Douala — The 2nd phase of the Common Indicative Programmed (CIP II) adopted in 2013 by partner institutions of the Sub-Regional Coordination Mechanism of the UN System's support for the implementation of the African Union and NEPAD programme in Central Africa (SRCM-CA) has recorded progress but it is imperative to rake-in financial resources to service a number of its activities that still lay fallow. That's the major take-home from the Sixth Session of SRCM-CA which has just rounded-off in Douala, Cameroon.
The session brought together about 50 delegates from member States in the sub-region, the CEMAC Commission, the ECCAS General Secretariat, specialised institutions of these communities, regional organisations as well as representatives of the UN and the AfDB. They met to review the programme which covers the period 2013-2016 in the following areas: (1) Infrastructure, Transport, Energy, ICT, Water and Hygiene infrastructure development, (2) Governance, Peace and Security, (3) Commerce, Industry and Access to Markets, (4) Agriculture, Food Security and Environment, (5)Science & Technology, Human Resource Support, Employment and HIV/AIDS, and (6) the Development of Institutional Frameworks.
A mid-term assessment of CIP II in Central Africa reveals that from 79 identified activities of the programme, 9 have been completed. This is the case of the study on the exploitation of the potential of the extractive industries for structural transformation in Central Africa and the support programme for the fight against vectors of endemic diseases in the sub-region. A total of 36 projects are ongoing. These include the launch of the second phase of maintenance work on the Mintom Cameroon Border-Congo Road as well as the financing and follow up of the maintenance project on the Mouila-Ndendé-Doussala-Dolisie Gabon-Congo Border Road. But it also comes out that 35 activities have not been started. This is the case of the Study on the Franceville-Mbinda Rail Road between Gabon and Congo and the Support Project for the Development of Applications in the e-Commerce, e-Health and e-Education sectors, known as the NEPAD e-School.
The meeting's participants noted that the lack of financial resources constituted the main stumbling block to the rolling out of activities of the Programme. In this regard, they updated CIP II and made practical recommendations to improve its execution. It is in this light that they called on CEMAC and ECCAS to intensify their campaigns to promote cross-country projects to their technical and financial partners, sensitise stakeholder countries on their responsibilities in drafting funding requests for the attention of development partners, identify key and pertinent projects in strategic sectors for funding requests - such as the priority PDCT-AC* programme, carry out feasibility studies on possible projects before applying for funding, and take advantage of funding opportunities that present themselves during international forums on partnership with Africa.
The equally recommended that ECA intensifies communication between stakeholders of the Mechanism and that all partners should privilege activities that link several institutions.
Commitments made
Speaking to participants of the meeting, Mr Eric Dominique Ondoua - representing Cameroon's Minister of the Economy, Planning an Regional Development, Mr David Mbadinga - representing the ECCAS General Secretariat and Mr Djimtoïngar Nadjiounoum - representing the CEMAC Commission, all saluted the engagement of concerned actors in their bid to advance the projects of the Mechanism, while reaffirming the readiness of their various institutions to work to meet the challenges that remain.
"Our Mechanism is on the go," concluded the Director of the Sub-Regional Office for Central Africa of ECA, Mr Emile Ahohe, at the end of the session. "It is not yet perfect but each meeting gives us the opportunity to perfect it," he said, while reiterating "the will of ECA to continue to play its convening role within the Mechanism."
