United Nations and government of Cameroon Reinforce Cooperation Ties

Strenghtened cooperation was the unanimous conclusion of the third session of the Structured Political Dialogue between Cameroon and the United Nations System which held on Thursday 08 June 2023, at the Ministry of External Relations. Co-chaired by Minister Lejeune MBELLA MBELLA of External Relations and Matthias ZANA NAAB; UN Resident Coordinator, this dialogue took place in an atmosphere of conviviality, trust, and mutual understanding during which both Parties agreed to abide by the final resolutions.

This 2023 edition of the political dialogue focused on the contribution of United Nations System in Cameroon to the implementation of the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North-West and South-West Regions and the Special Program for the Reconstruction and Development of the Far-North Region.

As this third edition of the political dialogue wrapped up, both parties resolved to:

1- evaluate the cooperation between Cameroon and the United Nations System, while re-emphasizing the importance of aligning the programs and activities of UN Agencies with national priorities;

2- agree on new approaches based on a more inclusive and coordinated partnership for the reconstruction of the North West, South West and Far North regions;

3- express their firm determination to continue mobilizing the international community and development partners to support recovery efforts in the regions concerned.

This dialogue further positioned the UN as a strategic partner of Cameroon in the development and recovery of regions affected by crises and set the ground for a strengthened cooperation with coordination mechanisms in the recovery plan. The UN System in Cameroon, in Ihe light of the “Delivering As One” Initiative, supports the government through strategic priority areas contained in the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework signed in September 2021, towards the implementation of Cameroon’s National Development Strategy 2030 (SND2030)

H.E Mbella Mbella appreciated the fact that “due to its political and strategic impetus to the rich and multisectoral cooperation between Cameroon and United Nations Agencies in the country, this political dialogue was to serve as a reference framework for consultations at national level”.

Matthias Z. NAAB reaffirmed the determination of the UN System in Cameroon to contribute to the success of national development priorities, and government’s recovery efforts in the crises affected regions. Mr. NAAB added that “the UN system will continue to work hand in hand with the government in support of the recovery process” and called for the “establishment of accountability mechanisms to ensure that today’s commitments are jointly implemented by various ministries and UN agencies.”