The Community Initiative for Sustainable Development (COMINSUD) has positioned Bamenda’s Sisia Community as a case study for climate resilience policy and slump upgrading at a feedback workshop held at the North West Regional Delegation of MINEPAT.
Research experts, officials from UN Habitat, MINDUH, FEICOM and MINEPDEP Yaounde alongside Regional, Divisional, municipal, CSOs and community actors gathered to share insights on 2 studies on the impacts of climate change and how lessons from Sisia can shape national urban development.
The workshop presented two major outputs: a city-wide assessment using global tools to measure the negative impacts of climate change in Bamenda, and a quick guide to support the mainstreaming of climate change into national urban policies.
Sisia as a Local Community for Global Learning
Fon Nsoh, COMINSUD Coordinator, explained that while Sisia is often dismissed as a vulnerable settlement, it offers valuable lessons on resilience. “Until you go to Sisia, you would not realize that there’s a lot to learn and to share.
For us, the Sisia project has become an instrument of local learning for Bamenda, the region, the nation, and even globally,” he said.
He noted that environmental degradation upstream in Bamenda contributes significantly to the flooding and erosion challenges faced in Sisia.
Deforestation, poor construction practices, and inadequate drainage systems, he explained, channel water and waste downstream, affecting not only Sisia but also neighbourhoods across Nkwen, Mankon, Bafut, and beyond.
COMINSUD has worked with residents to strengthen community cohesion, promote environmental action through tree planting and catchment protection, and build infrastructure such as walkways to reduce landslide risks.
The organization has also used Sisia as a case study for broader climate strategies, feeding into both citywide resilience planning and national urban policy discussions.
Government Calls for Responsibility
Representing the Senior Divisional Officer for Mezam, First Assistant SDO Soubo Rene emphasized the inseparable link between combating slums and addressing climate change.
He highlighted the hazards of the Bamenda escarpment, which has witnessed several deadly landslides in recent years, including in Sisia (2022) and Mbatu (2024).
“Climate change is real and noticeable not only through rising temperatures, but also through drastic changes in our ecosystems,” he said. He urged stakeholders to integrate indigenous knowledge and take responsibility for environmental management.
Resettlement and Urban Upgrading
Regional Delegate of Housing and Urban Development, Tifuh Jacob Mbanwi, reiterated the government’s commitment to slum upgrading. He appealed to residents living in high-risk zones of Sisia to cooperate with resettlement plans, warning of the unpredictable nature of natural forces along the volcanic line.
Jacob Ngock Nwachan, country focal point for the Slum Upgrading Program in Bamenda, added that resettlement sites are being prepared at Mbung in Nkwen. Beneficiaries will repay costs over 10 years to ensure sustainability and discourage unsafe construction practices.
He described the Sisia project as a model recognized in the 2024 World Cities Report for its collaborative financing and participatory approach.
Academic Perspectives
Two academic studies presented at the workshop provided further evidence of climate pressures on Bamenda. Prof. Martin Ngwabi detailed the impacts of rising temperatures, heat stress, poor air quality, and changes in rainfall patterns on health, water resources, and biodiversity.
Meanwhile, Prof. Suiven John Paul Tume highlighted how global urban policy frameworks can inform Cameroon’s national strategies, stressing the need to align local realities with the New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals.
A Collaborative Way Forward
Participants agreed that slum upgrading and climate resilience must go hand in hand. “Working to upgrade slums is contributing to fighting climate change and improving the environment,” Fon Nsoh remarked.
The initiative was made possible thanks to funding from FEICOM and UN-Habitat as external partners and the bament City Council project owner with the Bamenda 3 Council project beneficiary.
As the workshop concluded, stakeholders echoed a common call: think globally, act locally. For Bamenda, and particularly for Sisia, the path forward lies in transforming vulnerability into resilience through inclusive, community-driven action.
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