Cameroon to Benefits From Korean Experience in Hydraulic Infrastructure Dev't

By Godlove BAINKONG, Cameroon Tribune, 15-10-2013 

The two governments signed a partnership agreement to this effect last Thursday October 10, 2013.

Stakeholders in hydro infrastructure development and related sectors in Cameroon will in the next three years (2013-2015) benefit from the expertise of South Korea in the domain. Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Korea Water Resources Cooperation and Cameroon’s Ministry of Water Resources and Energy on Thursday October 10, 2013 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the implementation of a multi-year capacity development programme code-named, “Hydro-infrastructure development and management.”

According to an explanatory note of the MoU, the programme is country demand-driven and tailored to development realities in the country. Thursday’s agreement was therefore intended to create a framework for cooperation between the two sides and in no way created any legal obligations under international law. “Cooperation activities under this agreement will be conducted in accordance with the applicable laws, regulations and procedures of both sides and will be subject to the availability of appropriate funds and personnel on each side,” the note reads.

According to the terms of reference, the programme is intended to improve public officials’ capacity in terms of water resources development and management not only in Cameroon but in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tunisia as well. Five participants from each country will be needed per year. For the first year, the training will bring together high and middle level officials in the water resources management sector and for the second year, it will be the turn of high and middle officials in the water supply sector. Meanwhile, practical professionals in the water supply sector will round off the programme in the third year.

Through the MoU, KOICA undertakes to provide full financial support for the preparation, implementation and evaluation of the programme, provide necessary administrative support for the programme participants as well as give financial approval to the list of programme of participants through consultation with partner organisations. Whereas, partner countries are expected to nominate qualified participants at least two months prior to the programme’s commencement and cooperate fully in designing the programme.

For result-based management of the programme, both sides agreed to cooperate in its monitoring and evaluation. All of these were signed in the presence of Cameroon’s Minister of Water Resources and Energy, Basile Atangana Kouna and South Korea’s Ambassador to Cameroon, Cho June-Hyuck.