(THE) ROLE OF NGOs IN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT : CASE STUDY OF SELECTED NGOs IN THE SOUTHWEST REGION OF CAMEROON-AFRICA

JAM GRACE WAWUM Graduate School of International Studies Ajou Univ 2018 국내석사

Women empowerment has emerged, a concept that has been examined through Sseveral lenses. The extent to which NGOs contribute or have contributed to women empowerment is mixed. This study, conducted on the activities of three NGOs in south western Cameroon seeks to find out the extent of women empowerment that has been witnessed through the activities of the NGOs. The qualitative approach guided by multiple case study design facilitated the conduct of this study. Through a desktop review and filed direct in-depth interview of four women, data was collected, transcribed and analyzed thematically. The study established among other things how the NGOs activities used several interventions ranging from ICT education, skills driven modules to savings and loan granting to empower women. Half of the women affirmed how the NGO activities principally the granting of loans had empowered them and made them have improved decision making in their homes. Other half expressed a devastating financial position resulting from their inability to pay the loans. The study finding demonstrates the need for NGOs in south western Cameroun to include savings culture and financial management training to all components of interventions aimed at empowering women.

Feasibility Study of Small Hydro Power Plant for Rural Area in Houay Lai River, Salavan Province, Lao P.D.R

BOUAPHA SAYPASEUTH Graduate School of International Studies Ajou Univ 2019 국내석사

Feasibility study of small hydropower for rural area in Lao PDR is important for Laos people for devolvement in rural people to access to electricity. Lao PDR is a South Asian country surrounded by Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and China. Lao PDR has a substantial small hydropower development potential. The Government has started urging private investments in small hydropower plants for domestic supply in the early 2000s. Despite various promotional schemes and measures, this thesis aims to provide policy guidance and reference to the agencies responsible for overseeing the implementation of the investment project in a small hydropower plant. Several financial, technical, procedural and institutional barriers need to be overcome to harness large small hydropower potential in Lao PDR. The study utilizes RETScreen, which is developed by Canada Institute of Natural Resources Canada and Excel for calculation the feasibility studies. All the small hydropower development is economical, technically and financially feasible, and the potential negative impact on the environment and social it can prevent and mitigate.

(THE) ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY CUSTOMS UNION ON THE INTRA-REGIONAL TRADE

MWAFYELA, NOEL ANDREW Graduate School of International Studies Ajou Univ 2017 국내석사

Abstract Regional trade arrangements have gained high level of popularity among various groups of stakeholders including scholars, business communities and government officials as being an important engine for liberalization of trade and growth. East Africa is not exceptional to this global belief, which as a response to this decided to form an East African Community Customs Union with the aim of liberalizing trade and increasing intra-regional trade. This study analyzes the implementation of EAC-CU since its inception in 2005 and its impact on the intra-regional trade. The analysis based on three phases which are the time when there was no customs union, the time when there was customs union but not fully fledged and the time when there was customs union and was fully fledged. The analysis of intra-regional trade reveals that, since the establishment of the EAC-CU, East African countries have recorded an increase in intra-regional imports, intra-regional exports and intra-regional total trade. However the study further reveals that the region trade more with the rest of the world than how it trade with itself by importing more from the rest of the world (petroleum products, machinery and equipments, intermediate goods for use in further production and finished goods) and exports more to the rest of the world (cotton, tea, coffee, cashew nuts, tobacco, gold, fish products and horticulture products). The study concludes that as the region imports more from the rest of the world, and then it is an opportunity for the EAC companies to improve their production efficiency and start producing some of the products which are currently imported as they are assured of the market. As big percent of the raw materials and intermediate inputs used in the EAC factories are imported from the rest of the world, the study also see this as an opportunity for the region to come up with a regional value chain strategy through identifying raw materials and intermediate goods which can be produced in the region and linking suppliers and buyers of those raw materials and intermediate inputs. The study recommends some measures with the aim of further liberalizing trade and realizing the best in intra-regional trade. Some of these measures include the investment in infrastructure (roads, railways, ports, airways, electricity, water and telecommunication), improvement of technical education through building more and high quality trade schools, improvement of the regional financial market, integration of domestic production chains, awareness creation, development and implementation of regional technology transfer strategy, development and implementation of import substitution strategy, further elimination of NTBs and improvement of security in the region.

