In 2007 ANVIL organised a survey of villages in the Kupe Muaneguba. The Gallery shows a selection of photographs taken during the survey. But perhaps the most significant part of the survey is the confidential interviews. They show what poverty really is in KM villages. From the full commentary (237 individual interviews plus 23 village community debates) the following were identified as priorities.
- Improved routes to markets. Roads are often impassable and unsuitable for taking farm produce across difficult terrain to nearby markets. Old disused tracks (from the German Kamerun era) need to be reopened.
- Water supplies. Despite high seasonal rainfall, the water supplies fail. There are no resources to rebuild infrastructure.
- Farming support. Land productivity is decreasing; reliance on chemicals has become too costly. Veterinary services are failing..
The ANVIL programme was developed from this survey.
For more background on life in Kupe Muaneguba, refer to the DVD ‘Mists of Mwanenguba’ and Youtube Nlog Village and The Post (Beua) on The KM Roads.
The village communities that we surveyed were reasonably well organised under village governing bodies. Villages are headed by a Chief with a traditional council. The Villages also have a Clan Development Association.
The key challenge for a development programme will be setting the right pace of development to allow the skills to be a adopted by village culture.
