Cameroon Allocates Additional Funding to Complete Population, Agriculture and Livestock Census

Cameroon has secured an additional CFAF 6 billion to complete its fourth General Population and Housing Census and the General Agriculture and Livestock Census. The additional funding extends field operations until July 15, 2026, bringing the total budget for the exercise to CFAF 19 billion.

The funding decision was announced during the 10th session of the Technical Committee overseeing the census operation, held in Yaounde and chaired by Jean Tchoffo, Secretary General at the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development. The committee reviewed progress in data collection, payment of enumerators, communication activities and operational challenges that had delayed implementation.

According to authorities, CFAF 4.5 billion will come from the World Bank-funded Harmonisation and Improvement of Statistics in West and Central Africa (HISWACA) project, while CFAF 1.5 billion will be provided by the national treasury.

Officials said the operation has resumed after major bottlenecks were addressed. Funding has been secured, timelines revised and measures adopted to complete data collection by mid-July.

Under the revised operational plan, 249 administrative subdivisions that are ahead of schedule are expected to complete enumeration by June 30. The remaining 111 subdivisions facing delays will receive additional support until July 10.

A nationwide mop-up exercise will then take place from July 11 to July 15 to ensure complete coverage and reduce omissions.

Census agents will continue to be barred from entering high-risk security zones. In areas affected by insecurity, particularly in the North-West and South-West regions, authorities will use satellite imagery, modelling techniques and estimation methods to supplement field data collection while ensuring the safety of personnel.

Officials also announced that weekly security briefings will be organised and that the emergency hotline 8585 will be promoted among field teams.

The census is expected to provide updated demographic, agricultural and livestock data to support national development planning, public investment decisions and resource allocation.

Explaining the additional funding, General Agriculture and Livestock Census Coordinator André Mbaïranodji said the extension of the operation had generated extra costs related to communication, environmental safeguards, field deployment and final verification activities.

He said authorities are implementing a communication campaign aimed at increasing public participation and encouraging full cooperation with the exercise.

“This is essentially a recovery budget co-financed by HISWACA and the Government. These resources will finance the payment of census agents, the mop-up operations and the securing of the process,” Mbaïranodji said.

With the revised funding package and the extension of operations until July 15, authorities aim to complete a census that will serve as a key statistical foundation for future planning in education, health, agriculture, infrastructure and economic development.

Mercy Fosoh