The collaboration between the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Cameroon demonstrates a significant increase in financial commitments, yet struggles to translate these approved resources into actual project spending. Since the initiation of the Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for 2023-2028, the pan-African institution has greenlighted eight new operations for Yaoundé, totaling an impressive 833.8 billion FCFA. This figure represents 67.9% of the initial indicative envelope, which was set at 1,227.5 billion FCFA for the period. These details were officially released by the Bank on July 17, 2026, following a joint review conducted three days prior in the Cameroonian capital.
The acceleration in commitments is undeniable. The AfDB now pegs its total commitments to Cameroon at 1,603.6 billion FCFA in 2026, a substantial rise from 1,226.2 billion FCFA at the outset of the CSP. This marks an increase of 377.4 billion FCFA, or nearly 31%. Concurrently, Cameroon’s annual capacity to access sovereign window resources has jumped by 57.1%, from 273.3 billion to 429.4 billion FCFA. These figures underscore a renewed confidence from the multilateral lender in Cameroon’s financial standing.
a persistent 26% disbursement rate
Despite these robust commitments, the conversion into tangible expenditures remains sluggish. The entire active portfolio, valued at 1,629.2 billion FCFA during the joint review on July 14, 2026, shows a cumulative disbursement rate of only 26%. This ratio encompasses both operations predating the current CSP and those approved since 2023. It does not imply that only 26% of the recently validated 833.8 billion FCFA have been mobilized, but rather highlights a structural challenge the nation faces in absorbing available funding.
Recurring obstacles identified during the review include delays in the signing and enactment of financing agreements, inadequate allocation of counterpart funds by the Public Treasury, and the slow submission of audit reports to the lender. These procedural bottlenecks impede every stage of project execution, from initial approval to the fulfillment of preconditions, procurement processes, mobilization of contractors, and the release of funding tranches.
transport and energy dominate funding
A sectoral analysis of the portfolio confirms a heavy concentration on large-scale infrastructure. The transport sector accounts for 53.83% of mobilized resources, followed by energy, which captures 22.32%. Agriculture represents 10.8%, and the social sector 9.19%. When applied to the total value of the active portfolio, these proportions translate to approximately 877 billion FCFA for transport and 364 billion FCFA for energy. Together, these two segments monopolize over three-quarters of the Bank’s financial exposure in Cameroon.
The Ministry of Economy has highlighted several key achievements stemming from this partnership: the construction of over 570 kilometers of roads, the Nachtigal hydroelectric power plant with its 420 MW installed capacity, and the distribution of more than 133,000 tons of improved fertilizers and seeds. Ongoing projects are projected to generate over 14,500 direct jobs, with a specific focus on opportunities for youth and women. These projections, however, are contingent upon the effective commencement of the construction phases.
reduction in red alert projects
A positive indicator signals a promising shift. The proportion of projects classified as