(A) COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN USA AND CHINESE FOREIGN AID SYSTEM ON POVERTY REDUCTION PROGRAMS IN SUB-SAHARA AFRICA WITH FOCUS ON ANGOLA (2004-2007)

MBOH, ELVIS TIMAH Graduate School of International Studies Ajou Univ 2017 국내석사

Poverty remains one of the most powerful canker worn challenging the world nowadays. Millions of people the World over continue to live in dying poverty situations notwithstanding the strong commitment by advanced countries to combating poverty. Those vulnerable to poverty lived in Africa and Sub Sahara Africa region remains the poorest region in the world. In the last two decades, poverty have been taken more seriously and given special attention in global framework such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and specific solutions design toward achieving a positive outcome. One of the key resource to solving poverty is via foreign aid. Over half a century, the two largest economies in the world (USA and China) have champion the course by playing a dominant role in the transfer of resources to Sub Sahara Africa. This research will show a comprehensive comparative study between the USA and China’s foreign aid system in Sub Sahara Africa and discern which system is more responsible for poverty reduction. This will be glaring following data presentation on aid and poverty reduction with focus on Angola. The timeframe of my work is from 2004-2007 and this is primarily justified by two reason. Firstly, USA and China’s foreign aid flow to Sub Sahara Africa double during this period. Secondly, it is also within this period that Chinese foreign aid in Africa mature to rival that of the west. Generally, in most of the literature analyzed, USA foreign aid system is characterized by bureaucracy, focusing on good governance and democracy and insistency on conditionality while seriously neglecting poverty reduction. On the other hand, data on China’s foreign aid have some negative connotations because it is backed by the extraction of natural resources, it was founded to focus on infrastructural development and present conclusive evident on poverty reduction due to the minimal development aid structure and the absence of conditionality to aid.

A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF NGOS IN PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AS A MEANS OF POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN CAMEROON : THE CASE OF RURAL COCOA FARMERS IN MEME DIVISION, SOUTH WEST REGION OF CAMEROON

FUANYI PETER Graduate School of International Studies Ajou Univ 2018 국내석사

Cocoa cultivation is one of the most lucrative sources of income in Cameroon. Many farmers depend on the production of cocoa for their main source of income. The cultivation of cocoa occupies almost 37% of cultivable land in the country with a rapid increase in cultivation. But sustainability of cocoa production still remains a big issue as may peasant farmer still live in poverty despite the high demand for cocoa in the World Market. Cocoa is used in processing industries for the production of chocolate products which are high consumable worldwide as it contained much protein values. The United Nation considered cocoa to be one of the highest income generating cash crop in the world. It is paradoxical in the sense that most profit from cocoa business does not trickledown to the producers but remained within the multinational companies like Nestle’ and Cargill limited. This study seeks to analyze the role of NGOs in the promotion of fair trade as a possible way to alleviate poverty among rural cocoa farmers by encouraging quality production, avoiding exploitation and maintaining a popper environmental management. For cocoa production to be sustainable, both the government and the private sector have to work together as no single structure alone can totally alleviate poverty. It is for this reason that civil societies are encourage by the World Bank and IMF as important organs for poverty alleviation. Then given the opportunities to NGOs to promote sustainable rural development is a significant way to growth.

THE MOST INFLUENTIAL FACTORS OF MIGRATION IN SOUTHWEST CAMEROON. . : THE CASE STUDY OF LIMBE SOUTHERN CAMEROONS

BAUKET MAURINE NAJELA Graduate School of International Studies Ajou Univ 2018 국내석사

Migration according to (kok, 1999) is “the movement of people over some distance or at least from one migration defining area to another, and from one usual place of residence to another”. Migration be it internal or external has an effect in a country. In this study I will be looking at the most influential factors of migration and also how migration has affected the economy of Cameroon. The target population was people in the limbe municipality who have at least migrated before. According to the functionalist theory a society cannot function well if a part of it is left out. When you are studying a society, everything the population does is very vital. Migration can affect the country positively and also negatively and this makes migration a useful topic for research. The study why guided by research question, in order to gather substantial data. The study made use of primary and secondary data. It is segmented into five chapters. Chapter one is the introduction and background, chapter two is related literature, chapter three is research methodology, chapter four is data analyses where primary data gotten from the field is analyzes. Charts and tables are also used in this chapter to bring out a clear view on the respondents views. It ends up with the fifth chapter which possible recommendations/ solutions to the problems and references,. With this we can know dictate the possible causes of migration in Cameroon are, the impact of migration in Cameroon and possible solutions to migration issues

Topic: Critical Assessment of the Role of Cooperatives Societies in Rural Development : Case of Cameroon

