According to figures presented at the plan’s recent session, the Presidential Plan for Reconstruction and Development has completed several community-based projects aimed at rebuilding trust and fostering stability in the North West and South West regions.
The Presidential Plan for Reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West Regions, PPRD-NWSW has made measurable progress in restoring critical infrastructure and reviving livelihoods in Cameroon’s crisis-affected Anglophone regions, according to its coordinators. The update was presented during the 6th Steering Committee session held in Buea on Friday, May 30, chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, who also serves as the plan’s national supervisor.
The meeting brought together key government officials, development partners, and regional stakeholders to assess the plan’s implementation and chart the way forward. Launched in the wake of the Anglophone crisis that erupted in 2016 and escalated into armed conflict, the PPRD-NWSW was designed to restore peace, promote recovery, and lay the groundwork for sustainable development. Budgeted at FCFA 2,500 billion, the initiative is structured around three phases: Recovery, Reconstruction, and Development.
According to figures presented at the session, the PPRD has completed several community-based projects aimed at rebuilding trust and fostering stability. These include the issuance of over 800 lost civil documents, the organization of 88 socio-cultural activities, and the rehabilitation and equipping of women’s empowerment centres, all designed to strengthen social cohesion. In the area of infrastructure, the plan has so far rehabilitated 99 schools, 39 health facilities, and four bridges.
It has also contributed to strategic road projects such as the Bamenda Ring Road, the Bamenda-Babajou stretch, and the Kumba–Ekondo-Titi road, which are considered vital to reconnecting isolated communities and enabling economic activity.
Recovery phase progress
Progress reports shared during the session indicate that the recovery phase has achieved 64.65% completion in infrastructure, 26.93% in livelihoods restoration, and 9.29% in social cohesion initiatives. The reconstruction phase is also underway. Notably, the government has injected FCFA 20 billion into the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) to facilitate salary payments. Funding has also been directed toward the acquisition of agricultural machinery for the Upper Noun Valley Development Authority (UNVDA), reinforcing efforts to boost food security and rural incomes.
Navigating challenges
While acknowledging the tangible gains made, Paul Tasong, Minister Delegate at the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development and President of the PPRD Steering Committee, stressed the challenges still facing the plan’s full implementation. Chief among them are ongoing security concerns and limited funding. “We are not going into areas where the conflict is still active,” Tasong explained. “We don’t go in when it is hot. We come in only when it is soft.” He further emphasized that the cautious approach is necessary to avoid unnecessary risks and ensure the safety of implementing partners and local populations. Despite these constraints, Tasong expressed optimism that additional international and local partners would join efforts to accelerate the plan’s execution.
A long road ahead
The Anglophone crisis has so far claimed over 6,000 lives, displaced hundreds of thousands, and caused extensive damage to property and infrastructure. Against this backdrop, the PPRD-NWSW is seen as a cornerstone of the government’s efforts to rebuild the affected regions and restore a sense of normalcy. With recovery well underway and early reconstruction efforts gaining traction, the focus now shifts to sustaining momentum and mobilizing resources to meet the ambitious goals of the final development phase.
