UNDP Cameroon and the Government of Japan Signed a Partnership Agreement to Support Recovery in Cameroon’s SW Region

Yaoundé, 10 March 2023 –The United Nations Development Programme, UNDP Cameroon, represented by its Acting Resident Representative, Alassane Ba, and the Government of Japan, represented by its Ambassador to Cameroon, H.E. Mr. TAKAOKA Nozomu, signed a partnership agreement for the second phase of Japan’s support to the UNDP Recovery Programme in the South West Region of Cameroon.

The new phase of the project is worth 300,000,000 Japanese Yen (approx. 2,205,720.17 USD and 1,365,475,334 XAF) and will enhance the resilience of populations in the region and accelerate recovery through the rehabilitation of essential infrastructure to promote basic service delivery in the areas of Health and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene). The specific outputs of the project are to increase access to basic healthcare services and safe drinking water for the affected populations of the South West Region of Cameroon, especially in the Meme, Manyu, Ndian, Kupe Manenguba, Lebialem, and Fako divisions. The project will be implemented between March 2023 and February 2024.

The crisis in the South West and North West regions of Cameroon which started in 2016 has triggered displacement and damaged basic infrastructure, compromising access to essential services for populations in the two regions.

UNDP Cameroon has been working with a coalition of partners, to #BuildBackBetter through the Recovery programme in the two regions. The partnership with the Government of Japan, which is so far the sole bi-lateral partnership for the programme, started with a first phase in January 2021–April 2022 and has contributed to improving living conditions for populations in the Fako Division and the rising number of IDPs from other divisions who have relocated to the Fako Division. The populations have gained access to additional health facilities and services and increased access to safe drinking water following the rehabilitation of nine Health Centres, and eleven water points in the South West region.

This new partnership will significantly scale up the efforts of the recovery programme in the South West region of Cameroon. "I am delighted with this new step in a long-standing tripartite partnership between the Republic of Cameroon, Japan, and UNDP. Urgent restoration of basic service delivery through the rehabilitation of health centres and water points is essential to counter the spread of illnesses for the affected populations, promote human security, and provide them with healthy minds fit to accelerate recovery." Expressed Mr. Alassane Ba, UNDP Cameroon’s Acting Resident Representative.

‘We strive to help the people in Cameroon, including the affected population in the South West region. Reinforcing the strong tie between Cameroon, Japan and UNDP”. H.E. Mr. TAKAOKA Nozomu Ambassador of Japan to Cameroon.

This new phase of the project and its expansion to other divisions will allow for a more even distribution of assistance across the South West region, alleviate the strain on existing health centres in other divisions, and increase access to health care and clean drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people.