NASLA, the Bedrock of Local Development in Cameroon

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

As Cameroon embraces decentralization and community-driven development, the National School of Local Administration (NASLA) stands at the forefront of this transformative agenda. Founded to strengthen local governance through capacity building, NASLA is rapidly emerging as the bedrock of local development in the country.

NASLA was established in 2020 with a mission to train administrators, municipal leaders, and other local government actors. As Cameroon moves toward greater decentralization, NASLA’s role has become increasingly crucial in providing the skills and expertise needed to effectively manage local communities.

The institution’s focus on training and empowering local authorities has positioned it as a key player in enhancing public service delivery, fostering community growth, and advancing Cameroon’s decentralization process. By offering specialized training, NASLA ensures that local authorities are well-equipped to meet the needs of their constituents.

“NASLA intends to be a pacesetter in leadership and management training for Regional and Local Authorities. NASLA will play an impactful role in future administration and governance in Cameroon.,” the Director-General of the National School of Local Administration, NASLA, told Pan African Visions.

“The curriculum of NASLA was established to meet the needs of Regional and Local Authorities and all these needs are addressed in the three different training programs. Also, the curriculum was designed to solve the growing needs of skilled staff at local government and as well as taking into consideration the environment in which some training modules were drawn.”

In an interview with Pan African Visions, the Director-General of NASLA sheds more light on the long-term goal of NASLA, the challenges and how the institution is driving the decentralization process in Cameroon.

Can you start by giving us an overview of the mission and vision of NASLA?

Tanyitiku Bayee: Our mission is to ensure professional training in the areas of local administration in accordance with the general guidelines defined by the government. As such, it provides Diploma Initial training, Ins-service training, Specific training and Applied research on the management of Regional and Local Authorities.

Our vision is to make NASLA an institute of higher learning, providing training for jobs in the domain of decentralization, and Regional Development, ranging from the design of local policy to the administration of services and maintenance of living spaces and local development.

What inspired the establishment of NASLA, and how has the institution evolved since its inception?

Tanyitiku Bayee: NASLA was created in 2020 through a presidential decree (Decree 2020/111 of 2 March 2020 on the establishment, organization and functioning of the National School of Local Administration). There was the need to fast-track the vision of the Head of State to see decentralization in progress and to provide professional training in the areas of local administration and applied research. The 2^nd of March 2020 marked the deepening and acceleration of the Decentralization in Cameroon by creating the National School of Local Administration.

What are the core programs and courses offered at NASLA and how do they cater to the needs of Local Administration in Cameroon?

Tanyitiku Bayee: NASLA has four core training programs;Diploma Initial training, Ins-service training, Specific training and Applied research on the management of Regional and Local Authorities. For the courses, Initial Training have two fields of study namely; Economics and management of Local Finance and Administration and Management of Social Policies.

Within these fields, there are three specializations. Public Policy of Planning and Territorial Development (PPPTD); Steering Management and Resource Management (SMRM); Animation and Serves to the Population (ASP). These programs are designed to meet the needs of Regional and Local Authorities such that when our trainees go to the field after graduation, the manpower and competencies of councils will be improved in line with the decentralization law.

How does NASLA ensure that its curriculum remains relevant and up-to-date with the latest trends and demands in public administration?

Tanyitiku Bayee: The curriculum of NASLA was established to meet the needs of Regional and Local Authorities and all these needs are addressed in the three different training programs. Also, the curriculum was designed to solve the growing needs of skilled staff at local government and as well as taking into consideration the environment in which some training modules were drawn.

In a case where a capacity need is identified at the council, NASLA puts in place modules to solve the problem. NASLA time and again invites experts to revise the curriculum to suit the needs of our partners. For example, for traditional rulers who faced difficulty in leadership, such a module has been incepted in the continuous and specific training to enhance their leadership skills.

Can you share some success stories or notable alumni who have made significant contributions to local governance after graduation from NASLA?

Tanyitiku Bayee: In conducting applied research on the management of Regional and Local Authorities, NASLA was able to successfully organize a Scientific Colloquium on the theme: “Crises Management within the Decentralization Context in Cameroon: Challenges and Prospects for Regional and Local Authorities.” This scientific reach out was therefore aimed at assessing the contribution of Regional and Local Authorities in the dynamics of crisis management in Cameroon and to propose policy recommendations for these decentralization structures.

