At annual retreat in Yaounde:  UN country team, gov’t, partners brainstorm on shaping 2027-2031cooperation framework.

The three-day retreat is running from February 3 to 5, in Yaounde. Discussions are focused on strengthening coordination, mobilising resources and aligning UN support more closely with national priorities. 

According to UNCT, the retreat is being held at a time of global economic, security and climate uncertainty, as Cameroon continues to implement its National Development Strategy, NDS30, and long-term Vision 2035. 

Presiding over the opening ceremony on behalf of the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Alamine Ousmane Mey, the Director General of Cooperation at MINEPAT, Mohamadou Nawal, welcomed participants and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to its partnership with the UN system.

He described the retreat as part of the continuity of reforms and commitments made during the 2025 session, noting that the objective was not to start from zero but to take stock of progress, identify gaps and project the partnership into a new phase focused on results.

Mohamadou Nawal further pointed at declining traditional aid flows, budgetary constraints and volatility in international resources as factors requiring a shift in approach. 

He also linked the retreat’s discussions to recent policy orientations set by the Head of State particularly the emphasis on youth employment. 

“These orientations constitute a major reference framework for collective action by the government and its partners, including the United Nations system,” Mohamadou Nawal said.

According to him, Cameroon remains engaged in implementing the NDS30, which aims at structural economic transformation and the achievement of the SDGs, while facing persistent challenges including poverty, inequality, security pressures, climate risks and an uncertain international environment. 

He said current SDG trends showed that, without targeted acceleration and a more integrated response, the 2030 Agenda risked falling out of reach.

Enter UN Resident Coordinator

Speaking earlier, the UN Resident Coordinator in Cameroon, Issa Sanogo, described the retreat as a strategic moment for the UN Country Team, the government and partners to reflect collectively and plan ahead.

He said the meeting provides an opportunity to assess how the UN system is aligning itself with Cameroon’s national priorities at a time when the country is navigating economic, financial, security and climate challenges while pursuing Vision 2035.

“This retreat is an opportunity for us to take a step back, reflect together and plan strategically,” Sanogo told reporters, adding that strong commitments had been made in 2025 on resource mobilisation, coordination, digitalisation, climate action and food systems transformation.

According to him, the focus in 2026 was on turning those commitments into concrete actions, strengthening accountability and preparing the next Cooperation Framework for 2027-2031.

Preparing the 2027-2031 cooperation framework

Sanogo said the next Cooperation Framework is being co-designed with the government and partners, integrating global UN reforms, including UN 2.0, UN80 and the humanitarian transition, while ensuring alignment with the SND30.

“Our ambition is to come out of this retreat with clear commitments that strengthen our cohesion as a UN system and our collective action in support of national priorities,” he said.

In his opening speech to participants, Sanogo noted that the current Cooperation Framework for 2022-2026 was aligned with the SND30 and Vision 2035 and supported humanitarian responses for vulnerable populations. 

As the framework enters its final year, he said the retreat would help define the next cycle using a more systemic and forward-looking approach.

He highlighted priorities such as resource mobilisation, improved coordination, operational efficiency, youth and women’s economic empowerment, climate adaptation and the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.

“By working together as one, the UN system in Cameroon aims to reinforce its impact, support national priorities, and ensure no one is left behind, as we design our next cooperation framework 2027-2031,” Sanogo stated.

Expected retreat outcomes 

The retreat features interactive sessions, expert panels and strategic discussions. Key expected outputs include a strategic roadmap, a collective action plan to improve coherence and performance, a resource mobilisation strategy and mechanisms for follow-up and accountability.

Sanogo said the aim was to go beyond information sharing and reach “clear collective decisions” that would sharpen priorities, strengthen coordination and accelerate impact for the people of Cameroon.

The 2026 retreat also marks the transition between the current Cooperation Framework and the preparation of the 2027-2031 cycle, which both the government and the UN system say should be more resilient, more targeted and more responsive to Cameroon’s development challenges.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3693 of Wednesday February 04, 2026