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Introduction
Cameroon is ranked as 146 out of 182 countries on the 2020 ND-GAIN Index and is equally one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. Cameroon is a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) (1992), the Kyoto protocol (2002), the Paris Agreement (2016), the Brazzaville Treaty on Conservation and Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa (2005), and the Global Methane Pledge (GMP, 2020).To limit global warming to well below 2°C, Cameroon agreed to legally binding commitments which include;
- Unconditional target: 12% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 compared to the 2010 baseline.
- Conditional target: Up to 23-35% reduction by 2030, depending on international support (finance, technology, capacity building). Some sources cite 23%, others 35%, reflecting different reporting nuances, but the consensus is a conditional reduction of around 35% with support.
These ambitious targets require substantial investments and climate finance. As Western countries reduce foreign aid budgets and Official Development Assistance (ODA), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) was established in 1992 Rio Earth Summit to provide grants and blended finance to developing countries like Cameroon and finance transition projects that address global environmental challenges.
What is the GEF?
The GEF is the largest multilateral fund dedicated to biodiversity, distributing over $1 billion annually on average and having provided more than $22 billion in grants to over 5,200 projects worldwide to address challenges such as biodiversity loss, climate change mitigation and adaptation, international waters, land degradation, persistent organic pollutants, mercury, sustainable forest management, food security, and sustainable cities.
The GEF operates as the financial mechanism for several key international environmental conventions, including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, and the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
This brief will provide a summary of major GEF projects in Cameroon in Section 1, followed by an analysis of its impact in Section 2. We provide recommendations to support the GEF in Cameroon going forward to generate broad-based support from civil society.
Section 1: Summary of GEF projects in Cameroon
In Cameroon, the GEF has financed a broad portfolio of projects focused on biodiversity conservation, sustainable forest management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, land restoration, biosafety, and sustainable urban development. Overall, the GEF has mobilized over $71 million in grants for Cameroon’s national projects, leveraging significant co-financing and involving multiple stakeholders to generate global environmental benefits while advancing sustainable development goals in the country. We provide a summary of major projects financed under GEF.
| Title of Project | GEF Grant Amount | Objective | Results | Implications for Sustainable Development |
| Integrated management of Cameroon’s forest landscapes in the Congo Basin | $9,608,257 | Strengthen integrated management of Cameroon’s globally important forest landscapes in the Congo Basin. | Improved forest management, biodiversity conservation, and increased community involvement. | Supports biodiversity, livelihoods, and ecosystem resilience. |
| Development and Institution of a National Monitoring and Control System for Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) and Invasive Alien Species (IAS) | $2,400,000 | Strengthen institutional capacity to prevent and control invasive alien species and manage LMOs. | Established biosafety frameworks and risk-based decision-making. | Enhances biosecurity and ecosystem protection. |
| Conservation and Sustainable Management within the Ngoyla-Mintom Forest | $3,500,000 | Improve conservation and income-generating activities for local communities in Ngoyla-Mintom. | Participatory forest planning, pilot livelihood support. | Promotes sustainable forest use and local incomes. |
| Sustainable Agro-Pastoral and Land Management Promotion under the Community Development Program Support Project | $6,000,000 | Reduce poverty and promote sustainable rural development. | Restored agro-pastoral ecosystems, reduced soil erosion. | Supports rural livelihoods and sustainable land management. |
| Supporting Landscapes Restoration and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in Cameroon | $1,326,146 | Scale up forest landscape restoration for biodiversity and livelihoods. | Forest restoration, enhanced biodiversity. | Contributes to climate adaptation and sustainable resource use. |
| Integrated Sustainable Urban Development (SUDP) and Environmentally Sound Management of Municipal Solid Waste in Cameroon | $7,956,880 | Strengthen urban planning and waste management. | Improved waste management, reduced pollution. | Supports sustainable cities and reduces environmental risks. |
| Small Grants Programme (SGP) Cameroon | $5,248,817 | Support community-based projects in biodiversity, climate, land, and chemicals. | 184 projects, improved local management. | Empowers communities and supports SDGs. |
| Biodiversity Conservation and Management in the Coastal Region of Cameroon | $1,818,182 | Conserve and manage biodiversity in the coastal region. | Enhanced coastal biodiversity protection. | Preserves coastal ecosystems and supports local livelihoods. |
| Participatory Integrated Ecosystem Management in and around Protected Areas | $1,733,180 | Promote participatory ecosystem management around protected areas. | Improved ecosystem management, stakeholder engagement. | Strengthens protected area management and community involvement. |
| Lake Chad Basin Regional Program | $3,500,000 | Enhance sustainable management of the Lake Chad Basin. | Improved water resource management, regional cooperation. | Supports water security and regional stability. |
| National Capacity Self-Assessment (NCSA) for Global Environmental Management | $144,546 | Assess national capacity for environmental management. | Capacity gaps identified, action plans developed. | Informs national policy and capacity building. |
| Enabling Activities for the Preparation of Cameroon’s Second National Communication to the UNFCCC | $1,800,000 | Prepare national communication on climate change. | National report submitted, improved climate data. | Supports climate policy and international commitments. |
| Enabling Cameroon to Prepare its First National Communication in Response to its Commitments to UNFCCC | $160,000 | Prepare first national communication on climate change. | National report submitted. | Enhances climate change reporting and planning. |
