I will like to start by thanking you all for your continuous and relentless dedication towards the affairs of Manyu economic revitalization. It is indeed my pleasure to be here as coordinator and to bring you warm greetings from the Manyu family in the USA. Despite the difficulties that have plagued this conference, we do hope that we will be able to make substantial progress towards our anticipated targets by the time the conference is over. My report is three parts. In the first part, I have tried to shed a little more light on the confusion surrounding MEDWC and MAPADEF. In the second part, I am proposing the creation of another subsidiary of MEDWC devoted specifically to the activities discussed in that section. Finally, in the third part, I will like to officially thank our host sub-division Eyumojock for having us here despite the difficulties that usually surround conferences.
The Challenges of Manyu Community Development:
The current state of decadence of Manyu Division can be attributed largely to the lack of sufficient/significant capital investments within the division. To date, most of the efforts at developing Manyu have relied primarily on uncoordinated individual adventures, as well as the efforts of non-profit philanthropic groups like MECA, Manyu Solidarity Foundation, Efokuyu, NOMA, etc. just to name a few. Despite their hearty intentions, none of these organizations really has the backbone to raise and to invest the type of resources needed to develop Manyu division. Community development is the process by which local people build organizations and partnerships that interconnect profitable business with other interests and values - for example skills and education, healthcare, housing, employment, transportation, the environment, etc. In community development the various stakeholders typically get involved, describing how the community should change, while the associated organizations seek for avenues to make their actions and investments reinforce the wishes and intentions of the whole community. Business becomes not only a means to accumulate wealth, but an avenue to make the local way of life more creative, inclusive, and sustainable now and in the future.
Effective community development requires a multi-functional, comprehensive strategy of sustainable on-going activities, in contrast to individual economic development projects and/or isolated attempts at community betterment as is evident with our current struggles. Effective community development also requires the integration of both economic and social goals so as to achieve far-reaching community revitalization potentials. Sustainable communities recognize that their economic and social structures, and the health of the local environment are intertwined. The community development process is thus guided by strategic planning and analysis, in contrast to opportunistic and unsystematic tactics. Additionally, sustainable community development seeks to empower the people by providing them with the tools necessary to effect change in their own communities. This is achieved by increasing the political, social, and economic strengths of individuals and groups of individuals.
It is thus evident that the vitality of any vibrant or aspiring community/economy depends on the ability of its community leaders (i.e. community development practitioners) to identify and to attract the resources necessary to achieve development. Experience has shown that small and medium size businesses often account for up to 90% of all production activities in these striving economies, and Manyu division will be no exception. The future of Manyu development thus resides on our ability to attract the pertinent stakeholders and to lure much needed financial resources into Manyu division. The pertinent stakeholders in this case will include the business community seeking for business opportunities and the associated profits, potential investors seeking for returns on their investments, non-profit organizations, healthcare organizations, etc.
The Roles of MEDWC and MAPADEF:
Given the challenges involved in effective community development, it is anticipated that MEDWC will provide a structure that will serve as platform for Manyu community development. MEDWC was created in December of 2003 (after restructuring the former Manyu World Conference) in an attempt to better integrate the efforts of the different organizations involved in the multiple facets of Manyu economic revitalization. MEDWC thus serves the role of an umbrella organization, seeking to work in conjunction with non-profit organizations, the business community, the local government, and the Manyu people to develop and to implement more efficient and profitable Manyu economic development solutions.
The Challenges of Manyu Community Development:
The current state of decadence of Manyu Division can be attributed largely to the lack of sufficient/significant capital investments within the division. To date, most of the efforts at developing Manyu have relied primarily on uncoordinated individual adventures, as well as the efforts of non-profit philanthropic groups like MECA, Manyu Solidarity Foundation, Efokuyu, NOMA, etc. just to name a few. Despite their hearty intentions, none of these organizations really has the backbone to raise and to invest the type of resources needed to develop Manyu division. Community development is the process by which local people build organizations and partnerships that interconnect profitable business with other interests and values - for example skills and education, healthcare, housing, employment, transportation, the environment, etc. In community development the various stakeholders typically get involved, describing how the community should change, while the associated organizations seek for avenues to make their actions and investments reinforce the wishes and intentions of the whole community. Business becomes not only a means to accumulate wealth, but an avenue to make the local way of life more creative, inclusive, and sustainable now and in the future.
