Yaoundé, 4 May 2020 –  The Financing Agreement (FA) and the Project Document of the Presidential Plan for Reconstruction and Development  for the North West (NW) and South West (SW) regions of Cameroon amounting to a total of 89 682 938 100,00  XAF ($151 896 849,87) for a period of two years, were signed on Tuesday, 5^th of May, 2020 between the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Government of Cameroon through the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development in the presence of  the Minister of Finance, thereby officially recognizing UNDP as the implementing partner, and also giving way for the beginning of the project  activities.

“As the funding of the PPRD-NW/SW falls under the prime responsibility of the Government of Cameroon, a sum of Eight Billion, Nine Hundred Million CFA France (8 900 000 000 XAF) accounting for about 10% of the overall budget is being raised by government as initial contribution into the program”, declared the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Alamine Ousmane Mey.

The PPRD is a contribution to the National Development Plan (NDP) and was jointly developed by the Government of Cameroon (MINEPAT and MINFI) and UNDP. The aim of the plan is to address the immediate needs of the affected populations in the NW/SW regions. The goal is to: (i) restore social cohesion;(ii) reconstruct and rehabilitate basic infrastructures; and (iii) revitalize the local economy. To ensure transparency in assisting the NW/SW regions, the Government designated UNDP as the Implementing Partner and Fund Manager of the PPRD.

“We are honored to have jointly developed this multi-billion project with the Government. UNDP will implement the PPRD under the strict respect of UNDP’s Principles of Engagement and Mitigation Measures”, said the Resident Representative of UNDP Cameroon, Jean Luc Stalon.

“UNDP strives to respond to the NW/SW crisis with impartiality. This means that actions are based solely on the need of affected populations, with priority given to the most urgent and vulnerable cases irrespective of ethnicity, gender, religious beliefs or political opinion”, Mr. Stalon added.

The PPRD has already been approved by the President of the Republic of Cameroon and endorsed by the Local Project Approval Committee. The First Board meeting of the PPRD-NW/SW held on 8 May, 2020, with members validating the project activities and organigram of staff to implement the project.