La décentralisation au Cameroun

Seventy-one councils in the Centre Region of Cameroon are actively embracing Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to revolutionize their tu operations and better serve their citizens. A recent capacity-building seminar, organized by the National Agency for Information and Communication Technologies (ANTIC) in Mbalngong, is equipping local council ICT officers with the skills and knowledge to drive this digital transformation. The seminar, themed « Local Development in the Era of Digital Transformation, » underscores the critical role of ICT in modernizing local governance. This initiative directly addresses the need for councils to leverage the power of ICT to improve efficiency, transparency, and citizen engagement. While a baseline assessment reveals that only 25.3% of councils in the region have websites and a limited number utilize social media, this training marks a significant step towards bridging the digital divide. Prof. Ebot Ebot Enaw, Director-General of ANTIC, emphasized the transformative potential of ICT for local councils. « ICT is no longer an option, but a necessity, » he stated during his opening address. The seminar curriculum is designed to provide practical training in key areas, including IT master plan development, information system security, digitization of civil registry records, ICT project financing, change management, and ICT project management. By equipping local councils with the tools and knowledge to effectively utilize ICT, ANTIC is contributing to the government’s decentralization efforts and empowering communities to thrive in the digital age. This initiative builds upon ANTIC’s ongoing efforts to train ICT staff across the country, with 44% of Cameroon’s 360 councils already benefiting from similar programs. The Centre Region seminar represents a significant step forward in realizing the vision of a digitally empowered local government sector, driving sustainable development and improved quality of life for all citizens.