‘Satisfactory’ is the term used by the head of the Islamic Development Bank mission to Cameroon, Mr. Daniyar Abylkhan, upon completion of their supervisory mission to Cameroon from May 24th-31st, 2025. The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) supervisory mission to Cameroon was aimed at assessing the progress of the Rice Value Chain Development Project and presented an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss issues and agree on the required solutions and follow-up actions with the aim to prepare the Project Implementation Assessment and Support Report (PIASR) of RVCDP. This mission marks a significant step in ensuring the project’s objectives are met and that stakeholders remain aligned with its goals.
During the mission, the IsDB team engaged with project management, (PMU), to review comprehensive reports covering key areas, including procurement, administration and finance, engineering, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E). The mission held detailed meetings with the heads of these departments in a bid to assess the state of procurements, disbursements and field implementation. These discussions provided valuable insights into the project’s current status and future direction.
The procurement report highlighted the efficient acquisition of necessary resources, ensuring that project timelines are met without compromising quality. Meanwhile, the administration and finance updates demonstrated effective management of funds, reinforcing the project’s financial integrity and accountability.
In the engineering sector, the team sought to know the state of execution of infrastructure developments that are critical to enhancing the rice value chain, and are key to the success of the project. The team engaged with the project’s Design and Supervision Consultant to clarify issues bordering on their contracts and level of execution as well as problems encountered so far.
The M&E report underscored the importance of tracking progress and impact, showcasing the project’s commitment to transparency and continuous improvement. It also clearly showed the action plan of the project and strategies put in place to achieve the goals within the stipulated timelines.
The mission held a working session with IRAD to assess the state of implementation of the 2 Protocol Agreements signed between IRAD and the RVCDP for Provision of Basic Seeds and Complementary Technologies, and Support to Seed Multipliers. The discussions enabled the mission to confirm that seed certification is an activity statutorily mandated to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER).
The delegation also held meetings with MINEPAT, the governing body of IsDB – RVCDP contract, chaired by Mr. Emane Martin, Research Officer, sitting in for the Minister. The mission was led by Mr. Daniyar Abylkhan, Task Team Leader and comprised of Mr. Ibrahim Sirajo, Project Management Specialist, and Mr. Moussa Kayad, Regional Procurement Officer. The mission was accompanied and supported by IsDB Field Representative in Cameroon, Mr. Mohammdou Awal, representatives from MINEPAT (the IsDB Governor’s Office) and MINADER (Executing Agency) and the PMU of RVCDP.