Cameroon is launching an ambitious $38 million program to modernize public lighting in its 373 municipalities, with the first phase focusing on 21,500 stand-alone solar streetlights.

A Three-Phase Project

• The Cameroonian government, through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (Minhdu), is implementing this program to improve nighttime security, reduce crime, and boost local economies.
• Phase 1, valued at $13 million, targets the immediate purchase and installation of 21,500 stand-alone solar streetlights, prioritizing departmental capitals and key roads.
• Phases 2 and 3 will progressively extend the network to all municipalities, with a focus on maintenance and the integration of smart technologies (remote management, fault detection).

Why Public Lighting is Strategic

In Cameroon, less than 30% of urban streets have functional lighting, exacerbating insecurity and hindering nighttime commerce in markets and working-class neighborhoods.

Autonomous solar streetlights address several challenges:

• Energy independence: no dependence on the unstable national grid (high blackout rates);
• Environmental and economic: zero electricity consumption, 25-year lifespan, 70% reduction in operating costs after 5 years;
• Ease of deployment: rapid installation (15 days per site), without complex trenching work.

Decentralized financing and implementation

The USD 38 million comes from a concessional loan from the World Bank and public funds, with decentralized management entrusted to municipalities through regional tenders.

Each municipality will sign a specific contract with approved suppliers, favoring local SMEs and ensuring ownership by elected municipal officials. A digital monitoring system will enable real-time performance monitoring (ignition, autonomy, vandalism), with outsourced preventive maintenance.

Expected Impacts for Municipalities and the Economy

This program is part of the national electrification strategy (Mission 300, aiming for 8 million people connected by 2030) and the Emerging Cameroon Vision 2035.

Concrete Benefits:

• Increased security: a 40% reduction in nighttime thefts in pilot areas (similar experiences in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire);
• Economic dynamism: extended business hours, +15-20% revenue for night markets;
• Tourism and attractiveness: enhanced city centers with lighting, incentives for local investment.

A Model for Central Africa

• Cameroon is becoming a pioneer in Central Africa with this 100% solar and decentralized program, avoiding the pitfalls of costly and vulnerable interconnected grids.
• Comparable successes include Morocco (1 million solar streetlights) and Rwanda (90% photovoltaic urban lighting).
• Challenges to overcome include the quality of Chinese equipment (required to meet local standards), vandalism, and training municipal technicians for basic maintenance.

This launch marks a turning point: public lighting is no longer seen as an expense but as a strategic investment for security, the local economy, and the energy transition of Cameroonian municipalities.