Urban platform in Cameroon

A multi-stakeholder dialogue framework on urban public policies will make it possible to build a common vision of urban issues in Cameroon between the various stakeholders: local and national authorities, public, private and civil society stakeholders, municipalities, etc.

It will also contribute to strengthening the coherence and efficiency of the action of urban operators in Cameroon. Indeed, working groups will evaluate and capitalise on the practices of field operators that hold back effective territorial management or, on the contrary, facilitate quality urban development.

High-level technical expertise will be mobilised (French, European and regional parliamentarians, highly skilled local and international technical experts) at key moments to strengthen the technical skills of local authorities in terms of urban planning, territorial development and awareness-raising among urban operators.

About 20 years ago, the country adopted a set of regulatory texts establishing the implementation of tools and strategies for territorial planning and development. Urban operators are still relatively unaware of these documents.

The collection of social-territorial data accessible to operators in territorial development could provide all stakeholders in urban development with a core data set (base maps, censuses, identification of equipment and infrastructure, urban density, etc.) which are essential for urban planning and management.

The main direct beneficiaries of the project will be:

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MINHDU): a longstanding actor in territorial planning and the production of equipment and infrastructure in urban areas

• The Ministry of Decentralisation and Local Development (MINDDEVEL): it is responsible for developing, monitoring, implementing and evaluating the Government’s decentralisation policy and promoting local development

• The Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT): it is responsible for developing and implementing the national economic policy, its planning and territorial development

• The Ministry of Domains, Cadastre and Land Affairs (MINDCAF): it is responsible for developing and implementing the Government’s policy on public domains, cadastres and land

• Cameroon’s local authorities, especially the municipalities of Yaoundé, Douala and Maroua, will benefit from a framework for public policy dialogue, an improved legal framework and feedback from the experiences of the project activities.