A workshop on the mid-term review of the third phase of the Economic Policy Management Programme of the University of Yaounde II took place in Yaounde yesterday. Experts in charge of economic management in the University of Yaounde II, Soa, met in Yaounde yesterday to carry out a mid-term review of the third phase of the Economic Policy Management Programme of the institution. Organised by the Faculty of Economics and Management in collaboration with the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), the workshop brought together representatives of international organisations and guests.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, the Rector of the University of Yaounde II, Professor Jean Tabi Manga said as Africa is looking forward to its emergence as a major actor in the world, university programmes are expected to propose realistic solutions to the continent’s development problems. Professor Tabi Manga expressed the need to identify what is required by the Economic Management Programme of the institution to continue providing Africa with the experts who can formulate the kind of policies that are vital for the sustainable economic development of the continent. He said the programme is important because it enables with the aid from the World Bank, and other partners the reinforcement of personal capacities, institutional capacities in the country in the elaboration and analysis in the carrying out of economic and political programmes for the growth of the African continent.

The Economic Policy Management Programme is a capacity-building programme to help improve the quality of taking decisions in administrations in African countries. The Director of the Economic Policy Management Programme, Professor Roger Tsafack Nanfosso, said it is expected after the evaluation workshop, everything will be okay for donors to increase their financial support of their programme. The training duration lasts for 15 months for the first two phases and 12 months since the kick-off of the third phase. The third phase started began in 2008 and will run till 2012. The programme covers other regions apart from CEMAC. Toda, the 350 students from 10 African countries are being trained in the Economic Policy Management Programme. Among then are 150 Cameroonians.