Perspective Chapter: Access to Rural Water and Sanitation Services in Cameroon within the Context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Abstract

This chapter examines the situation of rural water and sanitation services in Cameroon within the context of sustainable development goals (SDGs), to establish whether Cameroon is on right track of meeting the SDG, and proposes actions to be taken to achieve universal access for water and sanitation. Based on the analyzed data obtained from national surveys and the Joint Monitoring Program for 2021, it argues that Cameroon is unlikely to reach universal access to water and sanitation in rural area by 2030. Factors contributing to poor access to rural water and sanitation services include the poor application of the policy and legal framework, the poor coordination of interventions between the actors involved in the sector, the low financial viability of the sector, the low efficiency of expenditure related to water and sanitation, and the lack of human resources in the sector. The implementation of the policy and legal framework, the stability of the institutional framework, the reaffirmation of the major role of the State of the changed Ministry of water, and the collaboration of all the actors of the sector within the mechanisms provided for this purpose are of fundamental importance to achieve SDG 6.1 and 6.2 in Cameroon.