The World Bank is planning additional investments in Cameroon focused on energy development and youth employment, officials said after talks with the country’s prime minister aimed at strengthening cooperation on key economic reforms.
The announcement followed a meeting on March 11 in Yaounde between Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute and Cheick Kanté, the World Bank’s operations director for Cameroon.
According to Kanté, the discussions reviewed progress on existing projects and explored new areas of investment intended to support Cameroon’s economic transformation.
The Washington-based development lender maintains a broad partnership with the Cameroonian government covering several sectors including energy, digital transformation, urban development, education, decentralisation and transport infrastructure.
Officials said the talks focused on accelerating the implementation of ongoing projects while expanding financial support for sectors considered critical to the country’s development agenda.
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“We are working with the government on an operation that supports Cameroon’s reform policies,” Kanté told reporters after the meeting.
He said the programme under preparation would provide policy-based financing to support government reforms and improve the country’s economic performance.
Energy development featured prominently in the discussions, reflecting the sector’s importance for industrial growth and economic expansion.
Cameroon has been seeking to increase electricity generation and expand access to power in order to support industrialisation and improve living standards.
Kanté said the World Bank was already investing heavily in the energy sector through various financial instruments, including direct project financing and guarantees.
He added that the institution was also coordinating with other international partners involved in electricity projects across the country.
The discussions examined ways to intensify investments and speed up the implementation of existing energy initiatives, officials said.
One of the programmes highlighted during the meeting was Cameroon’s participation in the M300 energy compact, an initiative designed to expand electricity access across the country.
Under the programme, authorities expect around eight million additional Cameroonians to gain access to electricity by 2030.
Expanding energy access is widely seen as essential to boosting productivity, encouraging private investment and supporting job creation in sectors such as manufacturing and services.
Youth employment was another key issue discussed during the meeting, reflecting concerns about job opportunities for Cameroon’s rapidly growing young population.
Government officials have identified youth unemployment as a major economic challenge and are seeking international support to expand skills training and employment programmes.
Kanté said the World Bank Group was working with the government to support initiatives aimed at improving education and vocational training systems while creating pathways into the labour market.
He noted that stronger economic growth and improved skills development would be critical to expanding employment opportunities for young people.
“The creation of jobs depends largely on economic transformation and the development of skills among the youth,” he said.
The discussions also reviewed the results of existing cooperation projects between Cameroon and the World Bank.
Officials said both sides examined progress made under the longstanding partnership and discussed ways to improve the effectiveness of development programmes.
Prime Minister Dion Ngute welcomed the continued support of the World Bank and reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with international development partners.
Authorities say Cameroon is seeking to accelerate reforms and investment programmes as part of its broader strategy to promote sustainable economic growth and improve infrastructure.
Analysts say continued financial and technical support from international lenders such as the World Bank could play an important role in helping Cameroon address development challenges while advancing key reforms in priority sectors.
