The Transition of the Health Cluster in Cameroon : Towards Sustainable, Inclusive and Nationally Led Coordination

Country: Cameroon Source: World Health Organization Context For more than a decade, Cameroon has been confronted with a complex and protracted humanitarian crisis , driven by armed conflict in the North-West and South-West regions, persistent insecurity in the Far North, significant population displacement, refugee inflows from neighboring countries, and recurrent climate-related shocks. These compounded factors have placed sustained pressure on the health system and increased humanitarian needs. Within this context, the Health Cluster, activated in 2018 under the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Cluster Approach, has played a central role in ensuring a coordinated, predictable and accountable health response. It has contributed to structuring interventions, facilitating partner engagement, and promoting a response aligned with the needs and priorities of affected populations. A strategic reorientation of coordination modalities In line with evolving global humanitarian priorities, including the “ Humanitarian Reset” and the “accelerated transition agenda” endorsed by the IASC, Cameroon has been identified as one of the eight pilot countries for the progressive shift towards nationally anchored coordination mechanisms. This strategic reorientation reflects a broader commitment to strengthening localization , enhancing efficiency, and reinforcing national ownership of humanitarian action . The transition of the Health Cluster is therefore conceived as a structured and gradual process through which leadership and core coordination functions are transferred to national authorities, under the stewardship of the Ministry of Public Health (MoH), with continued technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and health sector partners. By 2027, health emergency coordination in Cameroon is expected to be fully assumed by national systems, with WHO maintaining a targeted support role as “ Provider of Last Resort (PoLR) ” . A dual objective: continuity and sustainability This transition is guided by a dual objective. On the one hand, it seeks to ensure the continuity and effectiveness of the humanitarian health response in a context of persistent and evolving needs. On the other hand, it aims to sustainably strengthen national capacities for governance, coordination and leadership in the health sector. A sequenced and structured transition framework The transition is articulated around three sequential and interdependent phases. The initial phase, completed in 2025, focused on securing political commitment, ensuring institutional alignment and validating the transition framework. This is followed by a co-leadership phase in 2026, during which coordination responsibilities are jointly assumed by the MoH and WHO. The final phase consists of a progressive transfer of responsibilities, culminating in the stabilization of national coordination mechanisms and the eventual deactivation of the Health Cluster by 2027. A well-structured and phased transition approach is essential to preserving operational continuity while progressively strengthening and institutionalizing national leadership and ownership. Progressive transfer of core functions The transition entails the gradual transfer of key Health Cluster functions to national and decentralized systems. These functions encompass coordination, information management, strategic planning, preparedness and response, monitoring and evaluation, as well as accountability to affected populations. The process is underpinned by a set of fundamental principles, including national leadership, a gradual and sequenced approach, accountability to affected populations, respect for humanitarian principles, the promotion of localization, and alignment with the humanitarian-development-peace nexus . Institutional strengthening and systems integration A central pillar of the transition is the strengthening of national systems. Information management mechanisms will progressively be integrated into national platforms, thereby enhancing data harmonization and supporting evidence-based decision-making. Health sector planning will continue to be informed by humanitarian needs assessments while being aligned with national strategies and priorities. Preparedness and response capacities will be reinforced through the institutionalization of joint assessments and simulation exercises. In parallel, monitoring, evaluation and accountability frameworks will be embedded within national systems, with particular attention to community engagement and accountability to affected populations . Priority thematic areas The transition gives particular attention to the integration of critical thematic areas into national systems and programmes. These include sexual and reproductive health, mental health and psychosocial support, refugee health, and the surveillance of attacks on healthcare. Technical support will continue to be provided by specialized agencies, including UNFPA, IOM, UNHCR and WHO,

Read More