As NW, SW reconstruction gains steam: Steering Committee adopts new operational strategy.

The operational strategy which will serve as a working document with a bottom-top and youth-focused approach was adopted yesterday. This was during the 5th ordinary session of the Steering Committee. The meeting took place at the auditorium of the Prime Minister's Office. 

The new operational strategy of the reconstruction plan targets youth between the age brackets of 15 to 35 years. Youth in this age group, officials said, have challenges relating to idleness, dropping out of school, involvement in crime and other delinquent behaviours.

To handle this, the plan has set as objective to concentrate 70 percent of its activities in areas where things have returned to normal, 20 percent in relatively peaceful zones and 10 percent in unstable areas.

Still within the new strategy, priority would be on local skilled and non-skilled labour employed in projects realisation. 

Other innovative income generating schemes and plans have been envisaged in collaboration with local stakeholders to boost development from the base. 

According to the National Coordinator of the PPRD-NW/SW, Motuba Tamanjong Obase, through the new strategy, “the population will be involved both in the conception and the follow up of the structures”.

‘Success Social Responsibility Concept’

Another fresh strategy the National Coordinator underscored, is that, they “have developed a concept called Success Social Responsibility where we think because you succeeded in life, you should give back something to the community”.

With contributions from everyone, he said, people will see that everyone is part of making the plan work. “We could start by giving to the plan through our various communities”. 

He said a test of the scheme was done through the provision of food to ex-fighters at the DDR centres and they succeeded in raising over 1.5 million FCFA in six days.

The result, he disclosed, attracted even those still carrying guns in the bushes to inquire on how they could disarm and join their fellows for the return of peace.

Appeal to partners 

The Chairperson of the Steering Committee, Balungeli Ebune Confiance used yesterday’s meeting to make a fresh appeal for local and international partners to redeem pledges so as to contribute to the realization of the scheme.

According to him, such support is needed given the gains already made in rebuilding communities, reviving social cohesion and enhancing peace.

He said it is good for friends of Cameroon who promised to support the project to redeem their pledges as a demonstration of their friendship. Such, Ebune said, is what is needed to show that the international partners are “friends indeed". 

Turning to other friendly countries and partners, some of whom had representatives in attendance, the Steering Committee Chairperson said: “we anxiously hope that our friendly countries and partners will sooner or later redeem their pledges. After all, it is believed that a friend in need is a friend indeed”.

Ebune however thanked other organisations and countries for resolutely supporting President Paul Biya's scheme to revive the two English-speaking regions.

He sounded confident that the plan is “ contributing to rebuild and rebuild  better, rehabilitating what existed that had been destroyed  or degraded  by the crisis”.

Work on the ground, he told members, is already contributing to the “normalisation of the way of life of the local population and contributing towards peace”. 

Ebune thanked the United Nations Development Program, UNDP, implementing partner of the project and other international partners whom he stressed have shown support to the plan from inception.

He mentioned the government of Japan and the Islamic Development Bank, as being international partners that have supported the project. In Cameroon, he cited Association of Mining Companies in Cameroon, the brewery company, Boisson du Cameroun, SABC, the Cameroon Employers’ Association, GICAM, and the Professional Association of Financial Institutions of Cameroon, APPECAM, as organisations that have supported the plan.

Progress being made

Anchoring his assessment on what has been done achieved in recent times in addition to what was done in 2022, the Steering Committee Chairperson said there's progress.

The population of the two regions, he maintained are committed to appropriate the projects given the impact of what has been done.

“We are certain that the achievements recorded so far, will accelerate the rhythm and the expectation of the local population,” the Steering Committee Chairperson noted.

Over 11 billion received so far

While presenting the level of funding received, an official of the United Nations Development Program, UNPD, Ahmed Abouem said, over 11 billion FCFA has been received since the project went operational. 

The government, Ahmed disclosed, remains the major funder having provided over 8 billion. Plans, Ahmed said, would soon be completed for a funding agreement with the Islamic Development Bank to accelerate the project.

Over 3billion spent to rehabilitate infrastructure

Detailing how the money has been spent, Ahmed said infrastructure has swallowed over 3 billion FCFA. 

The money, he said, has been invested in reviving, rehabilitating and equipping vital community infrastructures.

This light, the official stated, was done with women and children among the highest beneficiaries.

Schools and Community centres for the acquisition of skills, he said, have been the main target.

480 million on social infrastructure

Amhed further disclosed that, at least 480 million has gone into social infrastructure. He mentioned the equipment of empowerment centres in the interest of women and Youths.

The UNDP official also disclosed that some 800 documents have been re-established in the interest of the local population. 

Such documents, Ahmed reiterated have restored the nationalities of many who lost vital documents in the conflict.

‘Don't forget the people at the base’

Talking to reporters, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church In Cameroon, PCC, Rt Rev Fonki Samuel Forba saluted the progress made but cautioned that, more work is still needed at the grassroots.

The Moderator stated that, more actions should be intensified at the regional, divisional, sub divisional and village levels to get the people involved in the entire process.

Grassroots discussions, he averred, will enhance awareness about the project and get the needs of communities to achieve holistic reconstruction. He also appealed for dialogue to continue as was agreed during the Major National Dialogue to further enhance the walk to peace.

Where are we?

The PPRD-NW/SW is a 10-year plan. Its three phases are; recovery, reconstruction and development. Officials explained during yesterday’s meeting that since April 2020 when the plan was launched, we are still at the recovery phase.

The phase is seeking to contribute to the return of peace, restore dignity of population, revive infrastructure and social facilities and prepare the ground for reconstruction and development. The two other phases are; reconstruction that will cover a period of five years and development planned to take 10 years.