By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
The Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT) has officially launched an awareness campaign for public administrations and institutions concerning the newly established legal framework on project maturation.
This strategic engagement took place on March 10 in Yaounde during a high-level workshop chaired by Christian Arnault Emini, Director General of the Economy and Public Investment Programming (DGEPIP).
Opening the workshop, Arnault Emini stressed that the project maturation process recently underwent a significant overhaul, now enshrined in Decree No. 2025/1081/PM signed by the Prime Minister on June 17, 2025.
According to him, this revision directly supports the directives of President Paul Biya, who has consistently advocated for more rigorous, efficient, and strategic management of Cameroon’s public resources.
To Arnault Emini, these adjustments are timely as they coincide with the mid-term review of the 2020-2030 National Development Strategy (SND30). The reform he said aims to bolster the quality and strategic relevance of public initiatives to ensure they maximize socioeconomic impact and sustainably improve the living conditions of the population.
The Director General underscored this vision by calling for “good projects, not just more projects,” emphasizing that the nation needs fewer improvised ventures and more well-developed, transformative projects that can truly shift the needle for the national economy.
The conference proceedings featured two primary segments to ensure clarity for all stakeholders. The first session examined the specific innovations introduced by the new framework, while the second focused on the procedural requirements for developing projects during the critical pre-selection phase.
Going by officials, this new dynamic is the result of a comprehensive assessment following seven years of implementing the previous 2018 decree. While the older legislation improved project preparation and accountability, the June 2025 decree introduces several major upgrades, such as the introduction of the program vehicle in investment structuring and a clearer categorization of projects to streamline resources.
Beyond organizational changes, the legal framework mandates the appointment of dedicated Project or Program Managers to ensure stronger coordination and accountability. It also introduces a portfolio management approach within government departments and necessitates more robust climate assessments for all future projects.
Furthermore, the decree harmonizes preparation methods for Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and design-build approaches, while strictly limiting the maturity period of a project to five years to prevent stagnation.
The primary goal of the conference was to ensure that government departments and public institutions fully adopt these new standards while simultaneously strengthening their technical capacities. Through detailed presentations and interactive discussions, representatives from various sectors gained a deeper understanding of how to navigate the pre-selection and maturation phases effectively.
However, officials expressed confidence that the transition to this modernized framework would lead to a more disciplined and impactful public investment landscape, ultimately benefiting the country’s broader economic goals.
