• Cameroon ratifies AfDB loans worth 89 billion CFA francs
• Funding backs CAP2E youth employment project in the Far North
• Project targets training, jobs, SMEs, climate resilience through 2029

Cameroonian President Paul Biya signed a decree on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, ratifying two loan agreements signed with the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group. The loans total 89 billion CFA francs ($161.7 million).

The agreements were signed on Sept. 17, 2025, after being approved in May 2025 by the AfDB board of directors. They include 130.23 million euros from the Bank’s non-concessional arm and 4.69 million units of account, equivalent to about 5.8 million euros, from the African Development Fund, the Group’s concessional financing arm.

The funding will support the Capacities and Skills for Employability and Entrepreneurship (CAP2E) project. The project will be implemented in Cameroon’s Far North, a region facing a particularly high poverty rate, strong demographic pressures, the effects of climate change, and security challenges.

Over a five-year period from 2025 to 2029, the project aims to train 6,000 young people and create 5,000 decent jobs, with 40% reserved for women. CAP2E also includes the construction and rehabilitation of schools and social infrastructure, support for more than 500 SMEs and nearly 900 entrepreneurs, and improvements in access to education and health services.

The project will focus on growth sectors such as agriculture and renewable energy, while integrating sustainable solutions to strengthen climate resilience and promote long-term development. The programme adopts a results-based financing approach, with disbursements tied to the achievement of specific targets related to employment and business creation.

The Far North remains one of the country’s most fragile regions, with a poverty rate of 74%, high demographic pressure, and ongoing security and climate challenges. For the authorities, the project represents a concrete way to offer economic prospects for youth, support women, and stimulate the local economy while contributing to social stability.

The new financing also strengthens the AfDB portfolio in Cameroon. As of March 10, 2025, the portfolio already included 28 projects worth a total of $2.65 billion.

SG