COUNTRY PROFILE 2019 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN CAMEROON SUMMARY Cameroon is a bicameral parliamentary republic with two levels of government, national and local (regions and councils). There is constitutional provision for local government, as well as for an intermediary higher territorial tier (regions), although this has yet to be implemented. The main laws governing local government are Law No. 2004/17 on the Orientation of Decentralization, Law No. 2004/18 on Rules Applicable to Councils, and Law No. 2004/19 on Rules Applicable to Regions. The Ministry of Decentralization and Local Government is responsible for government policy on territorial administration and local government. There are 374 local government councils, consisting of 360 municipal councils and 14 city councils. There are also 45 district sub-divisions within the cities. Local councils are empowered to levy taxes and charges including direct council taxes, cattle tax and licences. The most important mechanism for revenue-sharing is the Additional Council Taxes levy on national taxation, of which 70% goes to the councils. All councils have similar responsibilities and powers for service delivery with the exception of the sub-divisional councils, which have a modified set of powers. Council responsibility for service delivery includes utilities, town planning, health, social services and primary education.

1. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT QQ Decree 1987/1366: City Council of Douala Cameroon is a unitary republic with a QQ Law 2009/019 on the Local Fiscal System 10.1a bicameral parliament. The head of QQ Law 2012/001 on the Electoral Code, state is the president, who is directly as amended by Law 2012/017. elected by universal adult suffrage for an unlimited number of seven-year terms. KEY FACTS 2.3 Proposed legislative changes The parliament is called Assemblée Nationale. The president appoints the head No legislative changes are proposed. POPULATION (2020 estimate): of government, the prime minister. The 26,635,592 Assemblée Nationale is elected every five 2.4 Traditional leadership AREA (UN 2012): years on a direct universal suffrage basis. It Local chiefs are auxiliaries of the local 475,442 sq km has 180 members and sits three times a administration and chiefs are permitted year, for a maximum of 30 days per sitting. to, and often do, take part in local CAPITAL: An upper chamber, known as the , elections. They also play an important role Yaoundé was constituted in 2013 and comprises 100 in encouraging people to turn out to vote. CURRENCY: senators who sit for a five-year term. There Central Africa Franc (XAF) are 70 elected senators, ten from each of 2.5 National urban policy the seven regions, who are elected by the HEAD OF STATE: Following the signing of the UN’s New councillors of the 360 municipal councils. President Urban Agenda by the Government of There are also 30 senators appointed by Cameroon in 2016, the Ministry of Housing HEAD OF GOVERNMENT: the president - with a minimum of three and Urban Development has started Prime Minister Joseph Ngute from each region. Following the 2013 to develop a national urban policy. A national elections, 31.1% (56/180) of elected FORM OF GOVERNMENT: cross-government workshop held in May representatives, and from March 2018 republic 201710.2c identified eight critical factors for 26.0% (26/100) of senators, were women.10.1b success in developing a national urban PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM: policy for Cameroon. These included: bicameral 2. LEGAL BASIS FOR linking national urban policy to territorial STATE STRUCTURE: LOCAL GOVERNMENT planning; supporting evidence-based unitary 2.1 Constitutional provisions policy-making; linking the national urban Section 55 (2) of the constitution10.2a policy to the Cameroon ‘Vision 2035’; LANGUAGES: states that regional and local authorities continuous capacity development of French and English (official) actors including senior officials; working shall have administrative and NATIONAL ELECTIONS: with various ‘champions’ and change financial autonomy and shall be freely National assembly: agents to promote transformational administered by elected councils. last: Feb 2020, turnout: 43.8%; next: 2027 leadership; taking into account culture and diversity; aiming at better Presidential: 2.2 Main legislative texts management of land; and adopting, last: Oct 2018, turnout: 82.2% next: 2025 QQ Law No. 2004/17 of July 2004 on the smart, urban development approaches. Orientation of Decentralization10.2b WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT (2020): QQ Law No. 2004/18 of July 2004 comprising 33.9% 3. STRUCTURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT Rules Applicable to Councils LOCAL ELECTIONS: 3.1 Local government within the state QQ Law No. 2004/19 of July 2004 comprising last: Feb 2020, turnout: 43.8%; next: 2027 Rules Applicable to Regions. Cameroon is divided into ten administrative regions. Regions are in turn divided WOMEN COUNCILLORS (2013): into divisions (départements), which ~28.0% Other decrees and laws relating to local are further divided into sub-divisions LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE government include: (arrondissements), which correspond to the as a percentage of total government QQ Law No. 1987/015: sets up city councils 374 local government councils. budget 2015/16: QQ Decree 1987/1365: City Council of Yaoundé 2.9%

www.clgf.org.uk/cameroon 43 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN cameroon COUNTRY PROFILE 2019

