Nigel Mbaya, the Program Director of IVFCam (Interfaith Vision Cameroon) headquartered at Che Street in Ntarinkon, recently orchestrated a joint workshop.
This gathering aimed to provide a platform for participants to exchange experiences and best practices accumulated over a year of collaborative work under IVFCam. The project, "Strengthening Accountability Mechanisms in Subnational Governments in Cameroon," is funded by the International Republican Institute in partnership with
MINDEVEL and supervised by the US Embassy in Yaounde.
The initiative focuses on empowering councils to enhance accountability within their systems and toward their constituents regarding the management of local affairs and funds.
Present at the workshop were municipal council representatives from Bamenda's three municipal councils and the City Council, along with Quarter heads and village committee coordinators, all constituents of IVFCam.
Participants shared insights into the challenges encountered in establishing village committees, conducting budget orientation debates, and facilitating platforms for
councils to report back to citizens on local affairs management. Additionally,
discussions centred on the hurdles faced during public consultations.
The workshop culminated in the formulation of recommendations, intended for dissemination among councils, the government, and the project's funders. These recommendations will guide the disbursement of grants from January 2025 to December 2027.
A key emphasis of the workshop was the encouragement for municipal councils to
create village and neighbourhood committees in alignment with the July 2023 law governing the constitution of such committees. IVFCam firmly believes that adhering. to this law will lay a robust foundation for neighbourhoods and villages to foster development, community cohesion, and peace-building efforts.
Dr. Louis Angwafor, the First Deputy Mayor of Bamenda II Council and a workshop participant, highlighted the positive trajectory of development in local communities over the three-year collaboration with IVFCam. The partnership, aligned with the
Ministry of Decentralization and Local Development aims to decentralize policies for effective governance and resource allocation. Notably, the recent 2023 Ministerial
order prompted the gathering, focusing on the establishment of village committees. The workshop served as a platform for local stakeholders to enhance governance
processes collaboratively, fostering accountability and community development.
Participants gained insights into accountability practices, project facilitation, and power-sharing strategies to harmonize municipal development. Challenges such as resource constraints were acknowledged, with a call to secure resources for
empowering local stakeholders in developmental endeavours.
Dr. Angwafor reflected on the challenges faced by post-municipal elections in 2020 amidst the crisis.
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