Indigenous and Tribal Peoples and Poverty Reduction

Executive summary

This study has been undertaken within the context of an ethnic audit of Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) in 14 countries. The essential objective of the study is to assess the degree to which the cultural specificities of indigenous and tribal peoples in Cameroon have been taken into account in national poverty reduction efforts. It analyses the socio-economic situation of indigenous and tribal communities, and describes national poverty reduction efforts and the mechanisms for the consultation and participation of indigenous and tribal peoples in the national poverty reduction strategy. The study also documents these peoples’ perceptions and indicators of poverty, and describes their strategies to fight against poverty, as well as identifying the impact of poverty reduction programmes on them.

The study has been conducted in line with the fundamental principles of the ILO’s Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169). These principles are based on a fundamental respect for the cultures, lifestyles, traditions and customary laws of these peoples. They also concern the right of these peoples to speak for themselves and to be involved in the decisionmaking process processes that concern them.

This study has adopted an essentially participatory approach. Consultation of the peoples concerned on the field was the basis of our methodology. A total of over 350 Baka and Bagyeli men and women in over 48 communities were consulted. A number of Mbororo, including board members of MBOSCUDA (Mbororo Social and Cultural Development Association) in the North West, and members of its National Executive Committee, were also consulted as part of this study.

In Cameroon, as elsewhere in Africa, the concept of indigenous peoples is somewhat controversial. No community in Cameroon is legally recognized as an indigenous people, although the National Constitution provides for the protection of minorities and the rights of the indigenous peoples. However, based on the principle of self-identification, our work will focus on the so-called “Pygmies” and Mbororo who identify themselves in Cameroon as indigenous peoples. These two ethnic groups share a common attachment to their cultures, lifestyles and their marginalisation in political life and the development process. Their cultures and lifestyles differ significantly from those of the dominant society and their survival depends on the recognition of their rights and access to their traditional land and natural resources. They suffer from discrimination insofar as they are considered as being “less developed” and “less advanced” than the other more dominant groups of the society.

These groups have been identified by the working group of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights as indigenous communities in Africa and the principle of respect for the lifestyle, customs, cultures and institutions as well as the self-identification of the indigenous and tribal peoples is recognised by ILO Convention No. 169 as fundamental for these peoples.

These communities are among the poorest, living in isolated and sometimes inaccessible areas. They have very limited access to basic infrastructure and services. Following an analysis of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, the National Programme on Participatory Development (NPPD) and the Forest-Environment Sectoral Programme (FESP), the study concludes that indigenous peoples are marginalised and excluded from poverty reduction efforts in Cameroon. Their basic concerns are, consequently, not taken into consideration.

According to the Pygmy and Mbororo indigenous and tribal peoples, an efficient poverty alleviation strategy must comprise at least certain elements relating to the recognition and respect of the customary and land rights; access to forest resources, access to citizenship and justice; organisational capacity-building to ensure effective representation in decision-making processes; effective participation in the management of forest resources; equitable sharing of the benefits from forest exploitation and the conservation of biodiversity; and improvement of agriculture and culturally appropriate access to basic social infrastructure and services.

The report recommends that disaggregated data on indigenous and tribal peoples should be collected and that own perceptions and indices of poverty should be documented and incorporated into the national poverty alleviation efforts. This presupposes the establishment of culturally appropriate consultation mechanisms.


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