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Abstract
One of the manifestations of globalization is the massive movements and migrations of people across the world in search of life opportunities for integral development, facilitated by new technologies and communication media. However, such movements are basically unidirectional, from the global south to the northern block. The rise of a hybrid generation with a vast socio-cultural exposure fosters a unique kind of communication and participatory development that can overcome the conceptual and operational shortcomings of the previous developmental designs in sub-Saharan Africa. This essay seeks to explore how the emerging global communication platforms can enhance sustainable development in Cameroon; the effectiveness of the developmental initiatives by Cameroonians in diaspora; and the factors that contribute to failed developmental initiatives in Cameroon—in view of finding an appropriate developmental model that taps the possibilities of global participation while upholding Cameroon’s socio-cultural heritage. It employed case study of the German-founded non-profit organization, Life Education and Health Alliance e. V. (LEHA), working in Cameroon. Data was mined from other secondary sources as well as unstructured interview with the officials and beneficiaries of LEHA. The research is based on the participation and globalization theories. The results showed that globalization is a pervasive trend to be leveraged for sustainable development; Cameroon’s administrative incompetencies and bad governance are root causes of stagnation and failed developmental efforts; LEHA possesses dual socio-cultural experiences and profiles, and in collaboration with reliable home-based partners, can leverage the digital communication avenues to upscale sustainable development projects for Africa. Recommendations are made for the sanitization of the administrative machinery of the Cameroonian Government that would accommodate diaspora engagement and participation in Cameroon’s development landscape.
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