18 July 2019: During an event on the sidelines of the 2019 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), Alamine Ousmane Mey, Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Cameroon, presented the country’s first Voluntary National Review (VNR).The event, organized by the Government of Cameroon, took place on 18 July 2019. Mey explained that the methodology adopted for Cameroon’s VNR was based on normative, participatory and inclusive approaches.

For the coming years, Cameroon has prioritized: intensification of national ownership of the SDGs; establishment of a national multi-stakeholder monitoring framework to act as a review and accountability platform for SDG implementation; and elaboration of strategies to increase partnerships and mobilize financial resources for SDG implementation.

Mey said that the VNR focuses on, among others, the SDGs that HLPF 2019 reviewed.

For example, on SDGs 4 (quality education), he cited an increase in student enrollment and progress regarding access, expansion and reduction of disparities in education. He said student completion rates during the first cycle of the secondary level improved from 53.2% in 2015 to 80% in 2018. However, emphasizing a focus on primary education in particular, he acknowledged deteriorating primary level completion rates and pupil-teacher ratio, and that security tensions disrupt education efforts.

On SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), Mey cited average economic growth of 4% per year, and said the government is working to achieve the 7% economic growth rate required to meet the SDGs.

He said achieving SDG 10 (reduced inequalities) remains a challenge for Cameroon, and mentioned efforts to enhance social safety nets and policies that increase the number of beneficiaries and progressively increase minimum wages.

For SDG 13 (climate action), May underscored the creation of an inter-ministerial committee to follow-up on implementation of the Paris Agreement, and drew attention to the challenge of mobilizing resources to implement National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and to finance alternative activities to deforestation.

On SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions), he stressed the need to reinforce trust and confidence in national institutions for greater efficiency, inclusion and justice.

On challenges related to SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals), Mey emphasized ensuring large-scale mobilization of multiple stakeholders, promoting a fair and inclusive digital economy and improving economic competitiveness.

Mey also supported, inter alia, strengthening statistics for better monitoring; transferring competences to local authorities; and scaling up finance management to promote local resilience and poverty reduction.

A video presentation showcased actions in Cameroon on promoting decent jobs, climate action, peace to achieve social reconciliation, and disarmament. During the discussion, a representative from Cameroon underlined the importance of intensifying national ownership to accelerate the integration of SDGs into.

IISD Reporting Services covered selected side events during HLPF 2019. [IISD RS Coverage of Cameroon’s VNR] [Website for Cameroon’s VNR]