Exploring Lease Finance, Crowd funding, and Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) as Alternative Sources of Finance for Community Development Projects in Regional and Local Authorities in the Northwest Region of Cameroon: Implications for NDS30

Abstract

Access to sustainable financing remains a major challenge for regional and local authorities in Cameroon in their efforts to implement community development projects. Traditional financing sources, including central government transfers and commercial bank loans, have often proven inadequate to meet growing infrastructure and service delivery needs. These constraints have contributed to delays in project implementation and limited development outcomes, particularly in the Northwest Region. This study explores three alternative financing mechanisms—lease finance, crowdfunding, and public–private partnerships (PPPs)—as potential instruments for strengthening local development financing within Cameroon’s decentralized governance framework. Using an exploratory research design grounded in a systematic review of empirical literature and relevant theoretical perspectives, the study examines the applicability, strengths, weaknesses, and contextual suitability of these financing mechanisms for community development initiatives. The findings indicate that lease finance and PPPs provide structured long-term financing opportunities and facilitate risk sharing between public and private actors, thereby enhancing the capacity of local authorities to undertake capital-intensive infrastructure projects. Crowdfunding, on the other hand, offers a complementary grassroots financing mechanism capable of mobilizing community contributions and diaspora resources while promoting citizen participation in development initiatives. Despite these opportunities, institutional weaknesses, limited financial literacy, weak digital infrastructure, and regulatory gaps continue to constrain the effective adoption of these mechanisms. The study therefore recommends targeted policy reforms, strengthened institutional capacity, and improved regulatory frameworks aligned with Cameroon’s National Development Strategy 2030 (NDS30) to facilitate the effective integration of alternative financing mechanisms into local development planning.