Decentralization and Financial Management Seminars for Cameroon Councils (Capacity Building Project)

The amended constitution of the Republic of Cameroon in 1996: Law No. 96-06 of 18 January 1996 amending the Constitution of 2 June 1972, states that Cameroon is a “Unitary and Decentralized State”, Etat Unitaire et Decentralisé in French. Cameroon having been a highly centralized administration from the 1960, the task of running the country as a decentralized entity therefore requires sensitization and clear division of labor. However, most actors at municipal council levels have very limited knowledge of what it takes to run local councils and even where some training has been received; the risk of managing the decentralized institutions within past traditions is still quite high. Mayors have duties, rights and obligations which are clearly spelt out so financial controllers expect them to be audited against the background or the laid down regulations. Unfortunately, the requirements to become mayor or councilor do not include any prior knowledge of bookkeeping, accounting, effective budgeting and, asset misappropriation or auditing. Some of these mayors and councilors ended up in prison and today, a number of them are still serving prison terms. This project christened, Constitutional Awareness and Forensic Aptitude for Councils, CAFAC, has as objective to develop a training program that will help disseminate information on the decentralization process, the duties of the different officials and get the general public to assist the administration by performing the tasks which are required of them. The program will eventually be translated into French and expanded to meet the learners in all parts of Cameroon but at this initial stage, it will focus on council areas in the North West and South West Regions. The training course is subdivided into: a) a course for Regional Councilors and their collaborators, and b) a course for Mayors, Divisional and Sub divisional Councilors. Conclusively, all participants who will benefit from the training would be exemplary financial managers, budget controllers, risk managers and would be able to identify all unnecessary financial outlets that can hinder efficient utilization of resources. Secondly, the council officials will be instructed on the procedures related to searching for and signing cooperation agreements with other councils, creating a council cluster union or twining with institutions from the Northern hemisphere.