Announcement of Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars for Integrated Rural Development in Cameroon on March 9, 1978

, FOR IMMEDIATE.RELEASE eWorldBank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. • Telephone: (202) 393-6360 !DA NEWS RELEASE NO. 78/46 MARCH 9, 1978 $8.5 MILLION FOR INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN CAMEROON The International Development Association (IDA), an affiliate of the World Ban~, has approved an $8.5 million credit for an Integrated Rural Development Project in Cameroono The project is designed to support the Government's ongoing integrated rural development activities as well as an expansion of the activities of its agency, Zones D'Actions Prioritaires lntegres (ZAPI) in Eastern Cameroon. In addition, the 0roject wi 11 support institutional development, agricultural production, marketing and processing as well as social infrastructure. • A special feature of this project is that it will address the needs and problems of women farmers. It wi l 1 provide a cadre of female village extension workers and a food crop research program with assistance from the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture. Moreover, the improvement of health and water services 1,,,/i 11 improve the quality of 1 ife in the villages and, in particular, 'in the home. About 16,500 low-income farm families will benefit from the increased production of coffee, cocoa, rice, fish and food cropsa Net farm incomes are exrected to increase from a present average of $490 to $720. The $8.5 IDA credit to the United Republic of Cameroon wil 1 be for a SO-year term, including 10 years of grace. It wi 11 be interest free but wi 11 carry a service charge of 3/4 of 1% to cover IDA's administrative expenses. NOTE: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents • • FORM NO. 1121 (5-76) T E C HN I CA L DA T A PROJECT: COUNTRY: TOTAL COST: Integrated Rural Development - ZAPI United Republic of Cameroon $ 12 • 2 mi 11 ion • IDA FINANCING: $8.5 million (Standard) OTHER FINANCING: Government of Cameroon, $3.7 million IMPLEMEN71NG ORGANIZA~ION: ZAP I de 1 'Est B. P. 1 32 Bertoua, Cameroon PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Integrated Rural Development Project will support ZAPI 's ongoing integrated rural development activities as well as an expansion of ZAPI 's activities in Eastern Cameroon. It will support institutional development, agricultural production, marketing and processing and social infrastructure. The main components to be financed by l'DA will be: civil • works, technical assistance and training, ZAPI 's incremental operating costs and vehicles and equipment. PROCUREMENT: International competitive bidding will apply for the bulk purchase of vehicles, processing equipment, com- munication equipment and agricultural equipment and tools, estimated to involve outlays of some $2.9 million. For equipment contracts under $20,000 local procurement on the basis of several quotations will be acceptable. CONSULTANTS: Consultants contracts with foreign firms or individuals wi 11 be awarded in accordance with Bank guidelines • ECONOMIC RATE OF RETURN: ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 25% 1983 - 0 - •