Cameroon Public Finance Review: Collect More, Spend Better to achieve Vision 2035 Goals

Developments over the past few years, which include the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent polycrisis, conflict in several of Cameroon’s regions, and fiscal consolidation, have left Cameroon in an extremely tight fiscal situation. The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent polycrisis have had averse fiscal impacts by reducing domestic revenue and requiring additional public expenditure to mitigate crisis impacts. In parallel, conflict in six out of 10 of Cameroon’s regions has hampered economic activity, revenue generation, and public service delivery in the conflict affected regions, while requiring additional expenditure aimed at containing conflicts. Cameroon is also confronted with declining revenue from its natural resource sector, with oil production being on a secular downward trend. Economic growth at an annual average of less than three percent over the past three decades has provided limited momentum to domestic revenue mobilization, while a rapidly growing population is adding pressures to public service delivery