Credit union development

Evaluation covers the period 8/81-4/83 and is based on document review, interviews with project participants, and a site visit. Achievement of project objectives has been mixed. Little progress was made toward uniting the anglophone Cameroon Cooperative CU League (CAMCCUL) and the francophone Caisse Populaire into a single national association, although leaders of the two groups agreed to maintain a dialogue. Only 15 (vs. 28 targeted) small farmer CU"s were established, primarily because input shortages and lack of market access limited farm production and demand for credit. Attempts to liquidate or merge nonviable CU"s were limited, and the success of this component is not likely, due to the need to fulfill cumbersome legal requirements and to maintain ethnic and regional balances within the CU movement. Systematization of CAMCCUL"s planning capability was not begun. Although an important training specialist was not hired, much progress was made toward training objectives; 47 management seminars were conducted for 1084 CU officials, including bookkeepers, boards of directors, credit committee members and chairmen, and for CAMCCUL staff and Cameroonian officals. Two seminars were held for fieldworkers who will, in turn, soon be providing management training to local CU"s. Bookkeeping and auditing manuals and three standard policies and procedures guides were prepared. Good progress was also made toward financial self-sufficiency for CAMCCUL. Implementation was hampered by management shortcomings on the part of both USAID/C and the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), the PVO responsible for project implementation. CUNA technicians received little support from their home office, communication between USAID/C and CUNA was poor, and USAID/C"s failure to provide guidance for a baseline survey delayed the survey almost a year. Nonetheless, due primarily to the dedication and ability of CAMCCUL and CUNA staff, the project has an excellent chance of ultimately achieving its objectives. Five recommendations are made.