Story, Louvier Kindo Tombe
The Islamic Development Bank has added her voice to those preaching peace, security and a return to normalcy in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon. By dedicating a project to support the reconstruction and development of the regions, IsDB has bought the vision of President Paul Biya, who called on development partners of the country to join hands in reconstructing and developing the regions highly hit by the crisis orchestrated by Non State Arm Groups (NSAG).
While launching the project, Monday December 18, 2023 at the Prime Minister’s office, the PM, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute praised IsDB for listening to the presidential call. According to the PM, development partners have greatly contributed in the implementation of the reconstruction plan. The PM was assisted in the launch by top government officials.
“The contribution from IsDB is not only to reconstruct destroyed infrastructure, but also geared at reviving the economy of the two regions,” says Alamine Ousmane Mey, Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development.
Minister Alamine was one of the top government officials present at the launch alongside development partners.
The IsDB support project
The Islamic Development Bank’s project is expected to run from 2023 through 2025. For the 2023 financial year, the sum of FCFA 13,113 billion is the budget set aside in the first phase of the project. Next year, considered as phase 2, FCFA 4,018 billion would be disbursed and the remaining 4,018 for phase 3 would be made available in 2025.
The project which falls in line with the Presidential Reconstruction Plan, and the National Development Strategy (NDS30), will be carried out in 47 council areas in Cameroon (24 in the North West, and 23 in the South West). It shall directly be of great benefit to some 1.8 million people in these areas, and 2.2 million others would benefit indirectly. About 50% of the beneficiaries would be women and 30% young people. Great consideration would also be placed on persons living with disabilities.
In the next two years, the intervention of IsDB will help boost the reconstruction plan which has achieved big already. About 95 schools, 33 health facilities, 32 water points, 9 bridges, and 80 community infrastructure reconstructed, 300 small businesses encouraged, 10 community centers build, 24 markets renovated, and 18,632 lost documents delivered among others.
Government officials are reassuring the population that the situation on the field is gradually coming under control, paving the way for more reconstruction, development projects.
Present at the launch was the Coordinator for the Presidential Plan for Reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West regions, Motuba Tamajong Obase, and the field representative of IsDB, Mahamadou Awal, including many other scribes from both institutions.
