A three-day workshop to evaluate the path covered, challenges and prospects began in Yaounde on Monday February 3, 2014.

Cameroon and some emerging countries with which it partners to spearhead socio-economic development in the country are currently seeking ways of efficiently executing some 15 projects to the tune of FCFA 1,200 billion they are jointly funding. A three-day evaluation workshop on the path covered, challenges encountered and how to surmount them began in Yaounde yesterday February 3 under the chairmanship of the Minister Delegate at the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Yaouba Abdoulaye.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, the Minister Delegate said the fact that the amount of the countries' contribution moved from FCFA 75 billion for six projects in 2009 to FCFA 1,200 billion for 15 projects today is telling of existing excellent multilateral cooperation ties between Cameroon and the countries (China, South Korea and India involved in the ongoing evaluation). The 15 projects span through a wide-range of sectors, notably, energy, professional training, social housing, transport, telecommunications and sports, among others. "Government is bent on playing its own role for this cooperation to grow from strength to strength so that the country optimally benefits from these countries," Minister Yaouba Abdoulaye said.

According to the Director General of Cooperation and Regional Integration at MINEPAT, Dr. Assamba Ongodo Charles, Cameroon has over 15 partner countries within the said framework but real cooperation is with about five (China, South Korea, Brazil, India and Arab Emirates). "We need to see how projects are executed with these countries in line with the Growth and Employment Strategy Paper on how we can diversify our partnership so as to attain efficiency," he said. Mr Assamba disclosed that another objective is going towards countries which might not have money to give but could provide know-how needed in the country's growth vision.

The ongoing evaluation session is coming after the first in 2012 which came up with recommendations on how to clear noticeable obstacles like slow execution of projects, slow disbursement of funds and the perennial problem of counterpart funding. Papers are being presented for each of the 15 projects with the view of shading light on their state of advancement, hindrances and what is expected from each actor for their mutually beneficial execution.