Presidential Reconstruction Plan: Transforming Crisis Narrative

The populations of the security-crisis affected North West and South West Regions have started to feel, touch and enjoy the positive impact of the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West Regions set up on April 3, 2020. It is placed under the supervision of the Prime Minister, Head of Government.
After three years of existence and effective work on the field, it is becoming a veritable tool to transform the crisis narrative from destruction, killings and poverty to progressive return to peace followed by normalization of life, development and social cohesion. The Presidential Reconstruction Plan is a logical implementation of one of the recommendations of the Major National Dialogue that took place in Yaounde from September 30 to October 4, 2019 instructed by the Head of State, President Paul Biya to more importantly seek ways of return to peace and normalcy in the crisis-affected North West and South West Regions.  Being a component of the 10-year National Development Strategy 2020-2030, the Presidential Plan is aimed at improving the living conditions of the populations of the affected regions, consolidate national unity and social cohesion.
For more effectiveness, the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West Regions has structures like the Steering Committee chaired by the Director of Cabinet at the Prime Minister’s Office and the National Coordination Unit that also has Regional Coordinators. The implementing partner of the Plan on the field is the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The Plan aims to realise projects with focus on three priority pillars that include: restoring social cohesion, reconstruction and rehabilitation of basic infrastructure and revitalizing the local economy.
For over three years now, doubting “Thomases” can now start to see and appreciate the importance of the plan and the yearning desire of the Head of State to ensure the return of peace, normalcy to the two restive English-speaking North West and South West Regions through impactful projects. The plan estimated to cost more than FCFA 89 billion spanning over a period of 10 years translates the objective of government supported by national and international partners to enable the populations see why they should turn their backs on the armed secessionist war and come back to the fatherland for all to pull together development efforts in a united country that respects its diversity and move towards the targeted emergence by 2035.
The Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the Presidential Reconstruction Plan, who doubles as the Director of Cabinet at the Prime Minister’s Office Balungeli Confiance Ebune in this just-ended month of March 2023 undertook an evaluation mission to the North West and South West Regions where he saw for himself the progress of projects carried out within the framework of the plan and above all the appreciation and involvement of the beneficiary populations.
In concrete terms with regards to social cohesion, Women’s Empowerment Centres have been reconstructed and equipped, cultural events supported, media houses supported, farmer-grazer dialogue platforms put in place. In terms of infrastructure, schools and health structures have been reconstructed and equipped, solar powered water points rehabilitated. Concerning the pillar of revitalizing the local economy, much has been done in support to Women’s Cooperatives, rehabilitation of farms, and support to rearing and poultry farming. 
At the end of the two-day projects evaluation mission in Bamenda City and Santa on March  29, 2023, the Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the Presidential  Reconstruction Plan expressed satisfaction at the level of execution rate of projects. He also expressed delight at the fact that the population have appropriated the plan and the projects.  He left satisfied at...