This initiative, which serves as a continuation of actions previously carried out in the northern part of the country, aims to densify the distribution network to meet increasingly strong demographic pressure. By prioritizing a community management model, the public utility intends to guarantee the sustainability of the facilities while involving local stakeholders in the preservation of the resource.

The technical deployment of this first phase provides for the installation of 200 strategic drawing points across the national territory. The urban hubs of Yaoundé and Douala, the main centers of water tension, receive the lion's share with 50 new installations each. Simultaneously, a commitment to territorial equity is observed with the allocation of ten standpipes for each of the country's ten regions. This geographical network relies on close collaboration with Decentralized Territorial Collectivities (CTDs), which are responsible for identifying precarious areas where access to drinking water remains a daily challenge. This synergy between the public operator and municipalities makes it possible to accelerate network extension works and facilitate new connections in landlocked neighborhoods.

The stakes of this offensive go beyond the mere provision of the precious liquid; it is a structural response to the rapid growth of urban peripheries. Phase 1 of the project, with an estimated duration of six months, will serve as a full-scale test to evaluate the effectiveness of delegated maintenance and user satisfaction. The progressive extension of the program will depend on the availability of financial resources and the results observed on the ground. For CAMWATER, this rehabilitation and extension plan constitutes the foundation of a strategy aimed at reducing waterborne diseases and relieving households whose budgets are often strained by purchasing water from informal resellers.

By the end of this 2026 fiscal year, the success of this partnership with the municipalities should pave the way for a widespread rollout of local infrastructure in high-density localities. By coupling the intensification of technical work with decentralized governance, the Cameroonian government aims to sustainably stabilize the public water service. This mobilization of technical and financial means testifies to a desire to anchor the development of basic infrastructure in a concrete social reality, making universal access to drinking water a tangible reality for the country's most vulnerable populations.

CK