This book explores the customary, social, economic political and rights issues surrounding access, ownership and control over land from a gender perspective. It combines theory and practice from researchers, lawyers and judges, each with track records of working on women and rights concerns. The nexus between the reluctance to recognize and materialize women's right to land, and the increasing feminization of poverty is undeniable. The problem assumes special acuity in an essentially agrarian context like Cameroon, where the problem is not so much the law as its manner of application. That this book delves into investigating the principal sources and reasons for this prevalent injustice is particularly welcome. As some of the analyses reveal, denying women their right to land acquisition or inheritance is sometimes contrary to established judicial precedents and even in total dissonance with the country's constitution. Traditional and cultural shibboleths associated with land acquisition and ownership that tend to stymie women's development and fulfilment, must be quickly shirked, for such retrograde excuses can no longer find comfort in the law, morality nor in "modern" traditional thinking. The trend, albeit timid, of appointing women to Land Consultative Boards and even as traditional authorities, can only be salutary. These are some positive practical steps that can translate the notion of equal rights into "equal power" over land for both sexes; otherwise "equality" in this context will remain an unattractive slogan.

The purpose of this volume is to explore the involvement of NGOs in the development of a rural region of Cameroon that has attracted a large proportion of NGOs. The focal questions that are addressed in this volume are: what are the elements of rural development in the region and what are the forms of involvement, strategies, and impact of NGOs and their programmes on the lives of the rural masses? These questions provide the base for a critical assessment of the efforts of NGOs as a possible development myth, not only for Cameroon, but also for other developing societies.

It is widely recognised that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have undertaken an increasingly important role in both human development and environmental conservation efforts in the less-developed nations during the past three decades. Much of the literature on NGOs focuses on, or is sponsored by, large Western-based international NGOs which themselves undertake or direct many of the development and conservation efforts. This book cuts through sensitive subjects including government corruption and manipulation, the misuse of NGOs and the limitations of small, under funded local development organisations to identify the crucial role of local NGOs in the challenging context of rural development in Sub-Saharan African. His observations and insights are highly useful and provide important contextual understanding for future human development and environment conservation projects in rural African settings.