On October 26, 2023, in Douala, the National Coordination of the National Governance Programme (PNG) convened institutional leaders, local authorities, and civil society representatives to enhance citizen participation in the management of public affairs.
A Regional Workshop Dedicated to Inclusive and Open Governance
Held at the Hôtel La Falaise-Bonanjo under the auspices of the Prime Minister’s Representative, this regional workshop marks a key milestone in advancing participatory governance across Cameroon.
In the presence of regional administrative authorities from the Littoral Region and municipal leaders, the PNG National Coordination reaffirmed its mandate: to establish a collaborative framework where citizens and civil society actively contribute to public decision-making.
Four Strategic Pillars to Empower Citizens
The workshop focused on four thematic presentations highlighting concrete mechanisms for local engagement:
- Volunteering as a Catalyst for Civic Duty (Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education): An overview of the legal and operational framework governing volunteering as a driver of civic responsibility and national unity.
- Neighborhood and Village Committees (Littoral Regional Delegation of MINDDEVEL): An analysis of the legal foundation and operational scope of grassroots committees, including the opportunities and hurdles facing local participatory democracy.
- Participatory Monitoring of Public Investment Budgets (PIB) (Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development): A review of the mechanisms enabling citizens to track and evaluate the execution of public investment projects.
- Digital Transformation and Local Engagement (“Amoureux du Livre” Association): A practical demonstration on leveraging digital tools to foster civic participation in local decision-making.
Key Recommendations
Following constructive deliberations, stakeholders outlined actionable recommendations to deepen participatory governance:
- Awareness & Outreach: Broadly disseminate legal and regulatory frameworks governing civic participation.
- Institutionalizing Volunteerism: Promote formal volunteer initiatives to foster national solidarity and social cohesion.
- Policy Integration: Systematically incorporate citizen feedback into the design, implementation, and evaluation of public policies.
- Resource Allocation: Increase funding and institutional support dedicated to citizen engagement programs.
- Governance Structures: Establish governance committees across public, private, and decentralized administrative services.
- Inclusive Synergies: Strengthen collaboration between neighborhood watch committees and local governance bodies, while ensuring the active inclusion of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in decision-making processes.