Effective community development requires a multi-functional, comprehensive strategy of sustainable on-going activities, in contrast to individual economic development projects and/or isolated attempts at community betterment as is evident with our current struggles. Effective community development also requires the integration of both economic and social goals so as to achieve far-reaching community revitalization potentials. Sustainable communities recognize that their economic and social structures, and the health of the local environment are intertwined. The community development process is thus guided by strategic planning and analysis, in contrast to opportunistic and unsystematic tactics. Additionally, sustainable community development seeks to empower the people by providing them with the tools necessary to effect change in their own communities. This is achieved by increasing the political, social, and economic strengths of individuals and groups of individuals.
It is thus evident that the vitality of any vibrant or aspiring community/economy depends on the ability of its community leaders (i.e. community development practitioners) to identify and to attract the resources necessary to achieve development. Experience has shown that small and medium size businesses often account for up to 90% of all production activities in these striving economies, and Manyu division will be no exception. The future of Manyu development thus resides on our ability to attract the pertinent stakeholders and to lure much needed financial resources into Manyu division. The pertinent stakeholders in this case will include the business community seeking for business opportunities and the associated profits, potential investors seeking for returns on their investments, non-profit organizations, healthcare organizations, etc.
The Roles of MEDWC and MAPADEF:
Given the challenges involved in effective community development, it is anticipated that MEDWC will provide a structure that will serve as platform for Manyu community development. MEDWC was created in December of 2003 (after restructuring the former Manyu World Conference) in an attempt to better integrate the efforts of the different organizations involved in the multiple facets of Manyu economic revitalization. MEDWC thus serves the role of an umbrella organization, seeking to work in conjunction with non-profit organizations, the business community, the local government, and the Manyu people to develop and to implement more efficient and profitable Manyu economic development solutions.
The Old German Bridge (Mamfe)
To be successful, however, MEDWC will be expected to put in place some of the essential infrastructures necessary to achieve and to maintain a vital community. These will include, but not limited to, a social infrastructure, an economic infrastructure, and a physical infrastructure. A social infrastructure usually includes access to adequate medical and social services, while the economic infrastructure is intended to ensure a sustainable quality of life consistent with available resources, community goals, living standards, expectations, and aspirations. On its part, the Physical Infrastructure assures the existence of transportation systems, healthcare facilities, housing, public facilities, water systems, technology transfer systems, etc. The task for MEDWC will thus be directed primarily towards creating the right partnerships so as to attract the appropriate infrastructures to the communities, as well as to improve and secure the communities’ access to resources. To that effect, MEDWC needs to create concrete structures with specific community development targets.
The Manyu Participatory Development Fund (MAPADEF) was initiated during the MEDWC conference in Tinto and subsequently launched in Mamfe town in April of 2006 under the distinguished patronage of H.E. Hillman A. Egbe. The creation of MAPADEF fits appropriately with MEDWC’s tasks of building partnerships and creating access to resources. When fully functional, MAPADEF will serve as one of the financial branches of MEDWC. As a financial wing, the activities of MAPADEF will be geared primarily towards raising funds and executing approved projects for MEDWC. On a larger scale, MAPADEF could also serve as a financial resource for small business entrepreneurs desiring to establish or to expand a business in Manyu division. Furthermore, the funds secured by MAPADEF could also serve as collateral to attract investors, solicit for community development funds from foreign organizations, or to initiate business partnerships and joint ventures with other businesses seeking for opportunities to make profit. Finally, MAPADEF can also serve as the ‘Manyu NGO’, soliciting/biding for projects into Manyu division. We are thus very hopeful that MAPADEF will play a very crucial role in Manyu development.
Proposal for a New Subsidiary of MEDWC- The Manyu Government Action Committee
Another potentially beneficial extension to be considered by MEDWC is the creation of a Manyu Government Action Committee (Manyu GAC). This will be a recognized non-partisan committee devoted exclusively to lobbying and/or pressuring the state government for the interests of Manyu division. Public interest groups have been shown to work constructively and positively to impact the development of local communities. Manyu needs to create and maintain such a group. The structure of Manyu GAC could be similar to the model adopted by MAPADEF, consisting of a representative general assembly and a board of directors. The creation of a government action committee or its equivalent will ensure that the issues of interest to Manyu division are consistently being evaluated and presented to the appropriate channels for funding considerations. This committee will ensure that funds allocated for projects in Manyu division through contracts or otherwise are fully utilized for the intended projects. The committee could also serve the role of a supervisory/watchdog team for all state funded projects within Manyu, such as the yearly maintenance of roads, so as to ensure that contractors/subcontractors are meeting their contract obligations. Creating and maintaining a public interest group is certainly a more efficient approach to accessing available state resources than spontaneous actions that tend to have negative connotations.
