CAMEROON FINAL REPORT

This final evaluation, attached to a PES (PD-AAI-382-E1), covers the period 2/75-12/78 and is based on a review of files and observations of the project technician. CAMCCUL will not achieve financial self-sufficiency for at least another 3-5 years, and money on loan to both member CU's and non-member cooperatives has dropped. Suggestions for increasing CAMCCUL income include raising interest rates and promoting CU's with a high growth potential. On the other hand, CAMCCUL is now generally able to provide basic technical services to CU's, although some CAMCCUL staff have not been cooperative with CU clients. Despite a too-short training period, CAMCCUL's Agricultural Officer is in place, but lacks adequate transportation. There will be an ongoing need for staff training as services are expanded. Due to lack of Government of Cameroon cooperation, CU officers were trained to help small farmers draw up production plans. It is recommended that the Agricultural Officer collect data on crop yields and production costs to sharpen the accuracy of these plans. A training program was initiated for secretaries of participating CU's, which currently number 19 against a target of five. Meetings were held with CU secretaries and Board of Directors to resolve serious CU problems regarding loan delinquency, cash shortages, slow growth, and inactive members. All CU's have since made progress except the Mbangom CU, one of the three original CU's, which has not followed the program and which should be dropped -- as should any newer CU not adhering to program guidelines. The other two original CU's, Banten and Ntundip, have made good progress. It is recommended that no new CU's be brought into the system until existing CU's are well established and CAMCCUL can support them; and that the Agricultural Officer continue to insist on receiving monthly financial statements, since this forces secretaries to organize their records and identifies CU's needing help.