The financing will support the first phase of the Programme for the Development of Agro-Industry in the North: Construction of Multi-purpose Hillside Dams (PDAS-1), a flagship project targeting the North and Far North regions of Cameroon.
The programme has a total value of approximately $104 million, including a government contribution of about $8.8 million.
At the centre of the initiative is the construction of multi-purpose hillside dams designed to provide reliable year-round water supplies for agriculture and livestock production. The project is expected to boost agricultural productivity, improve access to water for farmers and pastoralists, increase household incomes and create employment opportunities.
The investment is also intended to reduce conflicts linked to competition for natural resources while improving access to socio-economic services in rural communities.
In addition to water infrastructure, the programme includes several climate adaptation measures aimed at strengthening environmental sustainability. These include the installation of hydrometeorological monitoring stations, large-scale tree planting initiatives and the establishment of community forests.
The AfDB said these measures will help communities better withstand climate-related shocks while supporting long-term environmental management.
AfDB Group Director General for Central Africa and Country Manager for Cameroon, Léandre Bassolé, said the programme will help unlock the region’s agricultural potential while supporting broader economic development goals. “Through this programme, the AfDB is supporting Cameroon in realising its agro-industrial potential, creating jobs, strengthening communities’ climate resilience and attracting private investment to advance import substitution and strengthen the country’s food sovereignty,” said Bassolé.
The project forms part of a larger long-term strategy for agro-industrial development in northern Cameroon.
A second phase is planned that will focus on the construction of large multi-purpose dams capable of storing around 500 million cubic metres of water. The expanded infrastructure is expected to support irrigation across more than 40 000 hectares of agricultural land.
The initiative comes as northern Cameroon faces increasing climate-related challenges. The North and Far North regions have experienced growing water insecurity, while extreme weather events have placed additional pressure on food production and rural livelihoods.
According to the AfDB, recurrent flooding linked to heavy rainfall has caused widespread disruption across the Lake Chad Basin in recent years. The floods have damaged infrastructure, interrupted economic activity and education, and displaced more than 275 000 people.
In 2024 alone, flooding affected more than three million people across the region.
The Bank said the programme is designed to address these challenges by improving water management, enhancing agricultural productivity and helping communities adapt to a changing climate while supporting sustainable economic growth.
–AfDB/ChannelAfrica–