| Development of a National Biosafety Framework | $144,231 | Develop a national biosafety framework. | Framework established; capacity built. | Strengthens biosafety and compliance with global standards. |
| Preparation of a National Biodiversity Strategy, Action Plan and First National Report to the CBD | $50,000 | Prepare biodiversity strategy and report. | Strategy and report completed. | Guides biodiversity conservation efforts. |
| Preparation of a National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) | $5,454 | Develop NAPA for climate adaptation. | NAPA completed. | Guides adaptation strategies. |
| Enabling Activities for the Stockholm Convention on POPs | $93,000 | Enable compliance with the Stockholm Convention. | National implementation plan developed. | Reduces persistent organic pollutants. |
| Sustainable Management of Endemic Rattan Species in Cameroon | $5,769 | Promote sustainable rattan management. | Management plans developed. | Supports sustainable use of non-timber forest products. |
| Strengthening the Capacity of Cameroon to Implement the UNCCD | $8,500 | Build capacity for land degradation management. | Capacity building activities conducted. | Supports land restoration and sustainable land use. |
Section 2: Highlight on Achievements
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has had a significant environmental and socio-economic impact in Cameroon through its support for conservation, sustainable resource management, and climate adaptation projects. For example, the Conservation and Sustainable Management within the Ngoyla-Mintom Forest Project, funded by a $3.5 million GEF grant in 2012, protected 160,000 hectares of forest land in South Cameroon. It also strengthened the capacity of the government and civil society to engage in participatory forest planning and management, while piloting livelihood support mechanisms that provide local communities with income-generating alternatives to reduce pressure on forest resources.
Beyond forest conservation, the GEF has also supported Cameroon’s efforts to integrate environmental sustainability into infrastructure development. For example, a $1.7 million GEF grant was provided to complement the African Development Bank’s loan for the Central Africa fiber-optic backbone project. This funding specifically supports the environmental adaptation of broadband development by financing solar and IT equipment for telecentres and promoting renewable energy use in the ICT sector. This project aims to improve access to information and communication technologies while reducing the environmental footprint, thereby contributing to economic inclusion and sustainable growth.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has profoundly impacted local communities by empowering them to manage natural resources sustainably and improve their livelihoods. By providing small grants and technical support directly to community-based organizations, the GEF enables people to design and implement solutions tailored to local environmental challenges. For instance, communities have adopted sustainable agricultural practices, restored degraded lands, and established waste management systems that reduce pollution and improve health. These efforts have led to tangible environmental benefits, including the sequestration of significant amounts of carbon—often in the range of thousands of tons per project—through reforestation and sustainable land use.
Beyond environmental gains, these initiatives have generated income, created jobs, and strengthened social inclusion by prioritizing women, youth, and marginalized groups. The GEF’s approach fosters local ownership and decision-making, ensuring that environmental improvements are sustained long-term while enhancing community resilience and well-being. This model exemplifies how global environmental goals can be achieved through grassroots action, demonstrating a clear link between ecological health and socio-economic advancement.
Recommendations
- Better quantify the impact of Projects: Periodic reports on the environmental and socioeconomic impact of projects should be formally disclosed to support future projects and allow civil society to appreciate the contribution of GEF projects to Cameroon’s economic development.
- Publicize the activities of GEF in Local Media: The GEF should work with civil society organizations to publicize their projects and their impacts through Newsletters, media articles, and short videos. GEF social media pages in Cameroon should be regularly updated to inform, educate, and sensitize civil society on the activities of the GEF projects in Cameroon.
- Annual Consolidated Reporting: Annual reports will equally lend more credibility to Cameroon’s advocacy for more climate finance and set the stage and establish best practices for other climate finance projects.
Conclusion
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has played a pivotal role in supporting Cameroon’s environmental and socio-economic development, particularly as the country faces high vulnerability to climate change. Cameroon, a signatory to major international climate agreements, has set ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 35% by 2030, conditional on international support. The GEF, established at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, is the world’s largest multilateral environmental fund and has provided over $71 million in grants to Cameroon, leveraging significant co-financing for projects in biodiversity conservation, sustainable forest management, climate adaptation, and urban development.
Notable achievements include the protection of 160,000 hectares of forest in the Ngoyla-Mintom region and the integration of renewable energy into ICT infrastructure. GEF’s approach emphasizes empowering local communities through small grants and technical support, enabling them to adopt sustainable agricultural practices, restore degraded lands, and implement waste management systems. These initiatives have led to the sequestration of thousands of tons of carbon, increased income, job creation, and enhanced social inclusion, especially for women and marginalized groups. Recommendations for maximizing GEF’s impact include improved impact reporting, enhanced public outreach, and annual consolidated reporting to build broader civil society support and transparency.
Who is Henri Kouam?
Henri Kouam is the Founder& Executive Director. He represented CEPI at the GEF stocktake and restitution presentation in 2025 and has published several articles on climate change, climate finance, and local development. He regularly presents CEPi findings to policymakers at the Ministry of Environment in Cameroon and leads webinars on clean cooking, climate finance, and green monetary policy. CEPI is a partner of ICLEI Africa, and Henri leads the consultancy on engaging private sector finance for local governments..
