Announcement of Seventeen Million US Dollars Loan for Education in Cameroon on April 22, 1976

eWorldBank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. • Telephone: (202) 39J-6360 BANK NEWS RELEASE NO. 76/41 APRIL 22, 1976 $17 MILLION LOAN FOR EDUCATION IN CAMEROON The World Bank today announced the approval of a loan of $17 million for a third education project in Cameroon. Two previous credits totaling $20.7 million from the Bank af- filiate, the International Development Association (IDA), have been de- voted mostly to expanding and improving primary, secondary and technical education. The project being assisted by the Bank loan is based on pre- investment studies financed under the second education project. • The $24.9 million project is designed to expand the technical education system and to provide agricultural and health extension workers to support the country's agricultural and rural development program. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAQ) of the United Nations assisted the Bank in identifying the project, which is scheduled to be completed in 1980. The Bank loan to Cameroon, which is on "Third Window" terms, is for 25 years, including seven years of grace. It will carry interest at 4!%. An additional 4% wi 11 be paid to the Bank by the interest Sub- sidy Fund, representing the difference between the Bank's standard inter- est rate of 81% and the charge to Cameroon. Note: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents . • Form No . 1121 (9-75) T E CHNI CAL D A T A PROJECT: COUNTRY: Third Education Cameroon • TOTAL COST: $24.9 million BANK FINANCING: $17 million, Third Window loan, for 25 years, including 7 years of grace, interest at 4!% per annum. OTHER FINANCING: Governrrent of Cameroon IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Ministry of National Education, B.P. 1600, and Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Cameroon, Yaounde, United Republic of Cameroon. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: It includes: construction, equipment and furniture for 1) establishing a lower secondary technical school in Douala and another in Ngaoundere; 2) expanding two existing lower secondary agricultural schools. in Ebolowa and Maroua and establishing a lower secondary agricultural school in Bambili; 3) expanding the upper secondary agricultural schools in Ebolowa and Maroua (same sites in Bambi ii, Ebolowa and Maroua as in 2 above); 4) establishing a program for training higher technicians in agriculture and 1 ivestock at Yaounde; and 5) assisting the rural health training program of the University Center for Health Sciences (CUSS). As part of the loan, technical assistance wi 11 be provided: for several of the sub-projects listed above; to the Ministry of Agriculture to strengthen agricultural education, for pre- investment studies and preliminary design work for a further education project; and for project implementation. PROCUREMENT: Contracts for building works ($12. l million), furniture ($0.7 million) and equipment ($5.8 million) will be awarded following international competitive bidding in accordance with the Bank's guidelines. The building works are within the capacity of Cameroon's construction industry. Local contractors wi 11 be given a domestic preference of 7!% in bid evaluation. Contracts for furniture and equipment ($6.5 million) will be let in packages of at least $20,000. Manufacturers of furniture and equipment in Cameroon and in member countries of the Union Douaniere et Economique de 1 1 Afrique Centrale (UDEAC) will be allowed a preference equal to the lower of (a) 15% of the c. i .f. price on imported goods, or (b) the prevailing duties generally applied to non-exempt imports. CONSULTANTS: The design, planning and superv1s1on of the construction of all project institutions wi 11 be undertaken by consulting architects financed under the project ($0.6 million). They will be assisted in the engineering work by consultants acceptable to the Bank. The project also provides 52 man.- years of other professional services and technical assistance for several of the sub- projects, for a total cost of $3.1 million. ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 1980 -0-