Table 10.1a Distribution of councils and population

Region Councils Cities City sub-divisions Population Population % rural (district) (2005 Census) (2017 estimate) (2005 Census)

Adamawa 22 1 3 884,289 1,182,998 61.2

Centre 71 1 7 3,098,044 4,147,506 28.1

East 33 1 2 771,755 1,033,370 63.5

Far North 48 1 3 3,11,792 4,166,210 77.6

Littoral 34 3 11 2,510,263 3,359,620 7.4

North 22 1 3 1,687,959 2,258,450 72.1

North West 35 1 3 1,728,953 2,302,871 62.9

West 41 1 3 1,720,047 2,104,146 57.4

South 21 2 4 634,655 848,672 64.2

South West 33 2 6 1,316,079 1,844,201 57.5

TOTAL 360 14 45 17,463,836 23,248,044 51.2

Source: MDLG communication with CLGF, 2005 Census10.3a and the National Institute of Statistics population estimates10..3b The 2008 constitutional amendments The deliberative body of the city council 4.4 Women’s representation made provision for an intermediate comprises the executive team, the Following the 2013 elections, around regional level of local government, but this sub-divisional council mayors and one 28% of councillors were women, up from has yet to be implemented. additional councillor designated by each around 1.5% following the 2009 election of the sub-divisional councils. (see Table 10.1b). The number of female 3.2 Ministerial oversight chairpersons/mayors following the 2013 3.3.3 Sub-divisional councils are council The Ministry of Decentralisation and Local elections was 9.1% (30/330), also up, areas created within any city council Development10.3c (‘MINDDEVEL’) was from 3.9% (14/345) in 2009. The number area. Most city councils have two or created by Presidential Decree on the 2nd of of female deputies following the 2013 three sub-divisional council areas, but March 2018. The ministry is responsible for election was 33.2% (332/1,000). (Awaiting Yaoundé and Douala have seven and six developing, implementing and evaluating data for 2020.) respectively. The sub-divisional councils government policy on decentralisation, are headed by directly elected mayors. as well as promoting local government. 5. SYSTEMS FOR MINDLEVELis also the supervisory authority COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT of the state-owned Special Council Support 4. ELECTIONS 5.1 Legal requirement Fund for Mutual Assistance (‘FEICOM’) All elections are managed and The National Programme of Participatory National Civil Status Registration Office supervised by Elections Cameroon Development (‘PNDP’) was set up in 2005 10.4 (‘BUNEC’) and the Local Government (‘ELECAM’). ELECAM has regional in collaboration with the World Bank10.5a Training Centre, CEFAM. and divisional representatives, and at and other development partners. Building divisional level the preparation and on this, there is strong participation by 3.3 Council types conduct of elections is overseen by communities in the drawing up of a There are three main types of councils: divisional supervisory commissions. council’s development plan. city councils, sub-divisional councils (within a city council), and councils. 4.1 Recent local elections 5.2 Implementation The most recent local elections were held In its second phase (2010-2013), the 3.3.1 Councils lack the status granted to on February 9th 2020 with a turnout of PNDP provided a funding mechanism city councils. All councils are headed by a 43.8%, down from 76.8% in 2013. to strengthen the capacities of councils directly elected mayor who is supported in local development. The third phase’s by a team of councillors; their number 4.2 Voting system focuses on strengthening local public depends on the population size. The Councillors are elected by universal suffrage finance management and participatory council can appoint commissions to work with elections taking place according to a development processes in councils for on any relevant issues, and membership mixed list system. The leader of the council the delivery of quality and sustainable can include non-councillors and must is a mayor who is elected by and from social and economic infrastructure. The be convened during the council’s first amongst the councillors. Pan African Institute has been on the year. Typically, their remit would include PNDP project since its inception in 2011 planning, public works, education, markets and has contributed substantially to the 4.3 Elected representatives and other facilities, or health. successful implementation in some parts The mayor is supported by councillors, of the country. 3.3.2 City councils serve urban areas, their whose number varies according to the territory overarches that of sub-divisional constituency population as follows: 5.3 ICT use in citizen engagement councils. They are headed by government QQ less than 50,000: 25 councillors No infomation available. delegates appointed by the president QQ 50,000–100,000: 31 councillors; who mirror all the duties and powers of QQ 100,001–200,000: 35 councillors; mayors. They are assisted by an executive QQ 200,001–300,000: 41 councillors; team composed of persons appointed by QQ over 300,000: 61 councillors. order of the president.

