Members met in Yaounde Wednesday to adopted 2014 reports and plan for 2015.
2014 was a successful year in the implementation of government’s programme to reduce poverty in the grassroots. The project which is in its second phase is being carried out with the support of the United Nations Development Programme. Meeting in Yaounde on 18 March, 2015 to assess progress, the President of the steering committee in charge of implementing the development project who doubles as the Secretary General in the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Gilbert Didier Edoa, it was revealed that the just-ended year was full of successes. The Deputy of the United Nations Development Programme, Corneille Agossou said they were sourcing for funds for the implementation of more projects.
Steering committee members rejoiced at the operationalisation of two orientation and support centres in the Lagdo and Maga Councils in the North and Far North Regions respectively. Four others initiated and expected to go functional anytime this year in Pitoa, Moulvoudaye, Okola and Batcham in the North, Far North, Centre and West Regions respectively. Some 33 growth-induced sectors were identified in 12 council areas while more than 150 grassroots common initiative groups with reliable activities were structured and funded to the tune of FCFA 400 million. Some 11 projects in the growth-induced sector in the Tubah, Bamenda II, Maga, Lagdo, Koza, Okala and Garoua in the North West, Far North, North and Centre Region equally received funding. Five warehouses were constructed in Ngainako, Daou, Djoumassi and Barnake while an oil extracting mill for Avocado pears is about being put in place in Mbouda in the West Region. Gilbert Didier Edoa revealed that 126 groups had received funding amounting to FCFA 299 million. Amongst the beneficiaries were 56 with micro-projects and 70 groups into 11 growth-induced fields. “Alleviating poverty, creating more jobs and inciting growth” remains the committee’s roadmap for 2015.
The programme which falls within the country’s 2013-2017 development plan with emphasis on supporting local economies in a bid to accelerate growth has assisted uncountable number of Cameroonians through common initiative groups and associations. The GIC Féderal in the West Region is counting blessings for having known the programme. The group received funding worth FCFA 2.2 million to step up poultry production from 200 to 1,200 chicks daily.
