World Bank Group portfolio in Cameroon reviewed

The Government of Cameroon and the World Bank Group organized a joint portfolio review to take stock of the progress achieved by World Bank financed projects in the country last March.

Presided over by Louis Paul Motazé, Minister of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development and by Elisabeth Huybens, World Bank Country Director for Cameroon and Gabon, the review was an opportunity for the two partners to exchange on project implementation and progress as well as identify the short, medium, and long term solutions to overcoming hurdles to project implementation.

This review was particularly important given the ongoing discussions between the World Bank and the Government of Cameroon on the new Country Partnership Framework for the period 2017-2020.

The current World Bank Group portfolio in Cameroon consists of 14 national projects and six regional projects totaling approximately 1.3 billion dollars. The average age of the portfolio’s projects is around 4.5 years.

Project activities undertaken in the framework of the portfolio are undeniably important when it comes to achieving the country’s goals as they are laid out in the country’s Strategy Document for Growth and Employment.

However, the disbursement rate for regional projects is only 42% while the disbursement rate for national projects is even lower at 37%. Such rates are characterized as too weak given the age of the portfolio.

“As the World Bank explores an expansion of its support, it is crucial that projects are implemented satisfactorily within the set timeframes and that the development goals are achieved. Sluggish project implementation signals a slowdown in growth and puts the breaks on the fight against poverty,” explained Elisabeth Huybens during her opening speech.

Nevertheless, a certain number of projects in the portfolio have been successful, following effective project implementation. The results of these projects are already having an impact in the following sectors : water and energy (Lom Pangar Hydropower Project), rural and community development (Community Development Program Support Project), health (Cameroon Health Sector Support Project), or in the prevention of natural disasters such as flooding (Cameroon Flood Emergency Project) which, despite a slow start, has made great progress in the space of just a few months.