Gov't to involve population in ICT devt process

Government will soon involve population in the development process thorugh ICT

The U-Report project, set by the deputies and Unicef will allow them through free SMS to address the problems of their localities so that solutions can be reached.

This innovative project, Cameroon U-Report, is the fruit of the collaboration between members of the National Assembly, specifically those of Mfoundi. With regard to this project, Unicef has offered to SMS messages to mobile phones users, regardless of operators, to enable the masses to participate in the development of the country.

Conveniently, issues relating to health, education, access to drinking water and electricity, among other things will be asked and the answers will not cost a single franc.

The operation is free. The results of these surveys will be worn on the table of the authorities by MPs to give them a readability of the basic needs and will allow the Government to make responses.

MPs will also present these results to donors for possible funding. The project is not yet launched, but it begin in the coming weeks. The preparations, reportedly are already well advanced, especially with regard to logistics.

This is what follows from the introduction of the U-Report draft made on Tuesday at the headquarters of Unicef in Yaoundé. It was in the presence of several members of the Mfoundi including the Honourable Jean Simon Ongola Omgba, for the follow-up and the operational implementation of the project on behalf of parliamentarians.

Also present were the Mayor of the Borough of Yaoundé V, Yvette Claudine Etoundi and departmental delegates of ministries in charge of social issues. They came together to discuss the project to know the nitty gritty's of the project before its launch.

Concerns have been raised on the feasibility so that adjustments can be made once the project is launched. Options will be created for those who cannot read or write. And for a start, the SMS will not be sent to all mobile phone owners, Zacharie Adam, Deputy Representative of Unicef in Cameroon said.

They will first start by groups of associations of young organized properties after which others will follow. And when the problems raised by the populations have been resolved, they will also have feedback.

"U-Reporter gives the opportunity to create dialogue with people by involving them in the development effort. It allows elected officials to take action that will have a public impact", explained the promoters. The project is not a Cameroonian creation.

It has already been proven elsewhere, including Mali and Uganda. "They realized that on a number of social sectors reactivity can sometimes be slow. The flow of information is not good.

It is for this that we have involved to develop a device that allows to be reactive and quickly bring solutions to the populations," detailed the Honourable Jean Simon Ng'ongola Ochieng.