Implementation Remains The Key

Everyone seems to be aware of this popular saying that; Failing to plan is planning to fail! But, few know that, dwelling so much in planning at the expense of implementation can be the same as planning to fail. The “National Development Strategy 2020-2030-NDS 30”, launched recently to replace the Growth and Employment Strategy Paper (GESP) appears to be a trump card that will put the new development strategy on the rail of effective programme execution. The National Development Strategy 2020-2030, it should be recalled, is based on lessons learned in the implementation of the Growth and Employment Strategy Paper which it takes over from with a view to achieve the objective of vision 2035. The GESP, came to an end in 2019 completely closing the door to the first phase of the implementation of Cameroon’s long-term development vision adopted in 2009. The new dispensation opens floodgates for a string of actions including stepping up the fight against poverty, unemployment, and the lingering informal sector. It strives to achieve an 8% growth rate by embarking on the structural transformation of the economy and enhancing the effectiveness of public spending. 
The wheel of implementation of the lofty goals of the strategy can be considered already propelled following the meeting, in their first session, of members of the Monitoring and Evaluation Committee of the Implementation of the NDS30. The coming together of the committee members is hope-rekindling considering the difficulties programmes and projects have been going through in this country; the main one being that of effective execution. NDS30 is to say the least a highly ambitious programme which if well implemented could transform the socio-economic life of the country. The implementation as stated in the working document of the committee hinges on a number of preliminary road-clearing reforms. These include: increasing the share of resources transferred to local and Regional authorities to at least 15 percent of State revenue, increasing, to at least 60 percent, the share of public procurement for goods and services addressed to local industries, completing all ongoing projects, boosting public-private sector investment, finalizing land reforms and pri...