To be successful, however, MEDWC will be expected to put in place some of the essential infrastructures necessary to achieve and to maintain a vital community. These will include, but not limited to, a social infrastructure, an economic infrastructure, and a physical infrastructure. A social infrastructure usually includes access to adequate medical and social services, while the economic infrastructure is intended to ensure a sustainable quality of life consistent with available resources, community goals, living standards, expectations, and aspirations. On its part, the Physical Infrastructure assures the existence of transportation systems, healthcare facilities, housing, public facilities, water systems, technology transfer systems, etc. The task for MEDWC will thus be directed primarily towards creating the right partnerships so as to attract the appropriate infrastructures to the communities, as well as to improve and secure the communities’ access to resources. To that effect, MEDWC needs to create concrete structures with specific community development targets.
The Manyu Participatory Development Fund (MAPADEF) was initiated during the MEDWC conference in Tinto and subsequently launched in Mamfe town in April of 2006 under the distinguished patronage of H.E. Hillman A. Egbe. The creation of MAPADEF fits appropriately with MEDWC’s tasks of building partnerships and creating access to resources. When fully functional, MAPADEF will serve as one of the financial branches of MEDWC. As a financial wing, the activities of MAPADEF will be geared primarily towards raising funds and executing approved projects for MEDWC. On a larger scale, MAPADEF could also serve as a financial resource for small business entrepreneurs desiring to establish or to expand a business in Manyu division. Furthermore, the funds secured by MAPADEF could also serve as collateral to attract investors, solicit for community development funds from foreign organizations, or to initiate business partnerships and joint ventures with other businesses seeking for opportunities to make profit. Finally, MAPADEF can also serve as the ‘Manyu NGO’, soliciting/biding for projects into Manyu division. We are thus very hopeful that MAPADEF will play a very crucial role in Manyu development.
Proposal for a New Subsidiary of MEDWC- The Manyu Government Action Committee
Another potentially beneficial extension to be considered by MEDWC is the creation of a Manyu Government Action Committee (Manyu GAC). This will be a recognized non-partisan committee devoted exclusively to lobbying and/or pressuring the state government for the interests of Manyu division. Public interest groups have been shown to work constructively and positively to impact the development of local communities. Manyu needs to create and maintain such a group. The structure of Manyu GAC could be similar to the model adopted by MAPADEF, consisting of a representative general assembly and a board of directors. The creation of a government action committee or its equivalent will ensure that the issues of interest to Manyu division are consistently being evaluated and presented to the appropriate channels for funding considerations. This committee will ensure that funds allocated for projects in Manyu division through contracts or otherwise are fully utilized for the intended projects. The committee could also serve the role of a supervisory/watchdog team for all state funded projects within Manyu, such as the yearly maintenance of roads, so as to ensure that contractors/subcontractors are meeting their contract obligations. Creating and maintaining a public interest group is certainly a more efficient approach to accessing available state resources than spontaneous actions that tend to have negative connotations.
Good roads when properly monitored by (GAC)
In summary, with the right support from the Manyu community, MEDWC, MAPADEF, and other subsequent extensions, such as the proposed Manyu GAC, possess the potentials to set up a Manyu development structure that is consistent with sustainable community development. Finally, I will like to use this time to thank the entire Eyumojock family for hosting the conference. I will like to specifically extend very warm greetings from the Ndep Nju family group. The Ndep Nju family group USA has been very supportive both morally and financially to my efforts as USA coordinator to raise the funds necessary to finance various aspects of this conference. I will also like to thank all the other Manyu brothers and sisters in the USA who have been very supportive. A complete listing of the sponsors of this conference within the USA is currently on the internet. The list can be accessed through www.medwc.org. A copy of that list will be available for the conference proceedings.
As a token of appreciation for hosting the conference, MEDWC agreed to provide the following services and/or make the following donations to the host subdivision.
- A free health fair with free medications and medical supplies at a designated health
centre.
- Donate 6 new computers to selected educational institutions and health centres. These computers will be used for record keeping and processing, disease tracking, accessing the information super highway, and other essential functions.
- Donate 3 new generators to serve as backup to select educational and/or health institutions. We hope that these will serve very vital roles especially given the frequent blackouts experienced within the local area.
- Provide financial aid of up to 1.8 millions FCFA to students of the sub-division.
As I close, I will like to invite you to take a look at the newly created website for MEDWC. The URL is www.medwc.org. We hope that this site will serve as a vital source of information for the past, current and future activities of MEDWC.
Sessekou Dr. David E. Tambe is the USA Coordinator for MEDWC. Email: Davetambe@yahoo.com
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