Cameroon-AfDB-CASDB cooperation The Government of Cameroon (MINEPAT), ADB and CASDB review development projects

The executing agencies for projects financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Central African States Development Bank (CASDB) in Cameroon met from 04 to 06 July 2018 in Kribi to revisit the achievements and actions in their respective portfolios.

The Agricultural Values ​​Chain Development Project (AVC_DP), the fruit of the cooperation between the AfDB and the Cameroon State, was mandated by the Government through the MINEPAT for the logistical organization of the 43rd quarterly review of projects financed by these two institutions.

The purpose of this quarterly meeting was to review the projects of the AfDB portfolio and CASDB; to measure progress in the execution of different projects; to evaluate their results in relation to the objectives assigned; to identify problems encountered during their implementation; and finally to propose remedial solutions as well as relevant recommendations.

The work was co-chaired by Mr. Solomane KONE, Representative of the African Development Bank in Cameroon and Mrs. BEKOLO TATAW Dorothy, Director of the Regional Integration at MINEPAT. During solemn opening, the Country Representative of the AfDB indicated that the main objective of this work is to improve the performance of projects through a good mastery of AfDB procedures. He also said that, the findings and recommendations that emerge will be taken into account in the AfDB Country Strategy being reviewed mid-term. He finally closed his speech by wishing the participants a good progress as far as the work is concerned.

Another strong articulation of this meeting was the speech of the Representative of the Senior Divisional Officer for the Ocean Department. By wishing to the participants a warm welcome and a pleasant stay in the seaside town of Kribi, he also welcomed the cooperation between Cameroon and the AfDB by citing some important projects financed by this august institution. Furthermore, he seized the opportunity to request on behalf of Cameroon, the participation of the AfDB in funding the adjustment project for Ebolowa-Kribi road through Akom II. Finally, he thanks the AVC_DP for the arrangements made for the holding of this 43rd quarterly meeting. Before he declared the meeting open, he expressed the hope that its work would be successful.

After the protocol phase, the technical work was chaired by Mrs BEKOLO TATAW Dorothy, Director of the Regional Integration at the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT). The first presentation was made by Mr. Ali CISSE, Program Manager AfDB, who drew up an inventory of the projects that the AfDB is financing in Cameroon. The latter indicated that the active portfolio includes 23 projects in Cameroon worth 875 billion CFA francs divided between the public and private sectors.

The second series of technical presentations was held by the heads of the various projects, who in turn presented the progress of their projects, highlighting the difficulties they face and the solutions envisaged. The different projects under review were: CAB, PAMOCCA-FAD and PAMOCCA-FSN, GRASSFIELD II, PRERETD, PAHLP, PEMVEP, PADY II, Limbe Oil YARD, Road Program (AfDB), and finally AVC_DP.

In addition, the various projects to which the recommendations were addressed were asked to take stock of the state of implementation of the previous recommendations from the 42nd review. It is to be noted with satisfaction that, all the recommendations formulated at the end of the previous review have for the most part been completed.

The closure of the technical work was completed by the adoption and insertion of the said recommendations in the new matrix prepared for this purpose. The Dean of the Coordinators was invited to thank Mr. Ali CISSE, for his dedication, his contribution and his availability in the implementation of projects in Cameroon during his stay in the country which has came to its end. It was then decided, after consultation, that the Road Program (AfDB) would organize the next review, which should be held in September 2018, and that the CAB project would organize the next one probably in December 2018.

As the end word, the presence of all participants was welcomed by the co-chairs, and they were required to implement the recommendations made for the proper execution of their activities.