FAQ ICA Yaoundé Conference 2018

Do you need a visa to travel to Cameroon ? Do you need vaccines ? What is the local currency ?....You can now find hereunder the answers to the most frequent asked questions (FAQ) for the ICA Yaoundé Conference 2018 that will be held on November 26, 27 and 28 in Cameroon.

ICA Governance meetings of its Executive Board, Programme Commission, and Forum of National Archivists will take place on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 November 2018. The Professional Programme, with panels, keynotes, and workshops, will take place from Monday 26 to Wednesday 28 November.
The Governance Meetings, Programme, and associated events will take place at the Yaoundé Conference Centre.
One of the streams of the conference is pan-African issues in archives, and much of the programme is expected to focus on African experiences and practices. In addition, on 29 November there will be high-level meetings of African professionals and decision-makers to make recommendations on the way forward for archives in Africa. Finally, on 29 and 30 November a training session geared towards participants from Africa will take place.The Governance Meetings, Programme, and associated events will take place at the Yaoundé Conference Centre.
Participation in the training session is limited in number. Participants must be ICA members from Africa, who are currently working in Africa. There will be an online registration process. Please keep an eye on the conference web page for details when they become available.
The Programme Committee launched a call for proposals in February; you can find the call for proposals here.
Registration is expected to open in mid-2018. As information becomes available it will be posted on the ICA website ICA Yaounde 2018
Registration fees will be posted on the conference web page once details become available. ICA members will enjoy a reduced registration fee. Other reductions such as early bird rates will also be posted once available.
Please contact Christine Trembleau for information: send an email to trembleau@ica.org
Please contact Christine Trembleau for information: send an email to trembleau@ica.org

Getting there

Yaoundé-Nsimalen (NSI) is an international airport. It is served by around 15 companies (Air France KLM, Brussels Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Turkish Airlines, Kenya Airways, etc.)
Yes, the host is arranging to greet everyone at the airport upon arrival. Make sure to indicate your arrival and departure times when you are requested to do so.
It is no more expensive to fly to Yaoundé than to fly to most major cities. Additionally, travelling within Africa is becoming easier. Also, the conference organizers will be working to negotiate discounted airfares with several airlines; if successful, this information will be posted on the Conference web page when it becomes available.

VisaRequirements

Yes, in most cases. Check with your local authority for full information
Once registration opens, an invitation letter will be automatically generated by the registration system upon arranging payment.

Health

We advise conference participants to drink bottled water only. Bottled water is inexpensive and widely available. Avoid drinks with ice cubes.
You should take medication for Malaria (Malarone or equivalent, starting one day before your flight, every day during your stay and continuing for seven additional days after leaving) and use mosquito repellent. Avoid eating food such as fruits and vegetables that may have been washed in tap water. Do not consume fresh fruit juice or raw vegetables and avoid food that is not sufficiently cooked. Keep your hands clean at all times.
A Yellow Fever vaccination is an entry requirement for Cameroon. Keep in mind that in some countries you need to reserve the vaccine (in Canada for instance) because there is high demand, so plan for this without delay. Some other vaccines are also recommended, though not required (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, Typhoid). The rabies vaccine is recommended if you plan to leave Yaoundé for other regions of Cameroon.

Security

Yaoundé is similar to other major metropolitan cities. Use common sense and ask questions if in doubt. Travel in groups and do not go out after dark alone, especially into areas you do not know. Yaoundé has a large expatriate population, and many of them live in the area of the city where the conference venue is located.
The conference hosts are dedicated to making sure conference participants have a great experience in Yaoundé, and that includes security. Transportation is being organized, and Conference hotels are being identified. Additional security will be arranged for the Conference venue and surrounding events.

Lodgings and accomodation

Conference hotels are being arranged by the hosts with conference rates negotiated for a range of budgets. All the conference hotels will be identified on the Conference web page, and transportation will be organized between conference hotels and the conference venue.

Getting around

There will be transportation from the airport to the Conference hotels and between the Conference hotels and the Conference venue.
The Conference host will identify certified taxis and this information will be available on the Conference web page. Do not use taxis that are not listed as certified on the conference web page.

Practical considerations

Cameroon’s currency is the CFA franc, a currency shared by 14 African countries making up the Franc Zone. It has a fixed rate of exchange in relation to the euro, i.e. 1 euro = 655.9 FCFA. Banknotes have the following denominations: 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 10,000. FCFA coins have monetary values of 500, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1. The CFA franc is guaranteed in euros by the French treasury but is not convertible outside Franc Zone countries. You will, therefore, need to change money on the spot.
Euros and US dollars are accepted in Yaoundé. Cash may be withdrawn in banks and at ATMs using credit/debit cards such as Visa. The commission charged for changing money ranges between 3 and 5 % depending on the exchange office. For their part, international hotels in major towns and cities offer acceptable rates of exchange.
Often you will not be able to use credit cards, except in major hotels and certain restaurants. Credit card usage is becoming more available but should not be counted on. Many hotels have cash machines for withdrawing cash for transactions.
Voltage: 220 – 230 Frequency: 50 Hz
If you require a travel adapter in France, you will need one for Cameroon. Plugs and sockets are the same as in France.
The official languages are French and English.
Time zone: UTC/GMT +1.
November is the best time of year to visit Yaoundé (start of the dry season). Yaoundé residents are relaxed about clothing; generally, you can wear anything that would normally be found acceptable in another international city. That said, avoid short skirts or shorts, and remember to protect yourself from mosquitos; longer sleeves and pants can help with this.

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