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The Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the Presidential Plan for Reconstruction and Development (PPRD) of the North West and South West regions, Minister Paul Tasong, has unveiled a new set of guidelines aimed at facilitating the implementation of the scheme to the population of the North West Region.
That was during a meeting on Tuesday September 17, 202 4 in Bamenda – North West region, which brought in the different key stakeholders involved.
The outing which was during the second session of the Regional Follow-up Committee of the PPRD-NW/SW was in line with recent adjustments of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, to accelerate the implantation of the reconstruction plan.
The innovations are contained in the Prime Ministerial Order no 075/CAB/PM/ of 30 July 2024 relating to the reorganization of the Presidential Plan for the reconstruction and development of the North West and South West regions.
Prominent amongst the important changes, is the resolve to work towards creating a more conducive environment for the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their homes.
This will be done by strengthening local governance where the PPRD will now be implemented primarily by regional and local authorities, empowering them to address the specific needs of their communities. Another way is to continue to foster social cohesion and reconciliation among different groups in the region.
The second innovation, he added, is the fact that the PPRD in its initial format was focused on one phase only which is the recovery phase under the UNDP, and now the PPRD has the possibility of incorporating within its ambit, a second and third phase of the reconstruction and development of the North West and South West regions.
Collaborative approach in funding and implementation
The PPRD has a mission which essentially focuses on mobilizing funding for the key development and reconstruction projects of the two regions. Through its Central Coordination Unit, it has the responsibility to ensure that the projects are mature enough for lobbying to be put in place to mobilize such funding.
Minister Paul Tasong during the meeting in Bamenda talked of the bringing onboard of more implementing partners. The PPRD’s success, he intimated, will depend on collaboration between various stakeholders, including local governments, development missions, civil society organizations, and the private sector. The new guidelines, he added, encourages a more inclusive approach, involving all relevant parties in the decision-making process.
”The PPRD has allocated significant funding for reconstruction projects, but additional resources are needed to meet the growing demands. The government is actively seeking partnerships with international organizations and donors to bridge the funding gap,” the Minister reassured.
“…in the former, the PPRD had only one implementing partner which was the UNDP but as of today, the PPRD has the possibility of going into partnership with many other implementing partners which are: local and regional authorities, development missions and programs, Regional Assembly, Divisional administrative authorities and Regional administrative authorities not excluding civil society among others as well as the churches who from the onset helped through the feasibility of the PPRD,” the minister said.
Challenges, Opportunities
The Chairperson of the North West Regional follow-up committee of the PPRD-NW/SW, Governor Adolphe Lele L’afrique, who chaired Tuesday’s meeting, highlighted that since 2021 when the PPRD implementation phase commenced in the North West region, 258 projects have been carried out with 38 ongoing and two suspended. Governor Adolphe Lele L’Afrique added that many persons are still awaiting more from the PPRD to lift the phase of the region and aim for the target with regards to the goal of the PPRD.
According to Minister Tasong, “in a very short time, we are looking forward to identify the myths in the agro-industrial outfits that exit in the two regions to identify their needs to go out source for financing to accompany them acquire the machinery needed to improve on their productivity”.
Despite the progress made, the North West Region faces numerous challenges, including ongoing insecurity and the need for long-term development.
However, the new guidelines offer a promising path forward. By focusing on local empowerment, social cohesion, and IDP return, the PPRD aims to create a more sustainable and resilient future for the North West region.
The unveiling of the revised PPRD guidelines, stakeholders said, represents a significant step towards rebuilding the North West Region and addressing the humanitarian crisis facing its population. By prioritizing the return of IDPs and promoting sustainable development, the government, it was said, hopes to create a brighter future for all.
The PPRD-NW/SW, is a government initiative launched in 2021 to address the consequences of the ongoing conflict, has been instrumental in implementing infrastructure projects and providing support to affected communities.
