The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved an €81.2 million loan to support agro-industrial development and strengthen climate resilience in northern Cameroon. The financing will help improve water access, increase agricultural productivity, and support communities affected by growing climate challenges.
The funding will support the Programme for the Development of Agro-Industry in the North: Construction of Multi-purpose Hillside Dams (PDAS-1), a major initiative aimed at developing sustainable water infrastructure in the North and Far North regions. The total cost of the programme is estimated at €88.74 million, with the Government of Cameroon contributing €7.54 million.
A key component of the project is the construction of multifunctional hillside dams that will provide reliable water supplies for farming and livestock activities. The investment is expected to improve agricultural output, increase access to water throughout the year, raise household incomes, create employment opportunities, and reduce tensions linked to competition over natural resources.
The programme also includes climate adaptation measures such as the installation of hydrometeorological monitoring stations, tree planting initiatives, and the creation of community forests. These measures are designed to improve environmental protection and help local communities better withstand climate-related shocks.
PDAS-1 represents the first phase of a wider agro-industrial development strategy for northern Cameroon. A future second phase aims to develop larger multipurpose dams with a combined storage capacity of around 500 million cubic metres, enabling irrigation across more than 40,000 hectares of agricultural land.
The project comes as northern Cameroon faces increasing challenges from climate change, including water insecurity, food shortages, and extreme weather events. Flooding in recent years has disrupted livelihoods, damaged infrastructure, and affected millions of people across the Lake Chad Basin.
Through this investment, the African Development Bank aims to unlock Cameroon’s agricultural potential, strengthen food security, encourage private-sector investment, and support sustainable economic growth in vulnerable regions.
