Replication data for: Can Rural Development Projects Generate Social Capital? A Case Study of Ricinodendron heudelotii Kernel Marketing in Cameroon

Social capital is an important pillar of farmers’ livelihoods and its importance for sustainable rural development has been recognised. Nevertheless, the creation of social capital through external interventions remains challenging. This study investigated the generation of social capital within a rural development project of the World Agroforestry Centre to promote Rici nodendron heudelotii (Baill) Pierre ex Pax. kernel commercialisation. Combining quantitative and qualitative measurement techniques, the change in social capital over a period of 5 years was evaluated. Households of project villages were compared to control households. Project households increased their social assets significantly at different levels. Development interventions thus enhanced social capital, this improvement was mutually reinforced by a positive change in other farmer livelihood assets, in particular financial capital. This study reveals the complexity of social capital generation through external intervention and its implications for farmer livelihoods specifically and development work in general.