KOME SUSAN KERI Graduate School of International Studies Ajou Univ 2018 국내석사

Cooperatives are important for the development of rural areas in Cameroon economy. These cooperatives have played an important role in the development of rural agriculture and rural development projects. Following the current global trend, characterized by globalization, the implementation of the Structural Adjustment Programs and the move from state planned to a neo-liberal economy, cooperatives are becoming important promoters of rural development and rural agriculture through the improvement of farmer’s income and the provision of social services. Cooperatives need to be reconsidered by the state of Cameroon through the creation and encouraging of national cooperative associations where cooperatives can have established good policies that favor the existence and activities of cooperatives especially agricultural in rural areas. The role of cooperatives especially agricultural ones can’t be neglected and needs to be considered as important key for rural development in Cameroon. Cameroon economy needs cooperatives to successfully implement the rural development programs and to successfully reduce poverty in Cameroon

IS THERE ANY RELATIONSHIP AMONG EXPORT-LED GROWTH HYPOTHESIS, LABOR FORCES, EXCHANGE RATE AND TRADE POLICY IN MYANMAR?

AYE THI KHAING Graduate School of International Studies Ajou Univ 2018 국내석사

The main purpose of this thesis is to analyze the relationship among Export-led growth hypothesis, labor forces, Exchange rate and Trade policy in Myanmar because of the trade performance for 54 years from 1962 to 2015 by using different methodologies and various econometric models to analyze the data series of export, import and GDP and different trade policy, export/ import policy and economic policy and Exchange rate and policy. The data of all variables are obtained from World Bank and UNCTAD. There is also relationship between the change for improved outcomes in trade policy reforms in Myanmar and the domestic polices practiced by the government of Myanmar and international demand. Looking gains from this study would be valuable references for the policy makers to identify the issues in the reform process. Myanmar GDP has been increasing year by year as Myanmar government operates a lot of reform processes, trade liberalization and trade policy review. The increasing of import is higher than the increasing of export as the foreign direct investment flow in a lot so there are trade deficits although GDP become increased. Because of these factors, I would like to analyze on the export, GDP, Terms of Trade and labor forces of Myanmar.This research paper analyzes the annual time series data for the period of 1981 to 2015 on GDP, export of goods and services, labor forces and terms of trade. The Export Granger-cause GDP at 5 % level so there is unidirectional causality running from export to economic growth depending on the selection of lag length two and as there is Export- led growth hypothesis in Myanmar, it is a small open economy. But there is no growth-led export in Myanmar as GDP does not Granger-cause on export. Export to GDP effects positively significant in long run but it effects negatively significant in short run. Moreover, other variables also effect positively significant to GDP in long run at the GDP growth model in one and two lags but in the Export model with three lags, there is positively significant long run relationship of the variables except terms of trade so the increasing of export depends on the increasing of import, trade policy reform, exchange rate and tariff and non-tariff barriers. Therefore, it can be analyzed that there is relationship among export-led growth hypothesis, labor forces, Exchange rate and trade policy in Myanmar. Keywords: Economic Growth (GDP), Export (EX), Terms of Trade (TOT), Labor Forces (LBF), Augmented Dickey Fuller test, Cointegration test, VECM Model, Granger Causality test, Myanmar

DECENTRALIZATION, A TOOL TO END THE STRIKES AND FAILURES IN THE GABON PUBLIC EDUCATION SECTOR

NDI THEODORUS NYANG Graduate School of International Studies Ajou Univ 2018 국내석사

This project focuses on the current crisis in the public education sector of Gabon in the past six to eight years. It directs the actualities of the crisis to the system of governance Gabon public education (centralization). The research goes down to study the degenerations of the problems in Gabon public education as it links them to have been resulted from failure within the central governance. Statistically, the study shows how the crises has affected the countries over all education sector. After researching on other methods of better or appropriate governance, decentralization (devolution) could therefore take over control of the education to ensure sustainable management.

The Impact of Micro Finance Loan Disbursement On Economic Growth of Cameroon

EWULE ELVIS JASSAH Graduate School of International Studies Ajou Univ 2018 국내석사

This study is designed to capture the impact of microfinance loan disbursement on economic growth taking Buea Police Cooperative Credit Union Limited (BUPCCUL) as a case study. To achieve this objective, data was collected from annual report of Buea police cooperative credit union limited(BUPCCUL) over the period of 16 years that is from 1992-2007 on the following variables; GDP as the dependent variable and loan disbursement of Buea police cooperative credit union Limited(BUPCCUL) as the independent variable. After empirically analyzing the data using the ordinary least square techniques, we show whether loan disbursement by BUPCCUL does significantly affect economic growth. To increase our explanatory power, we increase our independent variables by adding variables like saving, loan delinquency, and lending rate in our study.