44 www.clgf.org.uk/cameroon COUNTRY PROFILE 2019 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN cameroon

Table 10.1b Elected women representatives following the last two election periods 9.3 Transfers

Women elected representatives 2009–2013 2013–2017 Local authorities receive block grant revenue from national government Councillors # % # % through MINDDLEVEL via its Special Council Support Fund for Mutual Female councillors 149 ~1.5 na ~28.0 Assistance (Fonds Spécial d’Equipement et d’Intervention Intercommunale or Male councillors ~9,851 ~98.5 na ~72.0 FEICOM)10.9b based in Yaoundé with Total councillors ~10,000 100.0 na 100.0 ten regional branches. These grants are weighted according to a council’s Mayors/chairpersons # % # % population, surface area and other considerations. Top priorities for FEICOM’s Female mayors/chairpersons 14 3.9 30 9.0 own resources include utilities and urban Male mayors/chairpersons 345 96.1 330 91.0 development. Funding is also available for the training of council staff. FEICOM Total mayors/chairpersons 359 100.0 360 100.0 also provides councils with non-financial support, including expert technical ~ = approximate Source: MDLG communication with CLGF assistance, project evaluation, and other 6. ORGANISED LOCAL GOVERNMENT Office (Brigade de Contrôle des Collectivités facilities. This is a vital role, given the lack of technical competence in many 6.1 National local government association Territoriales Décentralisées) to monitor councils. FEICOM’s key revenue role is the The United Councils and Cities of the functioning of local and regional nationalised collection and redistribution Cameroon10.6 (UCCC) was formed from authorities. of the Additional Council Tax levy the merger of the Cameroon Association (Centimes Additionnels Communaux of Towns (‘ACVC’) and the Cameroon 9. FINANCE, STAFFING AND RESOURCES or ‘CAC’). CAC is a 10% levy on certain Union of Towns and Councils (‘UCVC’). 9.1 Local government expenditure categories of national taxation specifically The association provides members In 2015/16 local government expenditure destined for council finance. Taxes that with information and capacity-building was approximately 2.9% of total this levy is applied to include general training, disseminates good practice, and government expenditure;10.9a; see income tax, business tax, entertainment also provides financial services. table 10.2b. Anecdotal evidence indicates tax, and value-added tax. CAC revenue is that most rural councils spend only on collected and allocated as follows: 10% 6.2 Other associations of local government the most vital core functions, such as to national government, 20% to FEICOM The Public Body for International staff costs, road maintenance, pharmacy, and 70% to councils. Of the total that goes Cooperation (‘OPCI’) has also been set healthcare and education. Larger urban to councils, 20% goes to Douala; 40% to up to coordinate councils at divisional councils are committed to a wider range Yaoundé and 36% to other councils. The level and build links with local authorities of services. remaining 4% is retained by FEICOM and overseas. Councils are permitted to seek used for a range of purposes, for example decentralised cooperation ties with local to compensate councils for revenue that 9.2 Locally raised revenue governments abroad, especially in Europe. is paid beyond their borders, to support Local councils are empowered to levy infrastructure projects in border councils taxes and charges including direct 7. INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS or to help councils affected by natural council taxes, cattle tax and licences, disaster. Forty per cent of forestry royalties The UCCC acts in an advisory capacity to market trading licences, ground rents on are also redistributed to councils on a per the national government. In situations shops and public transport licences. They capita basis. However, the fragmented where approval for action is required from can also charge a business levy, which is nature of revenue appropriation and national government, senior divisional an annual licence payment calculated the widely varying circumstances of officers must acknowledge and respond on a sliding scale according to the nature individual councils has led to considerable to a council request within 15 days. and size of an individual’s economic inequalities in resources. activity, with a maximum assessment of 8. MONITORING SYSTEMS XAF100,000 (US$171). There are a number of national government bodies which monitor the finances of local authorities. These include the National Regional and Local Authorities Control Squad of MINDDEVEL. The National Council Table 10.2a Income and expenditure for local government 2015/16 for Decentralisation (‘CND’), which is charged Income 2015/16 XAFbn Expenditure 2015/16 XAFbn with the follow-up and evaluation of the implementation of decentralisation, and the Centre–local transfers Administration Interministerial Committee on Local Services (‘CISL’) which is an interministerial organ for Special Council Support Fund 10.0 Staff na consultation, are placed under the authority Transferred to local authorities 38.1 Other administrative costs na of the minister in charge of decentralisation. The minister’s mission is to ensure the Locally raised revenue Services preparation and the follow-up of transfers of competences and resources to regional and Council taxes 55.5 Roads na local authorities (councils) by the competent authorities. Legislation passed in 2003 Licences and fees na Water na provides for an Audit Bench (‘CC’) under the Other income na Other na Supreme Court to enforce proper standards in the collection and use of council taxes TOTAL INCOME 123.6 TOTAL EXPENDITURE ~123.6 and accounting procedures. Decree 2004/099 provides for an Audit ~ = approximate Source: MINATD communication with CLGF

