This Wednesday, July 8, the economic capital of Cameroon vibrated to the rhythm of an official ceremony: the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Célestine Ketcha Courtès, inaugurated the first construction works of structural drains intended for the city of Douala. The event, closely followed by local actors, marks a decisive step in the fight against flooding that regularly paralyzes the city's neighborhoods.
The project is part of the Sustainable Cities and Land Management Project (SCLMP), an ambitious initiative carried by the Cameroonian government and financed by the World Bank. This international cooperation aims to equip African cities with resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding increasing climate hazards. The SCLMP is now entering its operational phase, with the launch in Douala as the first concrete implementation.
The new program follows the dynamic started by the former Inclusive and Resilient Cities Development Program (IRCDP). This continuity link testifies to a political will not to lose the advances already made in terms of inclusive urban planning. The minister recalled that the lessons learned from the IRCDP guided the design of the drains, in order to optimize their efficiency and integration into the urban fabric.
Concretely, the structural drains are designed to capture, channel, and evacuate rainwater that, every rainy season, floods the streets and homes. By improving water management, these works will reduce the risk of flooding in several neighborhoods, particularly those located along the Wouri and Nkam rivers. A reduction in material and human damage is expected, as well as an improvement in the quality of life of residents.
For the people of Douala, the prospect of an effective drainage network means smoother travel, less loss of property, and reduced repair costs for homes. Merchants, already burdened by interruptions to their activities, will be able to count on more reliable infrastructure. Beyond the economic aspect, health security is also strengthened, as stagnant water is less conducive to the proliferation of disease vectors.
At the national level, this project could become a model for other Cameroonian cities facing the same hydrological challenges. The success of the implementation in Douala will pave the way for replicas in Yaoundé, Bafoussam, or Garoua, where local authorities are already seeking sustainable solutions. The partnership with the World Bank shows that external funding, combined with strong political will, can unlock essential structural investments.
As the first trenches are dug, eyes remain fixed on the next milestones of the SCLMP. The community awaits regular reports on the progress of the works, in order to measure the real impact on urban resilience. If the objectives are met, Douala could, in a few years, reinvent itself as a model city where water management is no longer a weakness, but a strength.
