Cameroon: Challenges in Kumbo community to improve water supply management

In April of 1991, in the light of the political upheavals in the Cameroon, a locally orchestrated campaign led to the forceful expulsion of the Cameroon National Water Corporation (SNEC) from Kumbo in October of 1991. A community based local institution, the Kumbo Water Authority (KWA), under the chairmanship of the traditional ruler, with support from the elites, was created to manage the Kumbo Water Supply. The duties of the Kumbo Water Authority (KWA) were:

1. Collection, treatment, storage and distribution of potable water to the population
2. Billing, revenue collection, operation, maintenance and network extension
3. Source water protection and water quality monitoring to ensure compliance with WHO standards - the standards applicable in Cameroon
4. Source funding opportunities and establish local, national and international partnerships for capacity building and material support for improved performance

This structure had problems of legality (in the light of national legislation for water management) that were compounded by regular conflicts in, and a litigation case over the catchment area that threatened the sustainability of Kumbo municipal water supply. Thus, following the 2004 decentralisation laws in Cameroon, Global Water Partnership Cameroon worked with the Kumbo Urban Council and facilitated the transfer of management of the Kumbo Water Supply system to the Kumbo Urban Council.

The locally managed KWA has re-opened all public taps, extended coverage and introduced a differential water tariff structure. Moreover, the Kumbo Urban Council has formally taken over the Kumbo Water Authority, and integrated it within its management structure. This has resulted in the establishment of an inclusive and participatory community water governance structure for the KWA that involves key stakeholders like the landowners in the catchment area. The KWA is currently engaged in participatory protection and conflict resolution over the catchment area. Findings from public interviews (Voxpop) suggest that there is an increase in the willingness to pay for services due to the provision of more reliable services and better communication between KWA and the population, especially those of the catchment area. There are several achievements and challenges of the current community water management in Kumbo. However, it would appear that despite these challenges the consumers are satisfied with the level and quality of service because their voices are heard and count in decision-making. In addition, the actions taken since 1992 suggest that the community is committed to an adaptive management paradigm for continuous improvement in drinking water supply governance in Kumbo. Some of the key positive efforts and achievements are:

1. Participatory stakeholder governance and gender mainstreaming
2. Water pricing: cross subsidy, water demand management and reserve fund
3. On-going strategic partnerships for capacity, financial and material support
4. Water catchment management and conflict resolution

Although there are mixed feelings regarding the practice in Kumbo especially the ability to finance rehabilitation and extension, it must be noted that under the current public private partnership practiced in Cameroon and the on-going decentralisation initiative, KWA and Kumbo council could be considered as a service provider while CAMWATER, the public partner, could finance issues related to investment in infrastructure and source water protection. Following the successes, innovative and evolving adaptive management, this case should be considered as a exemplary participatory community (municipal) water management pilot project by Government, and should consider adapting this model in other municipalities with corrective measures to address the challenges in Kumbo.