DECENTRALIZATON AND CONTRACTUALIZED MANAGEMENT OF WATER WORKS: LESSONS FROM MBALMAYO, CENTER REGIONCAMEROON

Abstract

Within the ongoing context of decentralization in Cameroon, this paper assesses the importance
of the contractual relations for the management of water points in Mbalmayo, especially their
contribution for the supply of sustainable drinking water. To achieve this, semi-structured
interviews were conducted with resource persons such as the water focal point in the
municipality of Mbalmayo, the technical assistant of the PADDL/GIZ of the locality, two
technical managers of the divisional delegation of the Ministry of Water and Energy as well as
the expert in charge of repairs. Besides, questionnaires were administered to water users and
some CGPE managers. The findings revealed that from 2008 to 2016, initiatives were carried
out between the Mbalmayo council with the technical assistance from the German Cooperation
with the aim of increasing access to drinking water for the rural population. These initiatives led
to the contractualization of the maintenance and up-keep of the Mbalmayo EMPs. This approach
brought significant positive impact on the local water service, thanks to a sustainable
management approach for human-powered pumps initiated by the municipal authority. It has
thus overcome the limits of purely community-based management, whose performance after
decades of practice has not been equal to its challenges. Major risks, however, continue to weigh
on the sustainability of this water service in the municipality of Mbalmayor including;
inadequate maintenance (lack of spare parts), the lack of capacity for the water management
committees (lack of training) and the weak enforcement of regulation at the level of the water
service.