CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Youth unemployment remains one of the most daunting socio-economic challenges of the 21st century, affecting millions of young people across the globe. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), more than 73 million young people were unemployed worldwide as of 2023, with a significant number engaged in vulnerable or informal employment (ILO, 2023). This alarming trend reflects systemic issues such as the mismatch between education and labour market demands, limited access to vocational and entrepreneurial training, and insufficient policy implementation. In many developed nations, while technological advancements and innovation hubs have somewhat cushioned the blow, youth unemployment continues to threaten social stability, foster economic inequality, and weaken the potential of what should otherwise be a demographic dividend. The issue has garnered international attention due to its strong links with crime, migration, political unrest, and the erosion of social trust. Addressing it has therefore become not just a labour or economic policy issue but a multidimensional developmental priority globally.

In Africa, the problem of youth unemployment is even more pronounced, despite the continent having one of the youngest and fastest-growing populations in the world. Sub-Saharan Africa alone accounts for over 60% of its total population being under the age of 25 (World Bank, 2022). Yet, economic growth has not translated into inclusive employment opportunities for the youth. The African Union’s Agenda 2063 emphasizes the need to empower young people through job creation, education reforms, and support for entrepreneurship. However, structural challenges such as political instability, corruption, underdeveloped industries, and weak educational systems continue to undermine these goals. Most African economies, being largely informal and agrarian, fail to absorb the increasing number of graduates and school leavers entering the labour market each year. The informal sector dominates youth employment, often characterized by low productivity, poor working conditions, and limited social protection. Thus, while youth are Africa’s most valuable resource, they are simultaneously the most underutilized and vulnerable group in terms of labour market integration.

Zooming in on the Central African region, countries such as Chad, the Central African Republic, Gabon, and Cameroon share similar socio-economic conditions that aggravate youth unemployment. In this region, economic growth is heavily dependent on extractive industries and public sector employment, both of which are limited in their capacity to employ young people sustainably (African Development Bank [AfDB], 2020). Moreover, the region has been plagued by political unrest, weak governance institutions, and underinvestment in education and skill development (International Crisis Group, 2022). Youth in rural areas, in particular, face compounded barriers such as poor infrastructure, low access to quality education, and limited exposure to economic opportunities (UNDP, 2021). Regional blocs like the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) have made policy commitments toward youth employment and integration, but implementation has been weak due to inadequate funding and coordination among member states (ECA, 2019). Consequently, youth unemployment remains a regional time bomb that, if not properly addressed, threatens to destabilize already fragile socio-political systems (World Bank, 2022).

In Cameroon, the problem of youth unemployment is particularly critical. With youth constituting over 70% of the population under the age of 35 (Institute National de la Statistique [INS], 2022), the national labour market is under tremendous pressure to absorb a growing number of job seekers annually. Although the government has launched various employment and entrepreneurship programs such as the National Employment Fund (NEF), the Youth Employment Observatory, and the Triennial Emergency Plan for Youth Employment, their impact has been limited due to corruption, poor planning, and inadequate decentralization (Nkengafac & Tsafack, 2021). Furthermore, the education system remains largely theoretical and fails to adequately equip graduates with the practical skills demanded by the evolving job market (Tchamyou, 2019). The mismatch between training and employment, limited industrialization, and declining public sector recruitment have left many educated youths stranded without hope for sustainable employment. This has led to increased crime rates, illegal migration, political discontent, and psychological despair among the youth population (Fomba, 2023).

At the local level, particularly in Manyu Division of the Southwest Region, the issue of youth unemployment takes on a more nuanced and complex dimension. The division, made up of rural and semi-urban councils such as Mamfe, Eyumojock, and Upper Bayang, has experienced a steady rise in youth unemployment due to multiple interrelated factors. These include poor road infrastructure, limited access to capital, inadequate technical and vocational training centres, and the ongoing Anglophone crisis, which has severely disrupted education and economic activities since 2016 (Human Rights Watch, 2022). Despite these challenges, local governments have emerged as critical players in the fight against youth unemployment. As the closest administrative units to the grassroots, councils in Manyu have the potential to design and implement context-specific initiatives that align with the unique needs and aspirations of the local youth. Some councils have introduced small-scale agro-pastoral projects, supported youth cooperatives, and partnered with NGOs to offer vocational training in trades such as carpentry, tailoring, ICT, and farming (UNDP Cameroon, 2023). However, these interventions often suffer from poor coordination, lack of technical expertise, inadequate funding, and limited follow-up mechanisms. Moreover, the political influence and bureaucratic bottlenecks in local governance often hinder genuine youth participation in decision-making processes concerning employment programs (Fonchingong, 2015).

