Gov’t, UN-Habitat map smart cities, climate resilience priorities.

It was within the context of Rossbach’s four-day visit in Cameroon which ended Thursday. Officials said the visit is to consolidate more than two decades of cooperation between Cameroon and the UN agency and address new urbanization challenges.

She was first received in audience by Minister Ketcha Courtès on Monday. This was followed by an expanded technical working session with Ministry’s officials on Tuesday. 

Joint achievements, challenges of the last decades and priorities for the 2027–2030 period defined the exchanges. The minister and her guest also exchanged on the partnership between Cameroon and UN-Habitat which dates back to the 2000s.

Initiatives such as the Urban Governance Programme and a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2012, formalising collaboration in urban policy, planning, social housing, mobility, energy efficiency, slum upgrading and institutional capacity building were also reviewed.

The achievements of the National Urban Policy, PUN, whose feasibility studies in 2014 were financed by UN-Habitat and government was also looked into.

It was stated that, the scheme provided technical support for the establishment of a policy document now awaiting approval. During Tuesday’s meeting, it was stated that efforts are underway to prepare for its effective implementation and dissemination.

Cameroon’s partnership with UN-Habitat is said to have recorded strides at the community level, through the Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme, with interventions in targeted neighbourhoods in Yaounde, Kribi and Bamenda. 

The development of an energy-efficiency code for buildings, low-carbon urban development and support to local governance initiatives implemented in collaboration with the Special Council Support Fund for Mutual Assistance, FEICOM, also featured during discussions.

According to reports presented, between 2020 and 2025, UN-Habitat supported nearly 15 projects in Cameroon to the tune of about US$20 million. The covered territorial planning, affordable housing, urban resilience and urban cleanliness, it was said.

Affordable housing equally emerged as an important area of cooperation, including studies carried out with the Cameroon Real Estate Corporation, SIC, on low cost housing.

Authorities told the visiting UN-Habitat official said resilience projects have also been implemented in Mokolo, Fotokol, Ebolowa and Bafoussam. It was reported that urban cleanliness through initiatives such as the National Clean Cities Award has equally been carried out by the agency.

The Agency has also supported Cameroon’s efforts to explore the use of technology in managing its increasingly complex cities. A major development in this regard is the National Plan for Smart Cities, prepared with UN-Habitat support.

The initiative brings together government ministries, local authorities, universities and technology operators to examine how digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence can improve land management, mobility, sanitation and urban governance.

Urban dev’t pressures

Discussions also focused on urban development pressures with the urbanisation rate approaching 60 percent, while the national housing deficit is estimated at about 2.5 million units, officials disclosed. Annual housing requirements are placed at between 100,000 and 120,000 units.

The officials equally looked at persistent challenges relating to land management, transportation, sanitation, waste management and climate change.  These challenges, officials noted, have led to the proposal of priority projects within the 2027–2030 cooperation framework. 

Among them are; the completion of the Host Country Agreement for the establishment of a national UN-Habitat office in Yaounde, finalisation and implementation of the National Urban Policy, and the launch of an ambitious affordable housing programme.

Minister Ketcha Courtes lauded UN-Habitat’s longstanding support and expressed Cameroon’s determination to deepen cooperation around the National Urban Policy, affordable housing, smart cities and climate resilience.

Both officials during the exchange expressed the wish to develop smart-city pilot projects and reinforce climate adaptation measures and a resilient infrastructure. They noted that for this to work, there is need to mobilise resources from technical and financial partners, including international climate funds.

Rossbach it should be said is the third UN-Habitat Executive Director to visit Cameroon. This follows Joan Clos’ visit in February 2016 and Maimunah Mohd Sharif’s visit in 2021. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3905 of Thursday September 10, 2026