Abstract

Following its accession to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 1974, Cameroon became one of the first countries to receive funding from Islamic organizations, including the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). However, the projects financed by these Islamic entities often failed to significantly enhance the living conditions of the local populations and frequently went unnoticed by them. In this context, the Société des Conserveries Alimentaires du Noun (SCAN) was established with the aim of providing stable incomes for farmers in Noun and its surrounding areas. Its mission was to reduce the importation of concentrated tomato products in Cameroon and Central Africa, which at that time exceeded 6,000 tons annually. Despite enabling local communities to participate through the cooperative COOPROVINOUN, SCAN faced substantial operational challenges. This presentation aims to illustrate how various local partners, despite receiving Islamic funding, were unable to sustain such a vital enterprise beyond two decades. To address this issue, we will employ methods from economic and social history research, including the collection of qualitative and quantitative data, documentary analysis, historical critique, and both diachronic and synchronic analysis.