Local councils may soon manage water infrastructure without full external aid after talks in Yaoundé.
Cameroon's Water and Energy Minister Gaston Eloundou Essomba met with French development partners on October 19 to discuss financing rural water services. The goal is to enable local councils to manage and maintain water infrastructure without complete reliance on external support. Representatives from Gescod and the Alsace-Moselle Water and Sanitation Syndicate (SDEA) attended the discussions in Yaoundé.
The meeting reviewed ongoing intercommunal water management projects, examining their financial and operational challenges and exploring avenues to enhance cooperation. A key focus was the capacity of local authorities to mobilize resources, maintain existing water infrastructure, and ensure consistent service delivery to communities. This initiative builds upon cooperation programs already in place in Cameroon's Centre Region.
The intercommunal management model involves neighboring councils pooling technical expertise, personnel, and financial resources. This approach aims to strengthen local management capabilities while distributing operational responsibilities and costs among participating councils. The ministry stated that this model is intended to improve the sustainability of rural water supply and sanitation services.
Why it mattersLocal councils are affected by discussions on how to finance and maintain water infrastructure, impacting their ability to provide services.
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