News from Berlin - A new accord was signed on May 13^th between the governments of Germany and Cameroon, to implement the disbursement of 86.6 million euros for developmental policies in the African country. This agreement is the culmination of negotiations that took place in December 2013, and occurs in the framework of a long-lasting and fruitful cooperation between the two countries.

Indeed, Germany is particularly active in Cameroon, and is the most important bilateral donor to the country after France, with many institutions in the field implementing Germany’s diplomacy. At the time of the signing of the treaty, H.E Dr. Klaus-Ludwig Keferstein, German Ambassador to Cameroon, declared that “Germany in its long tradition and cooperation with Cameroon and her willingness to contribute to the development and modernization of Cameroon, inscribes these engagements within the Growth and Employment Strategy Paper, which seeks to make Cameroon an emerging country, democratic and united in its diversity by 2035". The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Public Health, André Mama Fouda, and the Minister Delegate in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Clémentine Ananga Messina, among others.

Germany’s development policy in Cameroon is directed towards three priorities: healthcare and HIV/AIDS control, sustainable use of natural resources, and decentralization, participative development and good governance. The new allocation of funds fits those criteria. It is divided into two parts: the most important one (48 million euros) will be disbursed in the form of a loan, and be used to modernize the management of public finances, development of the rural world, decentralization, sustainable management of natural resources, and to facilitate access to reproductive health. The other part of the agreement (38.5 million euros) will be dedicated to the fight against maternal mortality and to support several environmental projects. Cultural ties between Germany and Cameroon also remain strong, particularly in the academic field. Indeed, Cameroonian students constitute the biggest African student community in Germany, with around 5,500 young people enrolled in German universities.

News from Berlin - Berlin Global