Experts are meeting in Yaounde to adopt a national strategy plan.

In Cameroon many towns and cities are faced with problems of slumps, overcrowding, poor hygiene, insecurity and high crime wave, among others. About 67 percent of the populations in urban areas live in slumps. And the situation is far from being improved as these areas have an annual growth rate of 5.5 percent. It is in this light that a two-day national workshop to adopt the results of the second phase of the participative programme for the improvement of living conditions in slumps I, Nkolbikok, Yaounde (PPAB) opened in Yaounde yesterday.

Speaking during the occasion, the Minister of Urban Development and Housing, Jean-Claude Mbwentchou, called on the participants to work hand-in-glove in order to come out with concrete solutions to the numerous problems which hamper development of towns in Cameroon and on the other hand to reach the launching of the third phase of the programme. He called on the population, civil society and partners to work with government in order to eradicate slumps and improve the living conditions of people in towns and cities in the country. The objective of the workshop is for all actors to endorse strategies of improving living conditions in slums and those relating to the mobilisation of funds.

For two days, the participants will listen to presentations on topics such as “Analysis on the situation of slumps and policies, rules and regulations”, “Strategies of mobilising resources”, “Concepts of priority actions,” among others.