Regional Development Plans : Main Areas Of Concern

Regional Councils are decentralised institutions put in place on December 6, 2020 within the framework of accelerating the decentralisation process in Cameroon. According to the General Code on Regional and Local Authorities, one of the main objectives of Regional Councils is to ensure the development of their areas of jurisdiction, hence the Regional Development Plan. The law gives Regional Councils the prerogative to develop, adopt and implement their respective plans. This is done in consultation with experts and resource persons from the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development and other concerned ministries. The said plans cover a five-year timeframe (2022-2027) and its execution is the responsibility of the institutions included in their annual budgets. In order to ensure harmonious regional development, the Ministers of Finance, and of Decentralisation and Local Development, since the putting in place of the institution always jointly sign a circular relating to the preparation of budgets of regional and local authorities. Some Regional Councils have already adopted their plans while others are in the concluding phase and will be adopted in no distance time. 
An overview of the respective plans reveal that several areas of concern were taken into consideration. In the crisis-hit North West, South West and Far North Regions, pride of place is given to enhancing social cohesion, revamping economic activities through support to community entrepreneurs, reconstructing destroyed health centres and educational establishments especially at the primary and secondary school levels. Ensuring access to other basic social amenities cuts across the different plans. Furthermore, providing portable water to the rural and urban population alike as well as electricity and roads feature prominently on these plans. With most villages in the regions being predominantly agriculturally-oriented, making ...