By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Plans to enhance the Yaounde Municipal Lake have taken a major step forward with the presentation of feasibility studies at a two-day workshop that started on January 21 in Yaounde. The event, part of the technical assistance program of the Multi-Country Facility for supporting Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), brought together government officials, dignitaries, and representatives from the French Development Agency (AFD).
The workshop’s opening ceremony was chaired by Paul Tasong, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, incharge of Planning. Tasong expressed his gratitude towards the AFD for their unwavering support and highlighted the strong cooperative bond between France and Cameroon.
“The project to restructure the Municipal Lake will involve complementary work to make this project operational,” Tasong stated. “Following this, we will engage in negotiations with a potential partner capable of managing such an infrastructure.” He stressed that the project will be executed under a public-private partnership framework.
Sylvester Dang, Deputy Director of AFD Cameroon, noted that the workshop would provide an opportunity to discuss and present the conclusions of the feasibility studies. He anticipated that this phase would pave the way for the transaction stage.
Célestine Ketcha Courtes, President of CARPA and Minister of Housing and Urban Development, praised the project, stating that it would enhance Yaounde’s aesthetic appeal.
Initiated in April 2023, the AFD Group’s technical assistance program aims to bolster Cameroon’s institutional capacities in designing, structuring, and managing PPP projects. In addition to the Municipal Lake project, the workshop also featured presentations on the development of the MINGOA valley in Yaounde and the study of the Ngoumou Logistics Zone.
The workshop aims to define a clear framework for structuring projects in PPP mode, identify potential support frameworks by the AFD/EU, and mobilize stakeholders around a shared vision for project development. It will also help finalize deliverables for approval and use in subsequent phases, including tenders and investor engagement.
The Africa Multi-Country Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Facility promotes a financing method where public authorities collaborate with private service providers to finance and manage infrastructure contributing to public services. Currently, Cameroon and Djibouti are the beneficiaries of this PPP initiative.
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