Cameroonian-born Ababkar Abdoulrassoul is the first-ever Field Representative of the Islamic Development Bank, IDB in Cameroon.

The agro-economist and rural development specialist was commissioned in Yaounde on August 22, 2016 by the Director General of Cooperation and Regional Integration, Charles Assamba Ongodo on behalf of the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development.

Ababkar Abdoulrassoul’s rich career has taken him to the Lake Chad Basin Commission, CBLT, the Cameroon Cotton Development Corporation, SODECOTON, and the IDB where he served as Division Head before being selected as Field Representative through tenders.

He was told to ensure proper follow-up of IDB-funded projects as he serves as an interface between governments, the IDB and field workers for the smooth execution of projects.

Ababkar Abdoulrassoul was described as the right man in the right place though the challenges are huge, with the new IDB boss disclosing that reorganising his team is primary. “We will develop a proper communication tool and strategy for reporting that will spur efficiency in the execution of projects,” he promised.

The portfolio of the Islamic Development Bank Group in Cameroon with major cooperation partners like the Arab Bank for Economic Development, BADEA, the Saudi Fund for Development, FSD, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, FKDEA and the OPEC Fund for International Development, OFID, was also reviewed.

The meeting revealed that the IDB Group in Cameroon counts close to 30 projects evaluated at FCFA 520 billion. Over 20 projects (FCFA 428 billion) owned by the IDB alone, covering 85 per cent of the group’s portfolio.

The portfolio covers transport, education, energy, agriculture and livestock as well as water and sanitation.