African Development Bank targets climate resilience in northern Cameroon

The total project budget reaches €88.74 million, with the Cameroonian government contributing €7.54 million. The core of the initiative involves constructing multifunctional hillside dams to provide reliable water access for livestock and irrigation. By securing these resources, the program aims to mitigate resource competition between local farming and pastoralist communities.

Beyond dams, the project integrates hydrometeorological monitoring and large-scale reforestation to protect local ecosystems. Léandre Bassolé, the bank's Director General for Central Africa, noted that the investment seeks to reduce food import dependency while fostering job creation and attracting private capital. This effort arrives as northern regions struggle with the impacts of climate change, including shifting rainfall and recurring floods that have displaced thousands.

PDAS-1 represents the initial phase of a broader strategy. Future plans involve building larger dams with 500 million cubic meters of storage capacity, intended to irrigate 40,000 hectares of land. With over three million people affected by flooding in 2024, the initiative serves as a critical attempt to stabilize the livelihoods of rural populations in one of the country's most vulnerable territories.