Cameroon Water Security Project

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Cameroon has, in general, abundant water resources but they are geographically unevenly distributed and the poor implementation of IWRM is hampering their sustainability. In addition, the delivery of water and sanitation services is not satisfactory both in terms of delivery rate and quality of service, in urban areas and even more in rural areas. The three Northern regions selected for the project (Far North, North and Adamawa) represent 29% of national population and the majority of the poorest (56%). They are also most affected by climate change and are the most exposed to Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV). Water scarcity, even during the rainy season, and pollution are negatively affecting these regions socio economic development. Climate change brings droughts and floods which exacerbate the situation, adding conflicts and displacements. Despite recent institutional progress in the latest years (2019 decentralization law, 2022 NWP, ongoing update of the 1998 water law), there are still shortcomings to build a sustainable/resilient water sector. This is why the Government requested financial support from the World Bank to support ongoing institutional reforms; strengthen capacity of MINEE, CAMWATER, and local institutions; help operationalize IWRM in selected areas; and provide improved access to WSS services in peri-urban and rural areas. The Government and the Bank agreed to focus the Project on the Far North, North and Adamawa regions. These regions cover the portion of the Benue River basin located in Cameroon, the rural and peri-urban areas where access to water and sanitation is most critical and areas where internal and cross-borders migration and FCV situations take place. Focusing the proposed Project activities on both IWRM and WSS on these three regions. In addition the project will deliver 20 000 new drinking water connection in Yaounde and Douala to provide drinking water to 225 000 new beneficiaries. The project also aims at achieving greater and noticeable impacts, which could then be replicated and /or scaled up in other areas through future supports. Considering the foregoing, Project activities will capitalize on and promote synergy with existing WB-funded VIVA Benue and VIVA Logone projects.