(EcoFinances) – The European Union (EU) has just committed to disbursing the sum of 40 billion CFA francs to the Cameroonian government, according to an information note issued by the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development (Minepat) on 19 July. The financial support in question will be used to finance major projects, including the « Food production and resilience of food systems in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries » programme, the « South/Southeast Cameroon Green Landscape » programme, and the « Support for civil society in Cameroon and its contribution to gender equality, peace and social cohesion in crisis regions » project.
Three financing agreements were signed to this effect on 18 July 2023 in Yaoundé, during the economic and political dialogue on the Cameroon-EU partnership, by Minepat, Alamine Ousmane Mey, coordinator of the Cameroon-EU partnership, and the ambassador head of the EU delegation in Cameroon, Philippe Van Damme. « Through its new financial mechanism, the Neighbourhood, Development Cooperation and International Cooperation Instrument (Ndici), Team Europe is making nearly 40 billion CFA francs available to Cameroon in the form of grants for the implementation of three major operations. These are the »Food production and resilience of food systems in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries » programme, the »Paysage vert Sud/Sud-Est Cameroun » programme and the »Support for civil society in Cameroon and its contribution to gender equality, peace and social cohesion in crisis regions » project, » the document points out.
The « Food production and resilience of food systems in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries » programme, worth CFAF 13.12 billion, including CFAF 9.85 billion in the form of budget support, aims to support the implementation of programmes to boost food production in response to the global food insecurity caused by the Russia-Ukraine crisis, which is affecting almost 03 million people in Cameroon. « Its overall budget of 336.5 million euros, in the form of humanitarian food aid, targets 20 countries in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States », explained Minepat Alamine Ousmane Mey.
Strengthening the effectiveness of the partnership between Cameroon and the EU
The “South/South-Est Cameroon’s Green Landscape” programme, financed to the tune of CFAF 13.12 billion from Cameroon’s Multiannual Indicative Programme, aims to improve the governance of territories and natural resources by decentralised players and territorial representatives, particularly in the South and South-East regions around the Dja and Lobeké protected areas.
On the other hand, the « Support for civil society in Cameroon and its contribution to gender equality, peace and social cohesion in regions in crisis » project will make it possible to continue three programmes: the Support Programme for the structuring of civil society in Cameroon, the Support Programme for civil society and the Support Programme for active citizenship. All for a total amount of 11.15 billion CFA francs, we learn. « This project also targets women’s organisations, in support of the reconstruction of peace, social cohesion and the protection of vulnerable groups in the North-West and South-West regions », adds the information note from the Ministry of the Economy.
For the ambassador and head of the EU delegation in Cameroon, these new resources will « strengthen the effectiveness of the partnership between Cameroon and the EU, with a view to working together to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow ». Minepat Alamine Ousmane Mey agreed, saying that « this support from the EU is sufficient proof of the vitality of the rich, fruitful and long-standing partnership between Cameroon and the EU ».