In the three batches of in-service that have left the institution, a significant number of them have been promoted based on their improvised performance after obtaining training from their various domains in NASLA. Some have been able to have contracts for their councils because they put the acquired knowledge into practice.

How does NASLA invest in the continuous professional development of its staff?

Tanyituku Bayee: It may interest you to know that the institution has a unit for professional service that provides training and retraining for its staff. The service is charge with the responsibility of ensuring the organization of capacity building seminars for staff. Many seminars have been organized and the effect is evident in our staff output.

What facilities and resources are available to students to enhance their learning experience at BASLA

Tanyitiku Bayee: Trainees at NASLA enjoy a wide range of facilities. The institution has an equipped library where trainees explore rich books from all fields of study, the classrooms are sufficient enough without crowding. The 360 Amphitheatre serves our trainees for larger gatherings and conferences.

Didactic materials such as projectors, flip charts, and boards, are available all the time for trainers to ease the learning process for trainers. Our trainees spend at least six months of professional internships for the two-year program. This tells you how skilful we intend our graduates to become.

Can you elaborate on any partnerships or collaborations that NASLA has with other educational institutions, government agencies or international organizations aimed at facilitating the decentralization process? And how do these partnerships enhance the quality of education?

Tanyitiku Bayee: NASLA is partnering with the following institutions in areas of training and research such as GIZ, UNICEF, National Institute of Public Services in France and ADDA, a partner in the training on waste management. These partners have been instrumental in guiding NASLA in shaping its curricular and training program.

What role does NASLA play in community development and advancing the decentralization drive?

Tanyitiku Bayee: NASLA has as an extension of its community engagement, annual holiday jobs offered to students of secondary and higher institutions within the Buea municipality. This initiative is to reach out to parents through their children to lighten the burden of back-to-school preparations.

What are some of the biggest challenges NASLA faces in fulfilling its mission and how are you addressing them?

Tanyitiku Bayee: Finance and material

What are the long-term goals for NASLA and how do you envision its role in future public administration and local governance in Cameroon?

Tanyitiku Bayee: NASLA intends to be a pacesetter in leadership and management training for Regional and Local Authorities. We recently signed a partnership with the Tayong Center for Leadership and Development to this respect. NASLA will play an impactful role in future administration and governance in Cameroon.

Can you describe the admission process and criteria for prospective students interested in joining NASLA?

Tanyitiku Bayee: Admission procedures into NASLA differ with the types of training offered by the institution. To be admitted into the Initial Training Program, it is through a competitive entrance examination for either Cycle A, B or C. This examination is open to all Cameroonians and the qualification for each cycle varies. For cycle A, candidates must be a holder of the bachelor's degree o its equivalence. For cycle B, candidates must be a holder of the GCE advanced level certificate in at least 2 subjects or its equivalence. For cycle C, candidates must be a holder of the GCE ordinary level certificate or its equivalence.

The In-service Training program is designed for workers of government and private institutions, councils, NGOs and so on who wish to upgrade their skills in various domains. To be admitted, a call for applications is launched with the different jobs in which a candidate wants to upgrade. The candidate applies following the requirement spelt out on the call for application, after which NASLA does the study of files to select those who are eligible for the training.

In terms of the Specific Training Program, it has no entry requirement. The council may be in need of enhancing a particular department. For example, the accounting sector may need capacity development and the services of NASLA to do the training. Also, NASLA offers training to these councils with courses of need by the council. In any case, NASLA deploys the resources needed and carries out its training.

Is there any advice you would like to give to individuals aspiring to pursue a career in local development and what message for current and future trainees of NASLA?

Tanyitiku Bayee: Decentralization and Local Development is the future for young people as well and other individuals should get on board. Regional and Local Authorities need a competent workforce. To be able to access this segment of the job market, they need to be well-trained in the skills needed by these entities. It is therefore incumbent on them to be focused in their training if they gain access to NASLA. 

NASLA has proven itself to be a cornerstone of local development in Cameroon. By equipping local authorities with the knowledge and tools to lead their communities effectively, the institution is helping to shape a future where decentralization translates into tangible benefits for all Cameroonians. As Cameroon continues its journey toward greater local governance, NASLA remains at the heart of this transformation, ensuring that the principles of transparency, accountability, and sustainable development take root across the nation.