Rural livelihood strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review on Cameroon

Rural populations often rely on diverse and complex livelihood strategies to survive. However, existing studies predominantly emphasize diversification, overlooking other critical strategies such as intensification and extensification. A comprehensive examination of rural livelihood strategies is crucial for informing pro-poor policy decisions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where poverty remains widespread. This study conducts a systematic literature review on multiple rural livelihood strategies in Cameroon, a representative SSA country characterized by diverse geo-ecological settings and a marked rural-urban divide. Using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, we analyzed the selected literature through four broad livelihood strategies: diversification, agricultural intensification, extensification, and migration. Our findings reveal that over 90% of the reviewed studies focus on diversification, highlighting activities such as mixed cropping, fish farming, and agroforestry, with forests being the most extensively researched resource system in Cameroon. Agricultural intensification and extensification are featured in over half of the studies, while migration is addressed in over a quarter. This underscores the complexity of rural livelihood strategies, often dominated by combinations of diversification with either intensification or extensification. While the prominence of livelihood diversification aligns with findings from other SSA reviews, our study emphasizes its role within a broader, more complex mix of strategies. Additionally, the significant representation of intensification and extensification highlights their critical role in rural livelihoods. These insights reinforce the importance of adopting a multifaceted approach to rural development policies in SSA. Promoting a combination of strategies rather than focusing solely on diversification can more effectively enhance rural livelihoods and alleviate poverty.