Psycho-Social Engineering in Action: Ntambag, Bamenda, Cameroon

Social Engineering  in Action:  Ntambag, Bamenda, Cameroon.

Plans had to be changed this morning (Sunday, Feb. 23^rd).  Twenty five families were suddenly going to be compromised because an engineer made a decision to make the road through a community straight.  When Mme. Oussematou got the call this morning, there was no question in her mind, she must meet with the Council immediately tomorrow morning to negotiate the situation through to a compromise. 

Community planning began several years ago in Ntambag Old Town.  Development funds had been designated.  What projects were most important to the community and how could these project best be implemented?  It took the community more than one year to choose the project and assess the implications.  The community chose to rebuild roads and bridges, water and sewer.   

Although the social engineering approach courses talk about  changing social reality with the help of planning, programming, predicting and forecasting, Mme. Oussematou goes much further than the text book.  Involving the community in choosing their project means everyone must be part of assessing the implications of the changes on the lives of all people in the community.  On Feb. 12, 2014, we had the opportunity to follow the team: a civil engineer, water engineer, town  planner and the social engineer. 

The social engineer looks at how people’s safety and lives are affected.  Where the bridges are being constructed, are there proper barriers so traffic is alerted and will not venture into unsafe territory.  Can people cross on a temporary bridge safely, including motorbikes.  Are the workers on site wearing safety hats and boots.  

Are there children working, splitting rock for example.  When we came to the area where a big grader was moving a lot of red soil, Oussematou yelled with her hand up to the driver to stop so we could cross! 

Children must have safe access to their schools, people must be able to enter their houses, business people their businesses. 

These streets are going to provide a double width road with proper gutters for good drainage in wet season.  But, in order to do this, some of the houses are going to have to be cut back.  Some will lose fronts, some half the house.  Some overhangs.  All must agree and be compensated.  The job of the Social Engineer.   Grave sites must be treated with dignity and properly preserved and respected. 

So, this morning, someone who is in administration made a decision that will cause 25 families houses to be compromised to make the street a little straighter.  Hence, the need for citizen representation at council to negotiate a compromise or at least lend understanding to the situation.

Talks went on for several hours as they toured the site.  Oussematou was very pleased with the results.  Only one house instead of 23 had to be cut and that house is a corner house and visibility around the corner was needed for safety reasons.


To see Psycho-Social Engineering in Action:
http://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/psychosocial-engineering-in-ntambag-bamenda-cameroon-africa