Douala City Council presents online platform for diaspora dev’t initiatives.

Through this platform dubbed diaspora.douala.cm, interested parties can submit their projects for evaluation and support from the city council.

The platform also provides useful resources to the diaspora such as the regulatory system for investment or land procedures.

While launching the platform on Thursday June 27, Douala City Mayor, Dr Roger Mbassa Ndine, called on Cameroonians based abroad to invest and carry out projects to contribute to the development of the country’s economic capital.

Dr Mbassa Ndine said the diasporas must be able to become a preferred player in the public-private partnership. 

“We must close the gaps in connectivity, knowledge and opportunities between these sectors to achieve this potential. I feel that icud-diaspora is an important change in this journey and that it is a platform that I hope to see grow,” he said. 

He highlighted that they have thought of ways to associate the diaspora in the development of the Douala.

“Cameroonians abroad are a strength for our country. As city leaders, we must act to unlock the potential of this beautiful community which is the pride of our territories,” Dr Mbassa Ndine said. 

The first study of the project launched in July 2023, aimed at identifying the aspirations, motivations and obstacles to the mobilisation of the diaspora originating from the city.

Since then, city council officials have taken time to render analysis regarding the demand unanimously formulated by the Cameroonian diaspora to install digital gateway to at better project advantage, opportunities in Cameroon.

The latest version of the Icud-diaspora platform, the mayor added, will to channel the tremendous energy generated by “our skills abroad to solve major challenges of in the city, ranging from youth employment, environment, more inclusive health”.

“We want the diaspora to invest because there a lot of potential projects they can and support the State. We want that through this platform we can mobilise network, relationship, human resources that will enable to boost social demands with the help of the diaspora. We need those potentials,” he said. 

The city of Douala, he reechoed, needs social infrastructure, low-cost houses, and the hospitality sector is a growing demand. 

“We want them see these potentials and invest. We don’t want them to give us the money but we want them to come home and invest in their city,” the City Mayor added. 

The focal point between the diaspora and City Council, Samuel Sole, revealed they have generated enough data to suit the interest of the diaspora viz-a-viz the opportunities at home. 

The team intends to make the initiative viral by leasing with embassies, online webinars with diaspora, sensitisation at airports and hosting annual diaspora.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3152 of Friday June 28, 2024