Douala III: Community Action Centre for Grassroots Development

The Community Action Centre in Douala III on Thursday June 18 organised its first meeting that saw the drafting of an action plan. The centre which is affiliated to the ministry of agriculture and rural development and placed under municipal councils, is emerging as a key driver of grassroots development, helping bridge the gap between local councils and the population through the promotion of neighbourhood and village committees. Created in July 2018 as part of decentralization efforts, the centre has steadily grown into an important structure for community organization and local development. It has a mission to support communities in identifying their needs, structuring themselves, and developing projects that improve living conditions. Speaking during the first committee meeting on Thursday June 18, the mayor of the Douala III council, Valentin Epoupa Bossambo, said the structure is designed to work directly with neighbourhood and village committees, which serve as relays between the council and local populations. “Neighbourhood committees are an important instrument because they identify the needs of the people and report them to the council. They act as the link between the population and the local administration,” he said. According to the director of the centre Madam Djomwo Bougha Kengne Anastasie, the centre also plays a coordinating role by ensuring that development actions carried out by councils, communities and non-governmental organizations are better organized and aligned with the actual needs of the population. From its creation, the Community Action Centre has seen major progress such as the rehabilitation of the access road with support from the Public Investment Budget amounting to CFA 16 million. The mayor of Douala III, who serves as chairperson of the management board, has also overseen the provision of a borehole and other facilities to ensure the proper functioning of the centre. The meeting wa...