www.clgf.org.uk/cameroon 45 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN cameroon COUNTRY PROFILE 2019

Table 10.2b Local government expenditure 10.3a Cameroon Census 2005 as a percentage of total government expenditure 2013–2017 population by residence 2015/16 est 2016/17 est 2017/18 budgeted http://cameroon.opendataforafrica. XAFbn XAFbn XAFbn org/dqhimmc/residence 10.3b National Institute of Statistics (NIS) Total government expenditure 4,249.8 na na www.statistics-cameroon.org. The Total local government expenditure 123.6 227.5 na last Census was in 2005; estimates are calculated by NIS using an Local government expenditure as a estimated population growth. 2.9% na na percentage of total government expenditure 10.3c Ministry of Decentralisation and Local Development 10.9a Source: MINATD communication with CLGF, and budget statement 2016 www.spm.gov.cm/site/?q=fr/content/ 9.4 Loans In practice, smaller councils have difficulty elanga-obam-georges FEICOM also authorises loans for revenue fulfilling their statutory duties without a 10.4 Elections Cameroon: General report and capital spending. FEICOM’s priorities, radical increase in their funding, although on the conduct of the twin legislative in line with other similar organisations in Law No. 2004/017 on decentralisation and municipal elections of 30 Africa, are capital projects of social value, specifies that where services have been September 2013 including schools, utilities, healthcare transferred, any relevant infrastructure and www.elecam.cm/en/documentation/ and transport infrastructure. Loans are for resources should also be transferred. reports.html a maximum of two years. The proportion Chronic budgetary shortfalls and 10.5a Third Phase of the Community of loan to grant depends on the type of dilapidated infrastructure, however, create Development Programme project being funded. situations that are difficult for often poorly Support Project http://documents. staffed local authorities to manage. Major worldbank.org/curated/ 9.5 Local authority staff capital expenditure is needed, but this en/740631520503822784/Cadre- problem has not been fully addressed The secretary-general (head of the de-politique-de-deplacement- in the decentralisation legislation so far paid staff) and other administrative involontaire-et-de-reinstallation- passed. and technical officials of councils are du-Programme-National-de- appointed by MINDDEVEL, either from Developpement-Participatif-PNDP among the local staff of the councils or 10.2 ICT use in service delivery 10.6 United Councils and Cities of on secondment from relevant ministries, No information is available. Cameroon www.cvuc-uccc.org in consultation with national authorities. 10.7 No references for this section The training establishment for all 10.3 The role of local government 10.8 No references for this section local government officials is the Local in achieving the UN Sustainable 10.9a Calculated by CLGF from the figure Government Training Centre (‘CEFAM’), Development Goals (SDGs) provided in table 10.2a and the 2016 based in Buéa in the South-West Region. A UNDP- supported national plan for national budget statement. CEFAM is subordinate to MINATD and the contextualisation and prioritisation http://minfi.gov.cm trains both current council personnel of the SDGs was approved in 2017 by 10.9b Special Council Support Fund for and new recruits, on two course cycles. the Ministry of Economy, Planning Mutual Assistance www.feicom.cm There is so far no statutory instrument and Regional Development. The plan 10.10a Sustainable Development regulating the individual status and identifies 152 SDG targets as being Goals: Cameroon Validates career structure of local government relevant to Cameroon.10.10a