Administrative Performance in the Service of Female Entrepreneurship in Cameroon: Role of Gender Policies in Decentralization and Local Development Reforms

This communication analyzes the impact of gender policies in decentralization and local development reforms, specifically examining their influence on the performance of the Cameroonian administration in terms of female entrepreneurship. The issue raised for this purpose is the following: How do gender policies contribute to strengthening the effectiveness of decentralization and local development reforms to promote female entrepreneurship in Cameroon? The context of decentralization and local development reforms in Cameroon has seen the establishment of legal and institutional provisions to promote gender equality and women's empowerment, as well as specific programs to support female entrepreneurship. According to Kamdem (2011)1, few studies have looked at the specific case of Cameroon and the impact of gender policies on administrative performance in terms of female entrepreneurship.

Drawing on feminist theories according to Falquet J. (2005)2, the capabilities approach of Amartya Sen according to Monnet E. (2007)3 and the institutional theory of Max Weber according to Belley (1988), we will see along of this article how by acquiring the necessary skills to assimilate the issues and challenges linked to the understanding of gender policies, the Cameroonian administration will be able to better legally and socially supervise female entrepreneurship, from a local development perspective.

This analysis being carried out in a context of decentralization, the article specifically examines the impact of gender policies in the performance of the administration of the municipality of Yaoundé 1 to support women entrepreneurs in the district.

. The methodology is based on a qualitative approach, based on semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders and statistical data. The results of the study indicate that gender policies in the reforms have had positive effects on female entrepreneurship in Cameroon specifically within the commune of Yaoundé 1, in terms of access to financing, training and participation in local decision-making bodies.