FEICOM steals show at JEICOM 25.

Inside, depicted in posters, drawings, art works and so on, what the institution has been doing and is doing since it was created some 51 years ago, specifically in 1974.

But the applause was loudest all through a speech presented by the Director General, Philippe Camille Akoa. He used the speech to present FEICOM as, not only an institution that caters for councils, and works with the government to achieve the vision of President Biya´s accelerated decentralisation process, but also as an institution that sells and launders Cameroon´s image on the global market place.

The FEICOM boss started by acknowledging the contribution of other members of the organising committee – like the United Councils and Cities of Cameroon, UCCC; the Cameroon Uban Platform; the Ministry of Decentralisation and Local Development, the Prime Minister´s Office, among others, who, he said, made JEICOM 25 become a reality.

He added that JEICOM is in its third edition, while FEICOM took an equally proactive part in mobilising other stakeholders in previous editions.

Akoa delved into what FEICOM has done to make councils and other decentralised collectivities job creators to succour the teeming youth population in search of stable and dignified jobs. He harped that the effort to entrench the concept of “Green Economy”, would continue making more and more lucrative jobs available for enterprising youth.

Fostering national solidarity

The Director General spoke lengthily on the role FEICOM is playing in fostering national solidarity, especially since October 9, 2018, when Regional Councils were created and the responsibilities of FEICOM further expanded and redefined.

On improved revenue allocation to councils, Akoa disclosed that the 360 councils in the country have so far received over 5,000 billion FCFA; while every Regional capital is now dotted with a modern FEICOM office.

Apart from funding received from government in favour of decentralised collectivities, Akoa also acknowledged the contribution made by international donors and technical partners.

Here, he particularly singled out the African Development Bank, the German Development Bank, the French Development Agency, among others. Akoa said these institutions’ technical and financial support went a long way to improving the calibre of workers in councils, as funds and equipment were used to train more and more staff of decentralised collectivities. This further enabled the introduction of digitalisation at the grassroots level, as well as carrying out other activities geared towards modernising council administration in the country.

Akoa also cited the World Health Organisation through which he said FEICOM is working to entrench the tenets of the United Nations programme on improving both quality and quantity of food consumed by Cameroonians, especially nursing mothers and children dubbed Nutrition and Health. 

He disclosed that this programme has gone a long way in improving infant nutrition in the country and thereby curtailing the level of both infant and maternal mortality.

Added to this, he noted, is the implementation at the level of FEICOM management, the concept of gender sensitive administration which, Akoa said, has enabled the institution to move closer and closer to attaining gender parity, especially at the management level of his organisation.

Even in the area of selecting, approving and implementing projects, the DG said FEICOM management takes into consideration the issue of gender. 

The FEICOM Director General also recognised the contribution of the United Nations Housing Programme, UNHABITAT, which is assisting the institution to improve housing standards for grassroots populations. 

This includes the contribution of other international partners who are contributing to entrench climate sensitive agriculture, and other activities that endanger the environment, so that climate change sensitivity takes root at the level of decentralised collectivities nationwide, achievements that drew applause from the crowd.

But what drew the loudest applause during the opening was the narration of how the management worked to convince the King of Morocco to send a powerful delegation of more than 40 persons to grace the occasion. FEICOM as convinced the French government to dispatch French Parliamentarians of Cameroon origin to take part in the event.

The forum that is expected to end today, will see many councils signing partnership and business agreements with international partners, as announced by Camille Akoa.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3464 of Wednesday June 04, 2025