The World Bank plans additional investments and support for Cameroon’s energy sector and youth employment programmes following talks between Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute and the institution’s operations director for the country, Cheick Kanté.
The announcement came after an audience granted on March 11 in Yaounde, where the two officials reviewed ongoing cooperation projects and discussed ways to strengthen the partnership between the Cameroonian government and the Washington-based development lender. According to Kanté, the discussions focused on accelerating the implementation of existing projects and expanding investment in sectors considered priorities for economic development.
Cameroon maintains a broad development partnership with the World Bank covering sectors including digital transformation, urban development, education, decentralisation, transport infrastructure and energy. During the meeting, Prime Minister Dion Ngute reviewed the progress of these projects while both sides assessed the results of their longstanding cooperation framework.
Kanté told reporters the talks also examined a programme currently under preparation that aims to support the government’s reform agenda through policy-based financing.
“We are working with the government on an operation that supports Cameroon’s reform policies,” he said, adding that discussions focused on how the programme could contribute to the country’s economic transformation.
Energy development featured prominently in the discussions, reflecting the sector’s importance for economic growth. Kanté said the World Bank was investing heavily in the sector through various financial instruments, including guarantees and direct financing, while coordinating with other international partners involved in electricity projects across the country.
He added that the institution and the government reviewed ways to intensify investments and accelerate the implementation of ongoing energy projects. The discussions also referred to Cameroon’s participation in the M300 energy compact, which aims to expand electricity access across the country. Under the initiative, authorities expect around eight million additional Cameroonians to gain access to electricity by 2030.
Youth employment and skills development were also discussed during the talks. Government officials have identified youth unemployment as a major economic challenge, and the World Bank reaffirmed its support for programmes aimed at improving training and employment opportunities for young people.
Kanté said job creation would depend largely on economic transformation and the development of new skills among the country’s youth. He noted that the World Bank Group was working with the government to support initiatives designed to provide young people with better employment opportunities.
Prime Minister Dion Ngute welcomed the state of cooperation with the World Bank and reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining the partnership as Cameroon continues implementing development projects and reforms linked to its long-term economic strategy.
Mercy Fosoh
