Yaounde: Urban platform engages pupils to boost waste management.

The initiative was launched on Monday December 9 at Government Primary School Mfandena II in Yaounde. Officials said the project is part of the National Urban Waste Management Policy. 

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Célestine Kétcha Courtès, chaired the event. The Secretary of State to the Minister of Basic Education, Dr Asheri Kilo, other government officials, institutional partners, and local authorities also attended the event.

The campaign, officials explained, seeks to strengthen urban resilience by promoting eco-responsible and participatory waste management practices among young Cameroonians.

They said it is an essential step in addressing the growing challenges of public health, environmental degradation and urban cleanliness in Yaounde and other cities.

Minister Kétcha Courtès stressed that waste management remains a priority to the Head of State Paul Biya who has ordered ministries to develop and implement innovative, sustainable solutions.

“In May, we organized a national conference on waste management, and today we are moving from theory to concrete action” minister Ketcha Courtes noted.

The minister also said with the Urban Platform, the European Union, and Expertise France “…are training pupils who must adopt eco-responsible practices. Over 80% of our waste is household waste, which can be recycled or transformed into organic compost in a country where agriculture is vital”.

Ketcha Courtes also expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Basic Education for its collaboration in integrating environmental education into school programmes. 

She noted that empowering children with waste-sorting skills will help nurture a generation of environmentally conscious citizens.

“These children will grow up with good practices in waste management, sorting, and respect for the environment,” she added.

Building responsible, knowledgeable citizens

According to the Deputy Project Manager of Urban Platform Cameroon, Murielle Bisseck, the overarching goal is to foster a cleaner, more responsible citizenry. 

She stressed that children are the key to achieving long-term change, as future decision-makers and urban dwellers.

“The main objective is to have a cleaner city and more responsible citizens who are aware of waste management issues,” Bisseck declared, adding that: “We expect children to have better knowledge on how they can manage waste from home to school and wherever they go”.

She added that waste management is not just a technical issue but a matter of governance. By educating young people, the project, Bisseck enthused, aims to strengthen civic participation in urban management.

“Our role is to help Cameroonians, especially youth, engage in urban governance. This awareness campaign is part of building a new generation of citizens who will make our cities great again,” she said.

She explained that Expertise France is providing technical assistance to help Cameroon implement the guidelines set under the national waste management policy.

The Urban Platform Project, Bisseck noted, has enabled technical teams to launch data collection, diagnostics and awareness actions across targeted neighbourhoods and schools.

The long-term ambition, she insisted, is to develop a methodology and an operational guide for councils nationwide

“The idea is for each mayor to adopt and implement similar initiatives in their municipalities,” she said, noting that Yaounde V Council is the pilot municipality for the project.

Mayor salutes vision

The Mayor of Yaounde V Council, Augustin Bala, said the initiative aligns with the Council’s ambition to improve hygiene and sanitation 

Targeting pupils, she said, is a crucial entry point for long-term impact. He explained that the campaign will cover both public and private schools, with prospects of extending same to secondary institutions. 

“Our role at the council level is to raise awareness among school administrators and neighbourhood committees. We have between 160 and 170 organised committees and we intend to involve them in these training sessions,” he said.

Mayor Bala said pupils’ involvement in the project remains essential to attain behavioural change in households and communities. By targeting pupils, he said the campaign will instill habits in children which they can replicate at home and promote among their peers.

During the ceremony, pupils from Government Primary School Mfandena II participated in demonstrations on waste sorting and recycling. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3650 of Tuesday December 09, 2025