On the occasion of the 64th Dayee of the African woman ceLebreOn July 28th, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MINHDU) and women from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) joined forces to transform Cameroonian cities. The waste management and « Clean Cities » campaign places women’s leadership at the heart of urban sanitation and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
As the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) approaches, Cameroon is accelerating its efforts to transform its major cities. On the occasion of the launch of the 64theedition of the Journalethe African woman’s day, this July 28th in the Ongola Samba room of the Council reIn the Centre region, a strong vision has emerged: that of a strategic partnership between the State and the women of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) to build sustainable, resilient and waste-free cities.
An institutional and community synergy
Chaired by the Minister for the Promotion of Women and the Family, in the presence of her counterpart from the Ministry of Secondary Education, the opening ceremony highlighted the crucial role of women’s initiatives in local development. Invited to present the main priorities of his ministry, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development (MINHDU) praised the initiative, which is timely and aligned with current environmental challenges. By placing women’s actions at the heart of family and community dynamics, the ECCAS and the government share a common ambition: to make the home and the neighborhood the primary drivers of public health. Women are no longer considered merely as beneficiaries of urban policies, but rather as key players and leading implementers on the ground.
Concrete policies for a healthier living environment
Addressing the audience, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development (MINHDU) detailed the measures deployed by the State to improve living conditions in Cameroonian cities. He highlighted the ongoing development of a national waste management policy aimed at sustainably structuring the recycling sector, as well as the major « Clean Cities » campaign, whose highly anticipated results will be unveiled next October in Maroua during the celebration of the 2026 edition of World Habitat Day. For the Minister, it is no longer simply a matter of occasional garbage collection, but of sustainably transforming daily civic behavior—a health and environmental challenge in which women’s involvement is essential.
Heading towards 2030: Women’s leadership at the forefront
Established to celebrate the driving role of women in the continent’s development, African Women’s Day underscores the urgent need for their empowerment and active participation in socio-economic decision-making. Equitable access to basic urban services, healthcare, and education necessarily depends on clean, safe, and well-planned cities. With four years remaining until the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), the government’s call to the women of the ECCAS (Economic Community of Central African States) is clear: to fully embrace these public policies to ensure their operational success on the ground. By becoming ambassadors for sanitation, the circular economy, and environmental protection, the women of Central Africa are forcefully reaffirming that no sustainable urban transition can occur without their unwavering commitment.
