The hurdles of service delivery integration in a pluralistic landscape: the Cameroonian cocoa sector
Purpose We investigated the existence of mechanisms to achieve integrated service delivery aimed at fostering changes in farming practices and increased sustainability in the Cameroonian cocoa sector, and whether integration is effectively achieved. Design/Methodology/Approach In-depth key informant...
| Autores principales: | , , , , , , |
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| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
Informa UK Limited
2025
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177067 |
| _version_ | 1855527715034103808 |
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| author | Kenfack Essougong, U. P. Mathé, S. Slingerland, M. Degrande, A. Masso, C. Ngome Tata, P. I. Leeuwis, C. |
| author_browse | Degrande, A. Kenfack Essougong, U. P. Leeuwis, C. Masso, C. Mathé, S. Ngome Tata, P. I. Slingerland, M. |
| author_facet | Kenfack Essougong, U. P. Mathé, S. Slingerland, M. Degrande, A. Masso, C. Ngome Tata, P. I. Leeuwis, C. |
| author_sort | Kenfack Essougong, U. P. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Purpose
We investigated the existence of mechanisms to achieve integrated service delivery aimed at fostering changes in farming practices and increased sustainability in the Cameroonian cocoa sector, and whether integration is effectively achieved.
Design/Methodology/Approach
In-depth key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and a survey were conducted with innovation service providers and cocoa farmers. Social network analysis, thematic analysis, and descriptive analysis were performed.
Findings
Results showed a pluralistic landscape with few actors that could be intermediaries in a loose network. Formal and informal spaces of interaction resulting from public or private initiatives exist. Yet, service integration remains low due to limited coordination, cooperation and collaboration, a weak regulatory framework, and a context where service delivery mostly occurs as part of externally funded projects and programmes. Consequently, there is an overlap in interventions while some services are missing, many farmers are excluded from service delivery, and the long-term sustainability of the services provided is not guaranteed.
Practical Implications
To accelerate the transition to sustainable cocoa production systems, it is necessary to develop holistic and integrated solutions, and to increase synergies and inclusiveness in service delivery.
Theoretical Implications
The research suggests distinguishing between the mechanism leading to integration in service delivery and the resulting outcomes.
Originality/Value
We propose a framework to examine the effectiveness of service delivery by examining service integration at two levels: the existence of mechanisms to ensure that service integration takes place and the outcomes of the integration process. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace177067 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Informa UK Limited |
| publisherStr | Informa UK Limited |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1770672025-12-08T09:54:28Z The hurdles of service delivery integration in a pluralistic landscape: the Cameroonian cocoa sector Kenfack Essougong, U. P. Mathé, S. Slingerland, M. Degrande, A. Masso, C. Ngome Tata, P. I. Leeuwis, C. africa agricultural innovation cocoa (plant) extension systems stakeholder analysis cameroon Purpose We investigated the existence of mechanisms to achieve integrated service delivery aimed at fostering changes in farming practices and increased sustainability in the Cameroonian cocoa sector, and whether integration is effectively achieved. Design/Methodology/Approach In-depth key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and a survey were conducted with innovation service providers and cocoa farmers. Social network analysis, thematic analysis, and descriptive analysis were performed. Findings Results showed a pluralistic landscape with few actors that could be intermediaries in a loose network. Formal and informal spaces of interaction resulting from public or private initiatives exist. Yet, service integration remains low due to limited coordination, cooperation and collaboration, a weak regulatory framework, and a context where service delivery mostly occurs as part of externally funded projects and programmes. Consequently, there is an overlap in interventions while some services are missing, many farmers are excluded from service delivery, and the long-term sustainability of the services provided is not guaranteed. Practical Implications To accelerate the transition to sustainable cocoa production systems, it is necessary to develop holistic and integrated solutions, and to increase synergies and inclusiveness in service delivery. Theoretical Implications The research suggests distinguishing between the mechanism leading to integration in service delivery and the resulting outcomes. Originality/Value We propose a framework to examine the effectiveness of service delivery by examining service integration at two levels: the existence of mechanisms to ensure that service integration takes place and the outcomes of the integration process. 2025 2025-10-14T13:29:11Z 2025-10-14T13:29:11Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177067 en Open Access application/pdf Informa UK Limited Kenfack Essougong, U.P., Mathé, S., Slingerland, M., Degrande, A., Masso, C., Ngome Tata, P.I., & Leeuwis, C. (2025). The hurdles of service delivery integration in a pluralistic landscape: the Cameroonian cocoa sector. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 1-25. |
| spellingShingle | africa agricultural innovation cocoa (plant) extension systems stakeholder analysis cameroon Kenfack Essougong, U. P. Mathé, S. Slingerland, M. Degrande, A. Masso, C. Ngome Tata, P. I. Leeuwis, C. The hurdles of service delivery integration in a pluralistic landscape: the Cameroonian cocoa sector |
| title | The hurdles of service delivery integration in a pluralistic landscape: the Cameroonian cocoa sector |
| title_full | The hurdles of service delivery integration in a pluralistic landscape: the Cameroonian cocoa sector |
| title_fullStr | The hurdles of service delivery integration in a pluralistic landscape: the Cameroonian cocoa sector |
| title_full_unstemmed | The hurdles of service delivery integration in a pluralistic landscape: the Cameroonian cocoa sector |
| title_short | The hurdles of service delivery integration in a pluralistic landscape: the Cameroonian cocoa sector |
| title_sort | hurdles of service delivery integration in a pluralistic landscape the cameroonian cocoa sector |
| topic | africa agricultural innovation cocoa (plant) extension systems stakeholder analysis cameroon |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177067 |
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