Cameroon’s Ministry of Territorial Administration (Minat) has invested CFA50 million in translation and interpretation equipment as it seeks to strengthen the use of French and English in its daily operations and improve bilingual public services.

The equipment, received on August 7, 2026, will support language training for ministry staff and make it easier to use both official languages across the department. The investment mainly covers translation and interpretation kits and related equipment.

It complements an existing language skills program within the ministry designed to improve employees’ command of French and English.

The initiative goes beyond individual language training. Minat coordinates the state’s territorial administration and works regularly with administrative authorities across Cameroon’s 10 regions. Its ability to operate in both French and English therefore affects the delivery of public services and the flow of administrative information.

Training Organized Across Three Levels

The ministry has also introduced language courses for employees selected through an assessment test. In July, participants completed their first continuous assessment, which accounts for 50% of the overall score required to obtain their certificate.

The training consists of three successive levels, with participants required to complete each stage before advancing to the next. The program aims to strengthen their professional skills while supporting career development in an administration where proficiency in both French and English can be an advantage in many roles. The new equipment is intended to complement the training by giving staff appropriate tools for translation, interpretation and bilingual communication.

The initiative is part of Cameroon’s broader national policy to promote bilingualism, enshrined in the Constitution, which recognizes French and English as official languages of equal status.

Minat’s next challenge will be to translate its spending on equipment and language training into routine use across its services. The program’s impact will depend in part on whether trained staff consistently use both languages in administrative documents, meetings and interactions with the public.

Source: Sbbc