Economics & Development

Douala-Bangui Economic Corridor Project - Phase 1 for Cameroon and the Central African Republic, whose development objectives are to improve transport conditions, road safety, and market access for communities on priority sections of the Douala-Bangui corridor. Components: Component 1 rehabilitates corridor infrastructure with improved road safety by delivering climate-resilient upgrading of the Edéa–Yaoundé section in Cameroon and the Baoro–Bossemptele section in the Central African Republic, critical spot improvements on the Ayos–Bertoua–Garoua Boulaï and Bangui–Bossemptele sections to preserve traffic continuity, supervision and environmental and social management, resettlement activities, and completion of the Bamenda urban crossing; Sub-components include climate-resilient road rehabilitation incorporating durable materials, enhanced drainage, slope stabilization, axle-load stations, and preparatory designs for future phases, and improved road safety through Safe System measures such as targeted infrastructure upgrades, speed management and enforcement, vehicle safety enhancements, post-crash response, behavior change campaigns, and scaling onboard cameras and intelligent driver assistance systems for heavy vehicles. Component 2 improves road maintenance to sustain assets and service levels through performance-based maintenance on rehabilitated sections, strengthened road funds and asset management systems, axle load control aligned with CEMAC standards, and capacity building; Sub-components include multi-year performance-based contracts with progressive financing by the Road Fund in Cameroon (FR) and the Road Maintenance Fund in the Central African Republic (FER), operationalization and diversification of second-generation road funds and climate-informed maintenance programming, targeted support to local small and medium enterprises in maintenance, training and equipment access, occupational health and safety, and a pilot for labor-based community routine maintenance of selected rural roads. Component 3 supports economic development along the corridor by improving access to productive areas, preparing economic zones and logistics platforms, and delivering climate-resilient social facilities; Sub-components include spot rehabilitation of feeder roads prioritized for climate vulnerability and agri-food potential, detailed designs and instruments for the Edéa Industrial Zone, Mouanko–Yoyo economic and tourism complex, Bertoua wood-based Special Economic Zone, the Edéa logistics platform, and enabling infrastructure for Beloko dry port and Boali Special Economic Zone, as well as community investments in health centers, schools, vocational training, markets with women-friendly features, and incubation and linkage support for women-led enterprises. Component 4 advances transport and trade facilitation, institutional strengthening, and project management through corridor logistics and market reforms, digital freight matching, fleet renewal diagnostics, customs digitalization and Single Window extension, monitoring and evaluation, gender-based violence and grievance mechanisms, and regional coordination; Sub-components include trade and transport facilitation in both countries, national project management and capacity building, and strengthening CEMAC to operationalize corridor governance, mixed brigades, audits of informal payments, regulatory harmonization, road safety, social inclusion, security, and digital platforms. Component 5 is a Contingent Emergency Response Component enabling rapid reallocation to address eligible emergencies through an Emergency Action Plan and agreed environmental and social requirements.

This is a snapshot of IEG's evaluation that assessed how well the World Bank Group is supporting clients in addressing biodiversity loss and aims to inform its ongoing efforts on biodiversity.