World Bank Prevention, Resilience Allocation: Cameroon Gov’t Launches Nationwide Workshop To Strategize, Apply For Funding

The government of Cameroon has launched a national consultation workshop aimed at drafting a strategic note that will assist Cameroon get funding from the World Bank’s prevention and resilience allocation to bounds back from the effects of the sociopolitical crisis in the North West and South West regions, influx of refugees in the East and Northern regions as well as atrocities caused by the Boko Haram Islamic sect in the Far North region.

It was launched in Yaounde 23 February 2021 by the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, MINEPAT in the presence of World Bank officials and some, representatives of diplomatic services, among others.

Speaking at the launch, the MINEPAT, Alamine Ousmane Mey, said sixth pillar of Cameroon’s 2020-2030 National Development Strategy which dwells on governance, decentralization and strategic management of the state falls in line with the project objectives as it prioritizes action plans to fight against violence and conflicts.

“Based on the assessment of the situation and different criteria, and on vulnerabilities, we want to believe that the World Bank will join its efforts to those of Cameroon to address these numerous issues we are facing. If not if addressed, they will derail the development drive of our country,” Ousmane Mey said, adding, that peace, stability, the fight against climate change and all the socioeconomic crises facing the country require the strategy to have very strong commitments and clear goals if it must be win the new World bank funding window.

He said 75% additional resources for the national allocation will be channeled to this window to in a participative manner propel private sector, administrations, civil society, population to come together and share ideas on the elaboration of the strategy which will be implemented with the support of the World Bank group that has pledged above 600 million additional to fund Cameroon’s development.

Keiko Kubota, World Bank Deputy Director of Operations for Cameroon told reporters that the strategy if well elaborated will benefit Cameroon up to 75% of its performance budget. The funding she said will amount to the tune of 900 US dollars roughly FCFA 482 billion.

“It is an exercise of trying to come up with a strategy to prevent conflicts and promote resilience...it is an exercise of developing a strategy and not a package,” she said, adding that it is open to countries which are eligible to apply for the Prevention and Resilience Allocation Funding for fragilities which is about 75% of their performance.

By Doh Bertrand Nua