Cameroon is the largest middle-income country in Central Africa with a relatively diversified economy and a dynamic private sector. The country is part of the Congo Basin, first green lung of the world. The country plays a key role for the stability and the sustainable development of its sub-region.
Our Team Europe priorities
Cameroon faces important socio-economic, climate and security challenges. In the North, the country plays an important role for peace and stability in the Lake Chad region. In line with the Global Gateway strategy, the EU has been working to support Cameroon in promoting sustainable, inclusive and green development throughout its territory.
The EU operates together with its Member States, their agencies and the European Investment Bank (‘Team Europe’). In Cameroon, Team Europe is supporting the territorial initiative 'Green pact and resilience in the Cameroon Septentrion', targeting specifically the three regions of Cameroon’s Septentrion (Far North, North and Adamaoua regions). The initiative seeks to address territorial disparities, to prevent the effects of climate change and the further degradation of natural resources. The three regions of the Septentrion have a combined population of 7,5 million (out of 25 million in 10 regions of the country), with population growth still rising sharply. Through this initiative, the EU and its Member States aim at supporting
- Climate-resilient territories through support to local renewable energies and a climate change adaptation strategy
- Sustainable resources’ management through territorial planning
- Sustainable Agricultural production and food production systems
- Green economic opportunities, targeting especially women and young people
- The promotion of good governance practices throughout the territory
In the period 2021-24, Team Europe support to the initiative is indicatively worth €197 million.
Our EU programmes
In terms of EU bilateral allocation, the Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) for Cameroon under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI-Global Europe) provides for €178 million (period 2021-2024).
This amount is being allocated through programmes focused on governance, democratization, peace and stabilization (civic participation, support to the decentralization process, support to social cohesion mechanisms), inclusive growth and sustainable jobs (support to vocational and technical training, development of private sector investments), and sustainable development and climate action (development of sustainable cities, sustainable agriculture/rural development projects, protection of biodiversity, sound management of natural resources).
In 2021, the EU approved a programme to foster green and sustainable cities. The programme will help strengthen urban planning capacities and facilitate investments in sustainable urban infrastructure. Centered on Yaoundé, Douala, and Maroua, the approach focuses on urban mobility and waste management, which could become a source of job creation and economic growth. The activities focusing on Maroua are part of the of our Team Europe initiative in the Northern part of the country, in addition to another EU programme approved in 2021, “Cameroun: Septentrion vert et résilient”.
Furthermore, Cameroon benefits from programmes supporting the sustainable management of its forests and natural resources. Through the action “Green landscapes -South/South-East Cameroon”, approved in 2022, the EU supports the sustainable management of two forests of global importance, while ensuring economic opportunities for local communities.
In 2022, the EU approved a programme promoting citizen participation and local civil society. The action aims specifically at supporting women’s rights, in line with the EU’s Gender Action Plan III.
Cameroon also benefits from our EU continental regional allocation in line with the Global Gateway strategy. For instance, as part of EU-Africa strategic corridors , the EU is supporting the construction of the Logone bridge, which will cross the Logone river and link Cameroon and Tchad, facilitating trade between the two countries. Likewise, the NaturAfrica initiative, supporting biodiversity and sustainable development in the Central African region, and benefits Cameroun in the management of its forest areas and of the landscapes of transhumance in the Northern part of the country.