Structured Political Dialogue: Gov’t, UN evaluate implementation of 2023 recommendations, set new target.

The government, through the Ministry of External Relations, and the UN System have also drawn a new roadmap designed to enable the two attain their development-oriented goals for Cameroon under the umbrella of the United Nations Sustainable Development Framework.

This was during the fourth session of the Structured Political Dialogue scheme jointly chaired by the Minister of External Relations, Mbella Mbella, and the Resident Coordinator of the UN System in Cameroon, Siaka Coulibaly. 

The meeting, held Monday April 15, was held the theme: “Supporting the United Nations System in implementing climate priorities and mobilising green financing”. 

During the gathering, officials evaluated the progress that has been made, notably in the implementation of the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West regions.  They also zoomed into the ground that has been covered on the Special Programme for the Reconstruction and Development of the Far North Region.

On the implementation of Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West Regions, the authorities notably evaluated the works that have been done in the rehabilitation of schools, health centres and markets.

Other similar projects, which were outlined to be executed by the United Nations Development Programme including works on accompanying farmers through the provision of farming tools, were also evaluated.

On the Far North Region, the session also focused on reviewing the success rate recorded so far in areas like the outlined project to boost security situation of the region through the construction or rehabilitation of infrastructures.

Speaking at the start of the works on Monday, Minister Mbella Mbella saluted the fruitful partnership with the UN System in the realisation of the various projects.

“The Structured Political Dialogue between the United Nations and Cameroon is more than a mere mechanism for regular consultation within partners. It is a tool for meaningful implementation of the government policy. It is also an instrument to make an alliance with world partnership areas between Cameroon and the United Nations,” he said. 

“This is done under the corporation framework for our sustainable development commitment between Cameroon and the United Nations System which aims to guide the cooperation between Cameroon and the system of the United Nations for the period 2022-2026,” Mbella Mbella added. 

Combating climate change, other environment-related ills

According to Minister Mbella Mbella and the Resident Coordinator of the UN System, Cameroon and the UN body will remain firm on various development targets which also importantly fall in line with Cameroon’s 2020-2030 National Development Strategy.

Besides the early development activities, both authorities said they also importantly shifting their efforts towards further intentionally tackling climate change and its resultant challenges. 

According to Minister Mbella Mbella, Cameroon is fully committed to implementing the recommendations of last year’s edition of the Conference of the Parties, COP28, on climate change and all the other editions of the summit in its bid to combat climate change.

Per the minister, Cameroon has a country, has over the years, made enormous strides in an effort to handle climate change notably afforestation efforts and is fully dedicated to continue on the positive note.

Enter UN System coordinator 

The Resident Coordinator of the UN System, Siaka Coulibaly, hailed Cameroon for participation in COP28 and its visible commitment to fighting climate change. 

He said the United Nations remains fully committed to working with Cameroon in a bid to ensure more projects are realised in combating climate change through the promotion of activities that protect the environment.

“On behalf of the United Nations System in Cameroon, I will like to use this opportunity to congratulate the government of Cameroon for your participation in the COP28,” Siaka Coulibaly said.

It should be noted that the Structured Political Dialogue was launched seven years ago. Monday’s session was the fourth under the framework of the scheme after those of October 2016, August 2018 and June 2023.

The scheme is a mechanism for consultation, evaluation and monitoring cooperation between both Cameroon and the United Nations System. It is fully designed to spice up all the activities and sectors of the cooperation between the two.