Rethinking Institutional Knowledge for Community Participation in Co-Management

Ayonghe Akonwi Nebasifu and Ngoindong Majory Atong
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Ayonghe Akonwi Nebasifu: Anthropology Research Group, Arctic Centre—Rovaniemi, Communities and Changing Work Thematic Program—Graduate School, University of Lapland, P.O. Box 122, FI-96101 Rovaniemi, Finland
Ngoindong Majory Atong: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea 00000, South West, Cameroon

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 20, 1-19

Abstract: Critics of participation often examine the undesirable consequences of state-led systems without much analysis of institutional knowledge at the local level. In this paper, we investigate whether smaller institutions could offer useful knowledge for meeting the development needs of local people. Using participation theory and related literature on development and power, we investigate a co-management system in communities around Mount Cameroon National Park (MCNP), in sub-Saharan West Africa. Our study adopts a multimethod approach to survey officials in 16 agencies and locals in 17 village groups. The findings indicate factors that hinder the effectiveness of local participation and avenues by which institutional knowledge can be customized to meet local development priorities. This system of participation, we conclude, could work better through open dialogue that is explicitly accountable and transparent.

Keywords: co-management; institutional knowledge; sustainability; paradox; community participation; development and power; Mount Cameroon National Park; Sub-Saharan West Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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