Rural Development Program for the North-West Region

Genesis

The Rural Development Programme has been put into place within the framework of the Cameroon-European Union Cooperation. The ambition of the project is to identify and provide long lasting solutions to specific problems facing the populations which include : the strengthening of the socio-economic network infrastructure, the provision of long lasting support to the economy and the improvement of the capacities and incomes of the decentralised local communities. The Programme is elaborate and designed in respect of the prescriptions laid out in the document of the strategy for growth and employment (DSGE) adopted at the end of 2009.

The financing agreement reached between the government of the Republic of Cameroon and the European Commission to fund the Rural Development Programmes for the North-west Region as well as the Rural Development Programmes for the East and Far-North Regions was signed on May 6, 2010. The amount envisaged in the funding agreement of the Rural Development Programme for the North-West Region (RDP-NW) stands at 6,326,585,000 CFAF. Drawn from the 10th EDF resources.

Objectives

The main objective of the Programme is to improve the living conditions of the masses in the area of activity

The specific objective is to provide long lasting solutions tothe major problems faced by the masses such as (poor access to basic services, low income power) at their request and with their participation, while taking into account the socio-economic constraints of the area of activity.

Activities targeted

Activity 1 : To improve the living standard of the masses ;

• To facilitate the movement of people and property through selective action on rural roads ( long lasting treatment of critical spots), the realisation of civil engineering works (bridges), organisation and maintenance works, reinforcement of the capacities of committees in charge of maintenance and management of unclassified rural roads and communal roads;
•  To improve access to potable water through the creation(building) or the rehabilitation (renovation) of village or pastoral water infrastructure (wells, drill holes/ boreholes, management (installation) of water sources etc. Organisation of the management of the water supply points/ waterholes training of members of water supply points committees, drainage works and hygiene. 
• To improve access to public health through the building of health centers with toilets (latrines) and water supply points, the provision of furniture and equipment, the empowerment of heath committee (HECO) and management committee (MACO) with managerial foloww up and maintenance skills;
• To improve upon and protect the environment through such projects as replanting trees and other techniques geared towards environmental protection.

Activity 2 : To improve the income situation of the masses :

• Indentify and set up income generating activities geared towards the creation, the intensification/strengthening or diversification of agricultural activities, stock breeding or others in terms of (production, marketing, transformation) at the request of the beneficiaries coupled with their contribution and their technical partnership.
• To place coherent « Technical packets » at the disposal of producers for microprojects whose technical and economic feasibility is guaranteed and whose adaptability to the needs and capacities of the beneficiaries has been verified.
• To boost support infrastructure in the productive sectors such as markets, shops, stock breeding infrastructure etc.
• To accompany and reinforce the capacities of the actors in the techniques of production, management and organisation.
  

Activity 3 : Support to decentralised regional communites

• To reinforce the managerial and organisational capacities of Decentralised Regional Communities (DRC) following an approach that is personal and based on request to accounting and financial management, specielised technical advice, feasibility study, market research, etc. 
• To develop Council-owned ressources, to lend support to the clarification the real fiscal base, to assist in putting into place recovery procedures and to assistin the ceation or revival of income generating activities at the level of the local communities (Councils).
  

The Rural Development Programme for the North-West Region (RDP-NW) comprises 15 local communities distributed as follows :

The entirety of the local Communities in Momo, Donga-Mantung and Menchum divisions  in the North- west Region.

Akwaya Council in Manyu division, South-west Region.

Area of Activity (See map)

Implementation approach

It is a participative approach which demands the involvement and active participation of the beneficiaries before, during and after the execution of the projects, in order to guarantee their continuity. The contribution of the beneficiaries fluctuates between 1 to 10% depending on the type of the project involved. Membership of the beneficiaries is concretised through a partnership agreement.

Decentralized Regional Communities as well as deconcentrated local government services take part in all the stages of implementation of the programme.

Provision of requested assistance : Beneficiaries express and establish their needs with the assistance of the Programme. The projects to be realised are determined by the applications made by the beneficiaries. They are selected based on trans parent and verifiable criteria on the field, while taking into account the geographical distribution of the projects.

A « do do » Approach : The activities are carried out by service provider who have been absorbed by the Programme following the tender procedure spelt out in the rules and regulations of EDF.

The taking into account of aspects of continuity through actions geared towards the reinforcement of organisational capacities and partners who will assume the relay as soon as activities in the field shall have been executed. The interventions shall take into account the ability of the beneficiaries to execute them..

Consideration of environmental and gender issues

Special priority shall be given to type of activity and the degree of vulnerability of the population. The Programme shall give priority to activities that are environmentally  friendly or activities that guarantee the protection of the environment.

Support Unit of the National Financial Authority of EDF :

It is a service representing the National Financial Authority of EDF in charge of monitoring the evolution of the Projects funded by the EDF, as well as their accounts and financial follow-up.

European Union Delegation

Representative of the European Union Commission : it is in charge of amongst others, the follow-up and the technical and financial implementation of the entire Programme ofn the Cameroon – European Union  Cooperation.

Pilot Committee : created by decision of the National Financial Authority of EDF,  it is in charge of supervising and approving the general orientation and plan of action of the Programme.

Operational Structure :

It is responsible for the execution of the Programme which is in charge of elaborating and ensuring of the estimate programmes ; it consists of :

• 1 Project head (Project Manager)
• 1 Executive manager (Head of Administration and Finance)
• 1 Assistant Executive  Manager (for Administration and finance)
• 1 Head of Infrastructure (Manager of Infrastructure)
• 1 Head of Rural Development 
• 1 Assistant  Head of Rural Development 

Support staff

• 2 Secretaries
• 5 Drivers
• 1 maintenance worker

Duration of programme :

The period allocated for the execution or realisation of the agreement is 60 months which consists of three distinct phases:

• A kick-off phase of 6 months;
• A cruising phase of 48 months;
• A closing phase of 6 months
  

Institutional framework for the implementation of the Programme

Contracting Authority : The National Financial  Authority of EDF, Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT).

Prime Contractor (Project Manager) : Department of General Affairs, Plan and Regional Development.

Contact : PDR-NW 

Headquater of the Rural Development Program for the North West in Bamenda

(Bali Road)

PO Box. : 652 BAMENDA

Phone :  33 36 40 33 Fax : 33 36 41 56