On 21 January 2025, Mr Jacquis Gabriel Kemleu, Lord Mayor of the Dschang Council, took part in the “Data at the Service of Territories” summit at the Hub des Territoires in Paris. The event was organised by The Interconnected in partnership with the Intercommunalities in France and the Territory Bank. It brought together a large number of representatives from local authorities, highlighting advances in the digitisation and management of data.
The Dschang Council, represented by its Lord Mayor, is particularly advanced in the field of digitisation in Cameroon. Thanks to its Geographic Information Systems (GIS) department, the municipality has mapped its territory according to sectors and needs, and is gradually planning and developing the area. It is now processing the information it collects, turning it into data – which is undoubtedly an asset – and making it usable. These advances have enabled Dschang to position itself as an example of innovative territorial management.
The summit was a valuable opportunity for local authorities to share their experiences and best practices on the use and governance of data. Through workshops and round tables, participants, including the Lord Mayor of Dschang, were able to discuss data at the service of territories, data and business collaboration, the keys to success and finally date at the service of the ecological transition. This <<Expert Day>> also raised awareness among local authorities of the importance of considering data as a heritage, by highlighting Open Data initiatives.
Mr Kemleu recalled Dschang’s historic commitment to digitisation and innovation, as well as the commitment underway in other Cameroonian towns and cities through the
United Councils and Cities of Cameroon Association (UCCC). Workshops on the digitisation of councils and cities are underway in the 10 regions of Cameroon and are nearing completion. The Dschang Council has always worked for harmonious development both nationally and internationally. In March 2023, the Lord Mayor had already made a written contribution through the Charter of Territories that had already been drawn up, and a noteworthy intervention at the Interconnected Forum held from 22 to 23 March 2023 in Toulouse, concerning this charter of territories, which was welcomed by all the players present.
This summit, rich in exchanges and lessons learnt, helped to identify the needs for the ecological transition and to formalise a certain number of tools in the service of the ecological transition. The next meeting of the Interconnected is already scheduled for 10 and 11 March 2025 in Rennes.
Finally, it is important to salute and thank the stakeholders who support and accompany these initiatives, such as the AIMF, the Réseau des Territoires Innovants, the Interconnectés and the Banque des Territoires.
The active participation of Mr Jacquis Gabriel Kemleu and the Dschang Council in this summit bears witness to their resolute commitment to a more digital and ecological future. This meeting strengthened the links between the local authorities and opened up new prospects for even more responsive and sustainable territorial management.
