Economy

FEICOM offers over 8 BFCFA to Councils to boost local dev’t.

Officials at the end of the session

The Special Council Support Fund for Mutual Assistance best known by its French acronym, FEICOM, has announced the offering of eight billion FCFA to some 25 councils nationwide to boost local development.
The Director General, DG, of FEICOM, Phillippe Camille Akoa, made the announcement on Monday July 15.

He was speaking during the 53rd session of the Financial Assistance Committee of FEICOM Councils, CCFC-C.

The meeting took place at the head office in FEICOM in Yaounde. Camille Akoa said this year, some 25 councils will get funding worth 8,198,494,706 FCFA for various development projects.

The CCFF-C, he said, has also granted over three billion FCFA for the construction of 160 drinking water supply networks with reservoirs and solar-powered pumps. The project, Camille Akoa added, is expected to benefit some 12 councils in the Far North Region.

The FEICOM boss noted the need for adequate response to the problem of drinking water supply in communities in the Far North Region, given devastating effects of climate change. The situation, he said has been worsened by high temperatures.

He said climate change has resulted in the drying-up of the water that used to be supplied through boreholes. The FEICOM DG also said the situation has resulted in the spread of water-borne diseases.

The CCFF-C, it should be said, is responsible for ensuring the harmonious distribution of FEICOM’s funding to councils.

Also present during the meeting was the Secretary General of the Ministry of Decentralisation and Local Development, Fred Ebongue Makolle; the President of the United Council and Cities of Cameroon,UCCC, Augustin Tamba.

Representatives of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, MINEPAT, and mayors of some councils in the Far North Region also attended the meeting.

The CCFF-C is equally charged with examining and validating projects worth 50 million FCFA and above from councils. The FEICOM, it should be said, is involved in financial operations to promote local economic development, in liaison with the other administrations and structures concerned, in particular.

The institution is also charge with the mobilisation of resources national and internationally, as well as options of cooperation for councils. In addition to the reimbursable financial contributions, FEICOM is also responsible for redistributing the additional council tax to communities.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3172 of Thursday July 18, 2024