Cameroon Secures CFA27.5 Billion for Rural Agriculture and Infrastructure in East and South

Cameroon and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) signed financing agreements worth €41.92 million, or about CFA27.5 billion, on September 14, 2026, to support agricultural development and rural infrastructure in the country’s East and South regions.

The financing will fund the Dja Integrated Rural Development Project, or PDRI-Dja, which targets about 250,000 people and includes farmland development, rural road rehabilitation, and improvements to water, education and health infrastructure.

The signing formalizes financing that the IsDB board had already approved on February 7, 2024. On July 30, 2026, a presidential decree authorized Cameroon’s economy minister to sign three agreements with the institution totaling €41.92 million. Based on the available documents, the CFA27.5 billion therefore does not represent a new allocation on top of the financing announced in 2024.

The PDRI-Dja is the rural development component of the broader Dja Mining Loop and Adjacent Border Area Integrated Development Program, or PADI-Dja. It aims to develop agricultural and livestock activities and improve access to infrastructure across communities in the East and South regions.

Planned investments include the development of 420 hectares of farmland and the rehabilitation of about 300 kilometers of rural roads. The project also calls for the construction or improvement of water supply facilities, schools and health centers. Some of the initiatives will specifically target vulnerable women and young people through agricultural value-chain development and programs designed to strengthen community capacity.

Financing in Preparation Since 2022

The financing process dates back several years. According to a project note, the Cameroonian government formally requested IsDB support on June 6, 2022. After technical, economic, financial and institutional studies, the bank’s board approved a €41.92 million contribution in February 2024.

Cameroon was also expected to provide €4.51 million, or about CFA3 billion. Combined with the IsDB financing, that would bring the cost of this component to about €46.43 million, or nearly CFA30.5 billion.

That amount should not be confused with the overall cost of PADI-Dja, a broader program that includes other projects and financing partners.

The Development Bank of the Central African States, or BDEAC, is financing a significant portion of the road component. A CFA99.85 billion loan agreement was signed on August 12, 2025, for infrastructure under the program. Procurement scheduled for 2026 includes several road sections in the East and South regions.

PADI-Dja also receives funding from Cameroon’s state budget. The Economy Ministry’s 2026 investment plan provides CFA800 million in support for the program and CFA1.5 billion to settle outstanding payment certificates.

The September 14 signing therefore marks another step toward putting the PDRI-Dja financing into effect rather than an increase in the funding announced in 2024. The next measure of progress will be the pace of disbursements and the start of the planned infrastructure projects in the two regions.

Ludovic Amara