Human Resource Management Practices and Employee Commitment:

A Study in Non-Governmental Organizations in Crises Regions in Cameroon

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between Human Resource Management Practices (HRMP) and employee commitment in Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) operating in crisis-affected regions of Cameroon. The study aimed to investigate how HRMP dimensions, specifically effective communication, justice and fairness practices, employee involvement and participation, and job security, affect the commitment of employees working in fragile humanitarian settings, encompassing affective, normative, and continuance commitment.

Methods: A quantitative approach was employed, using a cross-sectional, correlational research design. Data were collected at a single point in time from staff across 110 NGOs in the South West, North West, and Far North Regions, selected purposively to ensure representation of organizations actively engaged in humanitarian response. Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) and multivariate ordinary least squares (OLS) were used to estimate the effects of HRMP dimensions on employee commitment.

Results: The findings revealed that effective communication had a significant and positive influence on overall, affective, and normative commitment, while exhibiting a negative relationship with continuance commitment. Similarly, job security was positively and significantly associated with overall, affective, and normative commitment, but negatively associated with continuance commitment.

Implications: The study offers actionable insights for NGO managers, policymakers, and donors operating in fragile and conflict-affected contexts by promoting the institutionalization of transparent communication systems and ensuring job security.

Originality: This research contributes to the limited empirical literature on HRMP and employee commitment in crisis-affected environments, particularly within Cameroon’s NGO sector.

Limitations: The study relied on self-reported data collected at a single point in time, which may introduce response bias and limit causal inference. Additionally, the focus on NGOs in three regions of Cameroon limits the generalizability of the findings to other contexts or sectors.