The contribution of Caritas in development work in Cameroon The contribution of Caritas in development work in Cameroon Candidates name: Chi Hilda Yoh Supervisor: Professor of Ethics Heiene, Gunnar Harald This Master’s Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the MA degree at MF Norwegian School of Theology, 2017,spring. AVH5035 Master’s Thesis (60 ECTS) Master in Religion, Society and Global issues 28395 words (including list of literature and front page) 1 Table of contents Innhold Chapter one: Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Presentation .................................................................................................................................. 4 1.2 Research Questions ....................................................................................................................... 5 1.3 Definitions ..................................................................................................................................... 6 1.3.1 Religion and Faith ................................................................................................................... 7 1.3.2 Faith-based organizations ...................................................................................................... 8 1.4 Method .......................................................................................................................................... 9 1.4.2 Research Design ................................................................................................................... 10 1.5 Thesis Structure ........................................................................................................................... 10 Chapter two: Development Theories ................................................................................................... 11 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 11 2.2 Economic development theory ................................................................................................. 13 2.2.1 Modernization theory .......................................................................................................... 14 2.2.2 Dependency Theory ............................................................................................................. 14 2.2.3 Neo-Liberalism...................................................................................................................... 16 2.3 Human development Theory ...................................................................................................... 17 2.3.1 The Human Development Approach .................................................................................... 17 2.3.2 Human Basic Needs Approach ............................................................................................. 18 2.3.3 Gender Approach ................................................................................................................. 19 2.3.4 Environmental Approach ...................................................................................................... 20 2 .4 Criticism of Development Theories ............................................................................................ 21 2.4.1 Critics of dependency theory ............................................................................................... 21 2.4.2 Criticisms of the neo-liberalism. .......................................................................................... 22 Chapter three: method and material ................................................................................................... 23 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 23 3.2 The Caritas Sample ...................................................................................................................... 24 3.3 Written material .......................................................................................................................... 25 3.4 Interviews .................................................................................................................................... 27 2 3.5 Research ethics and limitations ................................................................................................... 28 Chapter four: A brief history of Cameroon.......................................................................................... 29 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 29 4.2 The Population Cameroon ........................................................................................................... 30 4.3 Religions ...................................................................................................................................... 31 4.3.1 Types of religion .................................................................................................................. 32 4.3.2 Islam ..................................................................................................................................... 32 4.3.3 Christianity ............................................................................................................................ 32 4.3.4 Protestants ........................................................................................................................... 33 4.3.5 Pentecostals ......................................................................................................................... 33 4.3.6 Evangelicals .......................................................................................................................... 33 4.4 Roman Catholics Church in Cameroon ........................................................................................ 33 4.4.1 The structure of Catholic Church in Cameroon .................................................................... 34 4.4.2 Ecclesiastical Province .......................................................................................................... 35 4.4.3 A Diocese .............................................................................................................................. 35 4.4.4 A Parish ................................................................................................................................. 36 4.5 Freedom of religion in Cameroon ............................................................................................... 36 Chapter Five: Religion and Development. ........................................................................................ 37 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 37 5.2 International faith-based organizations ...................................................................................... 38 5.3 Presenting the works of Caritas. ............................................................................................. 42 5.4 The Concept of Development Catholic perspective .................................................................. 43 5.4.1 Principle of solidarity, common good and participation. .................................................... 45 5.4.2 Principle of Subsidiarity ........................................................................................................ 48 5.4.3 The principle of peace and justice. ....................................................................................... 50 5.5 Catholics conservatism and gender ........................................................................................... 51 Chapter six: Data presentation and Analysis ........................................................................................ 51 6.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 51 6.2 Identity ........................................................................................................................................ 52 6.2.1 Mission. ................................................................................................................................ 52 6.2.2 Diakonia ................................................................................................................................ 54 6.2.3 Caritas Being a faith-based development actor ................................................................... 54 6.2.4 The added value of Caritas. .................................................................................................. 56 6.3 Development works. ................................................................................................................. 58 3 6.3.1 Types of development work ................................................................................................. 59 6.3.3 Effects to the local community. ............................................................................................ 60 6.3.5 Opinions...............................................................................................................................