Additionally, Contextualisation Plan personnel. This often leads to a lack of the Cameroon Civil Society Engagement www.cameroon-tribune.cm/ local competence on the administrative Charter for the Sustainable Development articles/12140/fr/sustainable- side, even in large urban councils. Goals commits Cameroonian civil society development-goals-cameroon- to working with local governments, validates-contextualisation-plan among other actors, on local efforts to 10. DISTRIBUTION OF SERVICE 10.10b Institutionalised dialogue between achieve the SDGs.10.10b DELIVERY RESPONSIBILITY the Government and Civil Society in Cameroon on the SDGs 10.1 Overview of local government https://sustainabledevelopment. service delivery responsibility REFERENCES AND USEFUL WEBSITES un.org/content/documents/13392I Whilst councils and city councils have 10.1a Government of Cameroon nstitutionalized dialogue between similar responsibilities and powers www.spm.gov.cm the Government and Civil Society for service delivery, the sub-divisional 10.1b Women in national parliaments. in Cameroon on the SDGs in councils have a modified set of powers. Inter-Parliamentary Union Cameroon.pdf Council responsibility for service delivery www.ipu.org/wmn-e/classif.htm 10.11a UN 2012 statistics surface area http:// often includes: 10.2a unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/ QQ utilities, including water, sewage and http://confinder.richmond.edu/ products/dyb/dyb2006/Table03.pdf waste disposal admin/docs/Cameroon.pdf 10.11b National Community Driven QQ town planning and urban development 10.2b Law 2004/017 22 July Loi d’orientation Development Programme de la décentralisation www.cvuc- QQ municipal roads and public transport www.pndp.gov.cm uccc.com/minat/textes/13.pdf QQ births, marriages and deaths registration 10.11c UNDP HDR Cameroon country 10.2c Improving Knowledge on National profile http://hdr.undp.org/en/ QQ community health and safety Urban Policy to Change Mindsets countries/profiles/CMR QQ social services www.urbangateway.org/news/ QQ primary education and literacy improving-knowledge-national- QQ sport, culture and leisure. urban-policy-change-mindsets

46 www.clgf.org.uk/cameroon COUNTRY PROFILE 2019 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN cameroon

Annex 10a Summary of service provision in different spheres of government in Cameroon

Delivering authority

Services National government Councils Sub-divisional councils Remarks

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Police n Fire protection n Civil protection n Criminal justice n Civil status register n n Statistical office n n n Electoral register n n

EDUCATION Pre-school (kindergarten and nursery) n Primary n Secondary n Vocational and technical n Higher education n Adult education n

SOCIAL WELFARE Family welfare services n Welfare homes n Social security n

PUBLIC HEALTH Primary care n Hospitals n Health protection n

HOUSING AND TOWN PLANNING Housing n n Town planning n Regional planning

TRANSPORT Roads n Transport Urban roads Urban rail n Ports n Airports n

ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC SANITATION Water and sanitation n n n Refuse collection and disposal n n n Cemeteries and crematoria n n Slaughterhouses n n Environmental protection n n n Consumer protection n

CULTURE, LEISURE AND SPORTS Theatre and concerts n n n Museums and libraries n n n Parks and open spaces n n Sports and leisure n n n Religious facilities n

UTILITIES Gas services District heating Water supply n Electricity n

ECONOMIC

Agriculture, forests and fisheries n n n Local economic development/promotion n n n Trade and industry n n n Tourism n n n

n sole responsibility service n joint responsibility service n discretionary service www.clgf.org.uk/cameroon 47