(Business in Cameroon) – The period from 2018 to 2025 saw Cameroon launch several major initiatives aimed at modernizing its public administration. Faced with persistent challenges in efficiency, transparency, and public accessibility, the government pursued structural reforms intended to adapt the administrative apparatus to meet national economic and social development goals.
Digitalization of public services has been a core focus since 2018. The National Participatory Development Program (PNDP), which began in 2004 and continued through this period, supported local authorities in streamlining procedures and improving access to public services, particularly in rural areas. Official data indicates that Phase III of the program covers all 360 municipalities nationwide, but consolidated figures on the total number of benefiting communities remain unpublished.
A notable advance was the gradual introduction of Geographic Information System (GIS) tools into land administration. The Ministry of State Property, Survey and Land Tenure (MINDCAF) initiated pilot projects to digitize land titles and create digital maps, covering major cities including Yaoundé, Douala, Garoua, and Maroua. Authorities aim to reduce processing times to just a few weeks or months in equipped urban centers, though this expedited timeline is not yet generalized nationally.
The reform of the public procurement system was strengthened through the progressive dematerialization of procedures. The Public Contracts Regulatory Agency (ARMP), created in 2001 and reorganized in 2012, oversaw the 2018 launch of the Cameroon Online E-Procurement System (COLEPS). The portal, scaled up starting in 2019, successfully lowered transaction costs and encouraged broader competition among bidders.
The portal, scaled up starting in 2019, successfully lowered transaction costs and encouraged broader competition among bidders.
In the fiscal sector, the General Directorate of Taxes (DGI) continued the dematerialization of procedures. E-payment and e-filing, which began before 2018, were progressively expanded between 2019 and 2020 to cover large corporations, utilizing dedicated platforms such as e-impots.cm. These reforms contributed to improved mobilization of tax revenue, though budget documents available do not confirm precise figures cited in some official communications.
Technological shifts were accompanied by the training and capacity building of public officials. The National School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM) adapted its curriculum to integrate digital tools and modern public management methods, though no official consolidated figures on the number of officials trained between 2018 and 2024 are available.
Administrative decentralization continued with the entry into force of the General Code of Decentralized Territorial Collectivities in 2019. This led to the progressive transfer of powers in areas like civil status, urban planning, and local equipment management. The actual effectiveness of these transfers varies widely based on the sector and the technical capacity of the local communities involved.
Improving public reception and user guidance also saw several sectoral initiatives. One-stop shops were established or reinforced in certain areas (foreign trade, taxation, and civil status in specific cities), sometimes incorporating electronic queue management systems. However, this modernization has not yet been rolled out across all administrative branches.
E-payment and e-filing, which began before 2018, were progressively expanded between 2019 and 2020 to cover large corporations, utilizing dedicated platforms such as e-impots.cm. These reforms contributed to improved mobilization of tax revenue, though budget documents available do not confirm precise figures cited in some official communications.
The fight against administrative corruption has been supported by internal control and audit mechanisms in various ministries. The National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), created in 2005, continued its work against money laundering and terrorism financing, with an increased role in detecting suspicious financial flows.
State human resources management evolved with the phased deployment of SIGIPES II, the next-generation integrated system for personnel and payroll management. This system is being expanded across several central administrations to optimize workforce management and ensure data reliability.
Finally, several administrations have initiated electronic archiving projects to safeguard official documents and facilitate access to information. Nevertheless, no national consolidated figure has been released regarding the total volume of digitized documents between 2019 and 2024.
