A rapid assessment of rural transport services in Southern Province, Cameroon Guy Augustin Kemtsop 2007 The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Practical Action Consulting, WSP or the Sub Saharan Africa Transport Policy Program for who the document was prepared. The figures quoted relating to various transport costs are estimations and/or approximations based on the survey findings. Since the information was collected, there may have been changes in exchange rates, fuel prices, taxes and other costs. It is believed the figures quoted still give valid 'order-of-magnitude' indications of costs and prices and that the comparisons and conclusions made here are still broadly valid. Naturally, up-to-date data should be used for detailed transport planning and decision making. Cover photograph Rural transport in Southern Cameroon © Paul Starkey networking with members of the International Forum for Rural Transport and Development A rapid assessment of rural transport services in Southern Province, Cameroon by Guy Augustin Kemtsop Transport Expert, Cameroon Study undertaken in collaboration with Paul Starkey Team Leader October 2007 Study undertaken by Practical Action Consulting for the Sub Sahara Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP) as part of a project to develop a methodology for the rapid assessment of rural transport services Table of contents Table of contents..................................................................................................................................... i List of tables, figures and maps........................................................................................................... iii List of boxes .......................................................................................................................................... iv List of acronyms .................................................................................................................................... v Foreword................................................................................................................................................ v Acknowledgement ................................................................................................................................ vi 1- Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 1 2- Survey background and methodology ........................................................................................ 2 3- Introduction to the surveyed area...............................................................................................3 3.1- Administration and population............................................................................................... 3 3.1.1- Population and settlement pattern ................................................................................. 3 3.1.2- Local authorities / administrative arrangements ........................................................... 4 3.1.3- Ethnic diversity and religious makeup .......................................................................... 5 3.2- Natural resources ................................................................................................................... 5 3.2.1- Land area, terrain and topography................................................................................. 5 3.2.2- Climate and weather...................................................................................................... 5 3.2.3- Land use systems and farming systems......................................................................... 6 3.3- Economy and services............................................................................................................6 3.3.1- Major economic activities ............................................................................................. 6 3.3.2- Average income............................................................................................................. 7 3.3.3- Brief info on service provision...................................................................................... 9 3.3.4- Telephone coverage..................................................................................................... 11 3.3.5- Electricity coverage..................................................................................................... 12 3.3.6- Seasonality .................................................................................................................. 12 4- Survey results.............................................................................................................................. 13 4.1- Policy and regulatory environment...................................................................................... 13 4.2- Views of key informants on policy...................................................................................... 15 4.2.1- National Authorities .................................................................................................... 15 4.2.2- Regional and district Authorities................................................................................. 16 4.2.3- Police........................................................................................................................... 18 4.2.4- Transport Associations................................................................................................ 18 4.2.5- Financial organisation ................................................................................................. 19 4.3- Road network and road conditions in surveyed area ........................................................... 19 4.3.1- Road network .............................................................................................................. 19 4.3.2- Road conditions........................................................................................................... 21 4.3.3- Graphical illustration of survey location in the country.............................................. 24 4.4- Existing transport services in the area.................................................................................. 25 4.4.1- Water transport............................................................................................................ 25 4.4.2- Intermodal links .......................................................................................................... 25 4.4.3- Types of traffic............................................................................................................ 25 4.4.4- Overview regional transport, with types and volumes of traffic................................. 27 4.4.5- Overview market town hub and transport ................................................................... 30 4.4.6- Overview village hub and transport ............................................................................ 30 4.4.7- Overview of the transport fleet.................................................................................... 31 4.4.8- Transport types on the different spokes ...................................................................... 32 4.5- Demand for rural transport services and user perspectives: Overview of demand and satisfaction information..................................................................................................................... 34 A rapid assessment of rural transport services in Southern Province, Cameroon i 4.5.1- Specific cases of Farmers............................................................................................ 34 4.5.2- Traders.........................................................................................................................34 4.5.3- Employees and financial services users ...................................................................... 36 4.5.4- Students....................................................................................................................... 36 4.5.5- Health users................................................................................................................. 36 4.5.6- Household managers (housewives)............................................................................. 36 4.5.7- Transport for socio-cultural reasons............................................................................ 37 4.5.8- Excluded people - old, handicapped, socially marginalised........................................ 37 4.5.9- Pedestrians................................................................................................................... 37 4.6- Rural transport services technologies and costs................................................................... 38 4.6.1- Lorries of various sizes ............................................................................................... 38 4.6.2- Highly modified vehicles for specific needs ............................................................... 38 4.6.3- Profitable motorcycle taxis.......................................................................................... 39 4.6.4- Overpriced bicycles..................................................................................................... 39 4.6.5- Summary table of operator costs................................................................................