Financing local dev't: FEICOM renews support to network of African institutions.

He was speaking during the handing over ceremony of the new bureau of RIAFCO in Yaounde. The event was also punctuated with a session among FEICOM staff and RIAFCO officials. The bureau was put in place during the 13th Ordinary General Assembly of RIAFCO, in Guinea Conakry, on June 25, 2025. 

Camille Akoa congratulated the new team, assuring it of FEICOM’s support to ensure that African solidarity in driving local development records new successes.

“I wish you success in your mandate and assure you of FEICOM’s support to consolidate support for local development,” Camille Akoa stated.

He saluted member countries of RAIFCO for their commitment to local development.

While congratulating the outgone RIAFCO executive, the FEICOM Director General expressed hope that the coming of the new team will build on strides made in recent years.  He saluted what he said is an air of negotiating new strategies to boost local development across Africa that is taking shape through RIAFCO.

Camille Akoa praised work done to give visibility to the activities of member countries; in terms of enhancing local development under the outgone leadership. He talked of participation at international colloquium as being part of the gains.

In Cameroon, Camille Akoa said, FEICOM has since 1974 continued to deliver on government’s mission to promote local development. Having undergone three reorganisations, with the last being in 2018, he stated that FEICOM has adjusted its operations in financing local development as directed by the Head of State, Paul Biya.

Drumming the need for institutions powering local development to adapt their finances to contemporary challenges, Camille Akoa said, FEICOM has begun doing that. He mentioned the organisation, through the climate change finance window, that saw 65 councils in Cameroon benefitting resources to deal with floods and other climate change related obstacles.

RIAFCO boss promises more

Speaking at the event, the new Director General, DG, of RIAFCO, Sekou Mawa Toure, assured guests from different countries that his team is ready to give its best. 

He said efforts will be redoubled to ensure that local development across Africa witnesses a new shift event in the phase of limited resources. Mawa Toure is also DG of the National Agency for the Financing of Local Councils, ANAFIC, in Guinea Conakry. He takes over from Fidel Yapi, Director General of Decentralisation and Local Development in Cote d’Ivoire.

 The RIAFCO president said it is time for Africa to experience development that starts from the base. He thanked the Director General of FEICOM, the outgone team and other stakeholders who have remained resilient in keeping RIAFCO active.

With a three-year mandate, the President said an action plan will be put in place to serve the interest of member States. He said every member of his executive is ready to work tirelessly to ensure RIAFCO serves Africa.

Bureau composition

Other posts of the bureau are; First Vice Presidency, Tunisia; Second Vice Presidency, Burkina Faso; Third Vice Presidency, Burundi; Secretariat General, Madascar; President of Finance Commission, Partnerships Corporation, Senegal; President of the Audit Commission, Phillipe Camille Akoa; honourary presidents ADM, Senegal and FEICOM DG. Its Executive Secretary is Augustin Nkamleum Fosso.

FEICOM looking beyond 50 years

In a presentation on FEICOM’s 50th anniversary celebration, Menye Noah Fabrice, Head of Studies and Prospection, said work has already begun on recommendations that were made. He said calls from the FEICOM DG for councils to make use of opportunities in climate change financing are already underway in Cameroon.

FEICOM, Menye said, is working with the Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, to boost education in certain communities, through making food available where necessary. Much, he said, is being done in line with recommendations taken during the celebrations.

Created in 2014, RIAFCO has 15 members with the Municipal Development Agency, ADM of Senegal being its newest member. It joined the organisation in June 2025.

Mawa Toure’s roadmap

In a presentation at the event, a member of Mawa Toure’s team, said, he has a vision that seeks among other things, to open RIAFCO to English-speaking African countries. Mawa, the official said, will work to lobby member countries increase resources allocated for local development.

The same official said the Mawa team seeks to make use of digital resources, meets global standards in governance and transparency, makes use of new financing options such as green bonds and crowdfunding to boost local development. 

He added that he is also eying international partnerships to enable member States get more funding and boost the visibility of RIAFCO.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3524 of Tuesday August 05, 2025.