Discussions between Cameroonian authorities and Makhtar Diop, World Bank Vice President for Africa Region who has been visiting the country since July 21 have so far x-rayed the main development challenges facing the country and the possible solutions therein.

The World Bank official is not only working with government officials but has included the private sector in his programme, an indication that the development  train of the nation is not only the responsibility of government alone but that of the private sector as well.
Two major financing agreements are expected to be signed today: one for a Centre of Excellence project in Cameroon, and the other for a strategic transport project.

In effect, the University of Yaounde I, in partnership with the Association of African Universities, was selected as a Centre of Excellence in Information and Communication Technologies (CETICs). The International Development Association (IDA) will provide an eight million dollars (about FCFA 3.9 billion) credit to the centre to equip Cameroonian students with high-level scientific and technological skills. In another development, a new 91 million dollars (about FCFA 44 billion) - transport agreement will reduce travel times, improve road safety, and reduce travel and freight costs for people and goods.

That notwithstanding, Diop’s visit to Cameroon veritably transforms the zeal to ensure continuity in the partnership existing between the World Bank and Cameroon. In effect, the World Bank occupies an important place within the framework of cooperation between Cameroon and development partners. Apart from its project/programme financing missions, the World Bank equally plays an important advisory role in economic policy reforms.

Cooperation between the institution and Cameroon since the latter attained completion point of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiatives in 2006 and fixed its economic and financial programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMP) has essentially been dominated by project financing.  As at today, the portfolio of financial operations with the World Bank as indicated by the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development stands at 14 investment projects under execution estimated at 1,099.4 million dollars (about FCFA 549.7 billion).

In addition to this, the bank equally provides technical and institutional support valued at 14.7 million dollars (FCFA 7.4 billion). That said, the World Bank’s total financial engagement in Cameroon for operations under execution stands at 1,114 million dollars (about FCFA 557.1 billion).
As the two partners, the World Bank and Cameroon forges ahead to consolidate their cooperation, one major thing remains disturbing. The rate of execution of projects financed by the World Bank remains regrettably low in Cameroon. The bank’s disbursement for 2013 considered as considerably high was 23 per cent up from eight per cent in 2012 and four per cent in 2010.

However, trajectory signs indicate a remarkable increase as at May 31 where disbursements for both projects and programmes are said to have attained 38.8 per cent. This state of affairs leaves no one indifferent. And so, the question on every lip is who should be held responsible? The answer cannot be blowing in the wind.

Poor conception and weakness in project execution, low understanding of the public contract system, incompatibility in execution of programmes, late mobilisation of counterpart funds and unrealistic deadlines for project maturity are some of the hurdles that slow down the execution of projects financed by the World Bank. These, in effect, are some of the problems discussions between the august guest and Cameroonian authorities ought to iron out.