Cameroon has embarked on a transformative journey to reorient its health cluster coordination, aiming to enhance national ownership and sustainability in the face of a decade — long humanitarian crisis. This shift, which aligns with global humanitarian priorities, marks a strategic transition from the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Cluster Approach to a more localized and nationally driven model.
The Health Cluster, initially activated in 2018, has been instrumental in addressing the complex health needs resulting from armed conflict, population displacement, and climate-related shocks. As part of the evolving humanitarian landscape, Cameroon has been chosen as one of eight pilot countries for the progressive shift towards nationally anchored coordination mechanisms. This strategic reorientation is not just about efficiency; it’s about empowering national authorities, with the Ministry of Public Health (MoH) at the forefront, to lead health emergency coordination.
The transition process is structured into three distinct phases. The first phase, which concluded in 2025, focused on securing political commitment and validating the transition framework. The second phase, set for 2026, involves co-leadership between the MoH and the World Health Organization (WHO), with a gradual assumption of responsibilities. By 2027, the Health Cluster is expected to be fully deactivated, with national systems taking over health emergency coordination, supported by WHO in a targeted “Provider of Last Resort “(PoLR) role.
This strategic reorientation is guided by a dual objective: ensuring the continuity and effectiveness of the humanitarian health response while simultaneously strengthening national capacities for governance, coordination, and leadership. The transition framework encompasses a gradual transfer of key Health Cluster functions to national and decentralized systems, emphasizing coordination, information management, strategic planning, and accountability to affected populations.
Central to this transition is the strengthening of national systems, including the integration of information management into national platforms, aligning health sector planning with national strategies, and reinforcing preparedness and response capacities through joint assessments and simulation exercises. The process also integrates monitoring, evaluation, and accountability frameworks within national systems, with a focus on community engagement and accountability.
In the Far North region, the Area — Based Coordination Plus (ABC+) model is being implemented to foster integrated and multisectoral coordination. Meanwhile, the Area-Based Coordination (ABC) model in the North-West and South-West regions supports proximity-based coordination tailored to conflict-affected settings. These context-specific approaches are crucial for ensuring relevance, effectiveness, and accountability in complex humanitarian situations.
The Ministry of Public Health’s formal commitment to the transition process is a significant milestone. The Minister has designated a national structure to co-coordinate the health sector during the transition, identified national institutions to lead technical working groups in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), and actively engaged in joint coordination mechanisms with WHO.
The transition of the Health Cluster in Cameroon represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen the resilience of the health system, enhance the efficiency and coherence of the response, and promote sustainable national ownership. Its success hinges on critical enablers such as sustained investment in institutional capacity development, effective partnerships between national and international stakeholders, and predictable and adequate financing.
As Cameroon moves forward with this ambitious transition, it paves the way for a more inclusive, context — responsive, and sustainable coordination architecture, ensuring that essential health services remain accessible to vulnerable populations in the years to come.
Source: reliefweb
Original author: World Health Organization
