Foundation for Peace and Solidarity launches Vote Smart Cameroon Phase II
By Ndee Rita Lamnyam
The second phase of the “Vote Smart Cameroon: Beyond the Ballot” project was launched in Yaounde on October 22, 2026, by the Foundation for Peace and Solidarity (FPS), with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). The initiative aims to strengthen electoral integrity, promote inclusive governance and build democratic trust in Cameroon through sustained engagement between citizens, governance actors and electoral stakeholders ahead of the 2027 municipal elections.
Beyond the official launch, the event also featured the first Civic Integrity Sandbox, bringing together stakeholders from different sectors to exchange views on democratic governance, citizen participation, transparency and accountability. The dialogue platform provided an opportunity for participants to discuss governance challenges and explore ways of strengthening collaboration between citizens, public institutions, electoral stakeholders, civil society organisations and the media.
The project will run for six months, from October 2026 to March 2027, with activities in the Centre, West, North-West and South-West Regions. It seeks to extend democratic participation beyond election day by encouraging citizens to remain informed, engage with decision-makers and contribute to public affairs. Particular attention will be given to young people, women, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other groups whose voices are often underrepresented in governance processes.
According to the Communication Officer of the Foundation for Peace and Solidarity, Mac Courage Bih Bekondo, the initiative builds on the first phase of Vote Smart Cameroon, which focused mainly on registered voters during the 2025 presidential election. The second phase broadens this approach by promoting sustained citizen engagement and constructive dialogue among governance actors, electoral stakeholders, community leaders and media professionals.
The Civic Integrity Sandbox is one of five major interventions planned under the project. Designed as a structured dialogue platform, it seeks to create space for stakeholders to raise concerns, share perspectives and identify practical responses to issues affecting democratic participation and public trust. The inaugural session marked the beginning of these exchanges, with discussions centred on the importance of transparency, reliable information, institutional accountability and citizen involvement in governance.
Other components include information integrity and fact-checking training, citizen governance scorecards, policy briefs and electoral risk monitoring. Through information integrity activities, the project intends to strengthen the capacity of media professionals, civil society organisations and community leaders to identify, verify and respond to misinformation. Community verification networks and rumour clinics will support efforts to promote credible information, particularly in contexts where misleading claims can affect public confidence and peaceful electoral participation.
The citizen governance scorecards will provide a mechanism for documenting citizens’ experiences and perceptions of governance and service delivery. Findings from these exercises are expected to inform policy briefs containing practical recommendations for relevant institutions and decision-makers. Electoral risk monitoring will complement these efforts by helping stakeholders identify potential challenges that could undermine inclusive and peaceful participation.
Representatives of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), the Cameroon Human Rights Commission, the Foundation for Peace and Solidarity and the High Commission of Canada in Cameroon attended the launch and related activities. Their participation reflected the importance of cooperation among institutions, civil society and other stakeholders in promoting informed civic participation and strengthening democratic accountability.
As Cameroon prepares for the 2027 municipal elections, Vote Smart Cameroon: Beyond the Ballot seeks to reinforce the principle that democracy extends beyond the act of voting. Through dialogue, access to credible information and stronger feedback mechanisms between citizens and institutions, the project aims to encourage a more participatory governance culture in which citizens can contribute to decisions affecting their communities.
The six-month initiative will seek to assess its impact not only through the activities organised, but also through improvements in citizens’ access to reliable information, the quality of stakeholder engagement, responsiveness to community concerns and the capacity of citizens to participate peacefully and meaningfully in democratic processes.