Cameroon

Team Europe supports the three Northern regions of Cameroon (Septentrion) in strengthening agri-food systems, rural livelihoods, sustainable resource management, local governance and stability. Key initiatives include:

• Boosting food production and climate resilience by supporting 16 000+ family farms in climate-smart agriculture, restoring lands and increasing agro-pastoral productivity, including in cross-border areas. Efforts also enhance food security for vulnerable households.
• Supporting the cotton value chain by improving productivity for 150 000+ smallholder farmers, modernising SODECOTON’s processing facilities, building a new factory, and introducing solar energy solutions.
• Improving territorial governance through decentralisation, financial management and local development in pilot municipalities.
• Managing natural resources by protecting natural heritage, promoting fair benefits from ecosystem services, and improving ecosystem handling. Transboundary water resource management in the Lake Chad Basin aims to enhance availability, access and quality of the resource.
• Connecting rural households to electricity by expanding networks, upgrading infrastructure, and increasing last-mile connections in 280 villages.
• Addressing and preventing cross-border threats to peace and stability by reintegrating ex-combatants, preventing extremist recruitment, and strengthening social cohesion. Support also focuses on conflict prevention, inclusion of displaced persons, and integrating refugees into host communities via access to basic services and employment opportunities.

The EU is partnering with Cameroon to improve the performance of key value chains, enhance entrepreneurship and market access, as well as facilitate finance for businesses. Our common actions focus on:

• Improving the cocoa value chain by connecting farmers with agribusiness, supporting cooperatives, improving traceability, productivity, and processing quality while promoting environmentally and socially responsible production.
• Enhancing the forestry-wood value chain by supporting EU and national forestry companies towards sustainable and efficient processing and transformation, promoting reforestation and strengthening sectoral governance and transparency.
• Boosting entrepreneurship and competitiveness of value chains by upholding energy efficiency, digital acceleration, access to finance and enhancing investment, trade and market access.

The EU supports Cameroon’s energy transition by increasing production, improving governance and skills in the renewable energy sector. Together, we work on:

• Expanding green energy production and distribution through the network interconnection between Cameroon and Chad to export electricity from the Nachtigal hydropower plant (420MW), as well as supporting the overall development of the Kikot hydropower dam (500MW).
• Enhancing energy sector governance by supporting the development of an affordable and accessible regional electricity market in Central Africa. Actions also strengthen regional energy policy and the establishment of Centers of Excellence for renewable energy and efficiency in the ECCAS region.

The EU is supporting Cameroon in developing strategic transport infrastructure, strengthening regional connectivity, trade and integration as well as improving urban mobility. Our common actions focus on:

• Developing key transport corridors with road and bridge construction to enhance national and regional connectivity and facilitate trade through the rehabilitation of road sections in the North (Moutourwa-Maroua and Yagada-Maroua) as well as the construction of Logone River bridge between Cameroon and Chad.  
• Improving mobility and resilience in major cities by supporting green public transport in Yaoundé, sustainable urban mobility plans in Douala and Yaoundé and climate-resilient planning in Maroua.
• Upgrading rail infrastructure through the rehabilitation of the TRANSCAM 2 railway line (Belabo-Ngaoundéré) and planned extensions to Chad.
• Enhancing regional trade and integration by fostering trade facilitation, investments and integration of value chains in the context of trade agreements.

The partnership between Cameroon and the EU also aims to improve natural resources management and biodiversity’s conservation. It includes protecting key ecosystems in Dja Wildlife Reserve and Lobéké forests, enhancing sustainable wildlife management as well as improving marine conservation and coastal restoration.

Cameroon and the EU are joining efforts to support the safe reintegration of migrants and provide durable solutions for displaced populations. Key initiatives include:

• Facilitating safe return and reintegration by strengthening migration management, addressing the root causes of irregular migration, and developing Cameroon’s first national migration policy. Support also includes voluntary return, rights-based reintegration, and protection for vulnerable migrants.
• Delivering durable solutions for displaced communities by promoting social cohesion, improved access to services, infrastructure, jobs in complex settings.
• Supporting refugees and host communities by enhancing local integration and ensuring long-term assistance for Central African refugees in Cameroon and returnees in CAR.

Working together, Cameroon and the EU are strengthening governance, security, stability, and the fight against transnational crime, notably by:

• Stabilising conflict-affected regions by supporting women’s organisations, human rights defenders, and civil society to promote social cohesion, protection, and resilience, particularly in anglophone regions.
• Reinforcing maritime security by accompanying the Yaoundé architecture for information sharing, strengthening naval security operations in the Gulf of Guinea, and enhancing maritime security coordination across Africa.
• Countering transnational crime and terrorism through combatting violent extremism, organised and financial crimes.
• Promoting human rights and civil society engagement through support for democracy, justice reform, and local governance, youth participation and civil society networks.