Cameroon has launched a FCFA 121.3 billion (about US$200 million) programme aimed at easing chronic congestion, reducing flood risks and modernising land administration in Douala and Yaoundé, the country’s two largest and most economically significant cities. The initiative, known as the Sustainable Cities and Land Project (Projet des Villes et de la Gouvernance Foncière Durable – PVGFD), is backed by the World Bank and is expected to directly and indirectly benefit around 2.1 million people, according to the lender’s approval note issued on May 30, 2025.
The official launch took place in Yaoundé on January 19, 2026, with the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Célestine Ketcha Courtès, presiding over the ceremony, marking the transition of the project from planning to active implementation. The government says the programme responds to long-standing urban challenges in both cities, including traffic bottlenecks, inadequate drainage systems, frequent flooding and weak land governance that has constrained private investment and urban growth.
In Douala, Cameroon’s commercial capital, the project will focus heavily on improving mobility and flood control in some of the city’s most flood-prone and densely populated areas. According to details released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, 11.5 kilometres of urban roads will be built or rehabilitated, alongside the construction of 10 kilometres of primary drainage infrastructure. These works will be concentrated in the Tongo Bassa area, particularly the Kondi sub-basin, as well as the Bobongo catchment, zones that routinely suffer from flooding during the rainy season, disrupting economic activity and damaging homes and businesses.
In Yaoundé, the political capital, the PVGFD will deliver 13 kilometres of structural road works designed to improve connectivity between major residential neighbourhoods and commercial hubs. Targeted areas include Nkolbikok, Mimboman and Oyom-Abang, where poor road conditions and congestion have significantly increased travel times and transport costs. Authorities say the upgrades will improve access to markets, schools and public services, while also reducing vehicle operating costs and road maintenance expenses over the long term.
Beyond physical infrastructure, a central pillar of the project is land administration reform. The PVGFD aims to modernise land services through improved land registration, clearer property rights and the digitalisation of land records. The government and the World Bank argue that inefficient land governance has been a major barrier to urban development in Cameroon, often discouraging private investment, fuelling informal settlements and increasing the risk of land-related disputes. By strengthening land administration systems, the project seeks to create a more transparent and investor-friendly urban environment.
The World Bank has said the project reflects a shift in Cameroon’s urban development strategy from policy formulation to concrete delivery. By combining large-scale infrastructure investments with institutional reforms, the lender believes the programme can generate lasting economic and social benefits. Improved roads and drainage are expected to reduce flood-related losses, which have become more frequent and costly due to rapid urbanisation and climate pressures, while better land governance is seen as critical to unlocking real estate development and municipal revenue.
Cameroon’s major cities have expanded rapidly over the past two decades, often without adequate infrastructure to match population growth. Douala and Yaoundé together account for a significant share of national economic output, yet both cities are ranked among the most congested in Central Africa. Government officials say the PVGFD is a strategic response to these pressures and aligns with broader efforts to improve urban resilience, competitiveness and quality of life.
Implementation of the project will be closely watched by development partners and the private sector, given its scale and its potential to serve as a model for future urban interventions in Cameroon. Authorities have indicated that works will be rolled out in phases, with a focus on minimising disruption to traffic and local communities during construction.
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