The situation in Manyu Division encapsulates the broader national dilemma of youth unemployment but also reflects the missed opportunities in empowering local governments as key stakeholders in employment generation. While the national government has made significant policy pronouncements, implementation at the local level is often undermined by weak institutional capacity and over-centralization of resources (Awasom & Tita, 2020). Local councils are mandated to promote local economic development, yet they lack the autonomy and resources to meaningfully drive youth employment (Fonchingong, 2015). This highlights the need for a more functional decentralization framework that not only delegates responsibilities but also ensures that councils are adequately funded, monitored, and empowered to engage local actors, including the private sector, civil society, and youth associations (Ngwa & Forje, 2016). In the context of Manyu Division, understanding the role of councils in addressing youth unemployment is critical to formulating pragmatic and sustainable interventions. The experiences of selected councils within this division offer valuable insights into the potentials and pitfalls of localized efforts to tackle a problem that is both deeply rooted and widely felt across Cameroon and the African continent at large (Fomba, 2023; UNDP Cameroon, 2023).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Youth unemployment in Manyu Division, Cameroon, has reached critically high levels, threatening both local development and social cohesion. Despite various national policies and localized efforts, young people in key councils such as Mamfe, Eyumojock, and Upper Bayang continue to face substantial obstacles to gaining meaningful employment. These challenges stem from inadequate infrastructure, the absence of effective vocational training centres, and an economy largely dependent on subsistence agriculture, which provides limited opportunities for the expanding youth population.

In Mamfe, where public services and commerce are relatively more developed, a significant skills mismatch persists between job seekers and labour market demands. Although local councils have introduced youth empowerment initiatives including vocational training, cooperative schemes, and microfinance programs these efforts have yielded minimal results due to chronic underfunding, weak institutional capacity, and the lack of effective monitoring and evaluation systems.

Furthermore, Cameroon’s decentralization framework has yet to fully empower local councils with the autonomy and resources necessary to tailor employment solutions to their unique contexts. The ongoing Anglophone crisis has further worsened the situation by disrupting education and displacing populations, thereby restricting youths’ access to opportunities.

Despite these pressing issues, there remains limited scholarly research examining the role of local governments in addressing youth unemployment at the grassroots level in Manyu Division. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the strategies, achievements, and challenges faced by selected councils in tackling youth unemployment, with the goal of informing more effective, locally grounded employment policies and interventions.

1.3 Research Questions

This study is guided by the following research questions:

1.3.1 Main Research Question:

In what ways have the Mamfe, Eyumojock, and Upper Bayang councils contributed to reducing youth unemployment in Manyu Division?

1.3.2 Specific Research Questions:

1. Which policies have the Mamfe, Eyumojock, and Upper Bayang councils implemented to reduce youth unemployment in their jurisdictions?
2. To what extent have these policies been effective in creating employment and promoting sustainable livelihoods for young people?
3. What challenges do these councils encounter in planning, funding, and executing youth employment initiatives?

1.4 Objectives of the Study

1.4.1 Main Objective

1. To assess the contributions of selected local councils in combating youth unemployment in Manyu Division.

1.4.2 Specific Objectives:

1. To identify and analyse the youth employment policies initiated by Mamfe, Eyumojock, and Upper Bayang councils.
2. To assess the effectiveness of these initiatives in generating employment and supporting sustainable livelihoods for youth.
3. To examine the institutional, financial, and infrastructural challenges that hinder the councils’ ability to implement youth employment interventions effectively.