Cameroon afDB partnership: soaring approvals meet disbursement challenges

Cooperation between the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Cameroon continues to see a substantial increase in approved funding volumes, yet struggles with the actual utilization of these significant resources. Since the implementation of the Country Strategy Paper (CSP) 2023-2028, the pan-African institution has greenlit 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 critical financial details were made public 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 reports its total commitments to Cameroon at 1,603.6 billion FCFA in 2026, a notable increase from 1,226.2 billion FCFA at the DSP’s inception. This translates to a progression of 377.4 billion FCFA, or nearly 31%. Concurrently, the nation’s annual capacity to access sovereign window resources has surged by 57.1%, moving from 273.3 to 429.4 billion FCFA. These figures underscore the multilateral lender’s renewed confidence in Cameroon’s financial standing and development potential, a key aspect of African current affairs.

Disbursement rate remains at 26%

Despite these robust commitments, the conversion of approved funds into tangible expenditures continues to lag. 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 merely 26%. This ratio encompasses both operations initiated before the DSP and those approved since 2023. It signifies a broader, structural difficulty for Cameroon in effectively absorbing available financing, rather than solely reflecting the utilization of the recently validated 833.8 billion FCFA.

The root causes identified during the review are persistent. Delays in the signing and activation of financing agreements, insufficient allocation of counterpart funds by the public treasury, and tardy submission of audit reports to the lender consistently hinder progress. These procedural bottlenecks impede every stage of project execution, from satisfying prerequisite conditions and conducting procurement processes to mobilizing contractors and disbursing financial tranches. This reflects challenges in African governance that often impact development projects.

Transport and energy dominate funding allocation

A sectoral analysis of the portfolio confirms a strong concentration on heavy infrastructure. The transport sector accounts for 53.83% of mobilized resources, followed by energy, which captures 22.32%. Agriculture represents 10.8% of the funding, while the social sector receives 9.19%. When measured against 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 more than three-quarters of the AfDB’s financial exposure in Cameroon.

The Ministry of Economy highlights several achievements stemming from this partnership: the construction of over 570 kilometers of roads, the Nachtigal hydroelectric 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. However, these projections remain contingent upon the effective commencement of construction and implementation activities.

Positive shift: decline in red-alert projects

A promising indicator signals a positive shift. The proportion of projects classified as red-alert, meaning those whose timelines or objectives are at risk, has decreased significantly from 48% at the end of February to 26% by mid-July 2026. This 22-point reduction brings the Cameroonian portfolio closer to the AfDB’s institutional target of 25%. This improvement reflects the initial positive outcomes of a joint acceleration plan adopted in February, which includes performance contracts, monthly sectoral reviews, and prioritized processing for operations signed but without disbursements for over fifteen months.

“We must transition from a logic of procedures to a culture of results,” stated Léandre Bassolé, the AfDB Director General for Central Africa. Following the July review, the official emphasized the crucial role expected from the private sector in driving economic transformation. With nearly 68% of the indicative program already validated, the partnership’s success will increasingly hinge not on the volume of new approvals, but on the speed of execution: reducing administrative delays, securing national counterpart funds, streamlining procurement processes, and ensuring compliance with audit obligations. The second half of the DSP, therefore, will be defined by the actual delivery of vital infrastructure and development projects across Cameroon.