Economy

Gov’t, World Bank deepen partnership to fast-track water access, SEWASH project.

by Morine Tanyi
16 Apr 2026 20:03
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Minister Eloundou Essomba flanked by World Bank officials during meeting

The Minister of Water Resources and Energy, Gaston Eloundou Essomba, has held high-level talks with a World Bank delegation to discuss efforts to improve water access and sanitation.
This was the centre of a meeting that held on April 2, in Yaounde.

The meeting focused on finalising the country’s National Water Compact and accelerating the implementation of the Water Security, SEWASH project.

The World Bank delegation was led by the Practice Manager for Water in West and Central Africa, Anna Cestari. He was accompanied by Water Specialist, Rodrigue Djakou Yopo.

Also present were senior officials from the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy. Discussions highlighted a shared commitment to delivering tangible improvements in water infrastructure and services across the country.

At the core of the exchanges was the National Water Compact, a strategic framework built around three key priorities.

These include expanding access to safe drinking water and sanitation in both urban and rural areas, boosting agricultural irrigation to enhance food security and strengthening resilience to climate risks such as floods and droughts through sustainable infrastructure.

During the meeting, the World Bank commended the quality and ambition of Cameroon’s Compact, while urging authorities to ensure its implementation translates into measurable outcomes for the population.

Attention was also focused on the SEWASH project, now officially underway. Minister Eloundou Essomba insisted on the urgency of accelerating its rollout, stressing on the need for efficiency, streamlined procedures and visible results on the ground.

Key steps discussed included finalising recruitment within the Project Management Unit, completing administrative requirements and establishing a clear and detailed activity timeline.

According to the officials, with performance expectations rising, including an annual disbursement target set at 30 percent, both parties agreed to intensify coordination.

Plans were made to improve procedural anticipation and introduce weekly monitoring meetings to track progress and address bottlenecks.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3759 of Monday April 13, 2026