- great differences persist between regions with a risk of tensions between ethnic groups;
- corruption is still a problem which undermines the efficiency of public and private entities.
Ground level support. In such a difficult context a group of Cameroonians rolled up their sleeves and created SAILD (Service d’Appui aux Initiatives Locales de Développement, support of local development initiatives), an NGO to assist rural populations. SAILD’s mission consists of various support activities with the aim to develop a strong and autonomous farmer’s movement in Cameroon. In a country where omissions of state authorities have caused great harm to its farmers SAILD is playing a predominant role through its support of local initiatives.
Today SAILD is offering its services through various departments and decentralized agencies:
- It supports improvement of capabilities in a durable and competitive agriculture as in micro-finance/ micro-business – currently - in favour of 4 regional farmers’ organizations (FO).
- Promotion of health insurance systems;
- Editing and publication of a fortnightly magazine « La Voix du Paysan » (The Farmer’s Voice);
- Management of the CDDR (Library for rural development).
The support activities in favour of FOs follow two different lines: a political objective (improve the capacity to speak for themselves) and an economic goal (improve their capability to handle agricultural sectors on their own).
A durable partnership. As a long-time partner of SOS Faim, SAILD is a major operator of the civil society in Cameroon. For the sake of sound partnership its Secretary General is a member of both SOS Faim and has even been president of SOS Faim Belgium. He also is President of ACDIC, a young association of citizens, also supported by SOS Faim (see below), and which has a tremendous impact within the Cameroonian society.
