Tasong Recommends Technocrat As New National Coordinator

 By Tarhyang Enowbikah Tabe

The news of a new National Coordinator of the Presidential Plan For the Reconstruction and Development of the SW and NW Regions landed on Social Media moments before the announcement over State Broadcaster, CRTV Radio News.

This appointment we gather was a proposal from Minister Paul Tasong to the Prime Minister and approved by the Head of State.

This is not the first time Minister Paul Tasong is recommending the New National Coordinator in this affair.

Minister Paul Tasong, it should be noted also recommended the New National Coordinator as the Consultant to elaborate the Presidential Plan.

 But Who Is This New National Coordinator?

The New National Coordinator of the PPRD is a Senior Agricultural Economist with top Management and Leadership experience in several Government Ministries - Agriculture, Tourism, Forestry and Wildlife, Environment and Finance and the PM’s Office.

He has also worked  with several development Institutions / Programs - European Union, GIZ-Germany, US Department of Defense, DFID - UK, Sterling University UK, Perdue University USA, as well as WWF, UNDP and Living Earth UK.

He has Masters Degrees in Agricultural Economics as well as in Environmental Management from the University Dschang as well as from the University of London UK respectively.

He was a PhD Student with Oxford University, UK before suspending his studies to serve at home.

The New National Coordinator is a fine negotiator and an ear-to-the-ground Leader with sublime policy development skills and a highly sought after Management Consultant for Cameroonian Businesses and Donor Institutions.

These qualities must have been the reason for his choice by Minister Paul Tasong as a replacement, proposed to the Prime Minister, Head of Government.

The Man who was appointed to fit into what many term the big shoes of Minister Paul Tasong at the head of the Presidential Plan, since November 2017 worked, with Bakassi Peninsula Development Program under the Supervision of the Prime Minister Head of Government of Cameroon. In fact, he took over from a Special Adviser to the Prime Minister.

His main responsibilities were to Develop and repopulate the Bakassi Peninsula after the Cameroon-Nigeria crises.

From 2001 to 2011, the technocrat coordinated four HIPCI sector experts in Cameroon, in the domain of rural development, infrastructure, health and social affairs, to apply United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and government sectorial policies in directing, elaborating and executing poverty reduction programs.

He was strategic in the promotion of institutional/organizational conflict management and strategic partnerships.

While he developed a management and evaluation manual for HIPCI funding, at the end, he elaborated and oversaw more than 80 programs and projects (worth over $ 2 billion) on poverty alleviation in the domains of rural credit, agriculture, environment and forestry, roads, governance, social development and health.

The former country Director of Living Earth Foundation, Cameroon, now National Coordinator of the Presidential Plan for Reconstruction and Development of the SW and NW Regions, has also served as WWF Korup Program, Cameroon Assistant Program Manager.

The WWF Korup program was Cameroon’s pioneer integrated park conservation and rural development program. It was a multi-donor program – European Union, GTZ, US Department of Department of Defense, DFID, WCS, Sterling University UK, Perdue University USA and WWF.

The New National Coordinator oversaw the conservation, skills development and livelihood improvement in the project area.

Throughout that period, he ensured the quality control and execution of project components, Managed and motivated a multi-disciplinary local as well as expatriate staff and consultants.

He also Developed and maintained an extensive range of contacts with representatives of the local and national government, civil society and private sector in agriculture natural resource management and conservation and reviewed quarterly and annual program and financial reports from component managers and partners.

Other  achievements in the sector of rural development, in line with the objectives of the presidential plan for Reconstruction and Development  by this action-centric man is that he  has worked extensively in the promotion  and supported income generating agricultural and pastoral activities.

He equally oversaw a resettlement program of over 600 persons living in the Korup national park and established a revolving rural credit scheme.

 Reactions From Across The Board

There has been a series of reactions especially on the social media following his appointment as the New National Coordinator.

Staff, collaborators and Mayors who have worked with the New National Coordinator have lauded the choice of the New National Coordinator, saying he is fit for the job giving his experience in rural and community development. 

The well read man with a series of published articles and write-ups who is stepping into the challenge was winner of the Best thesis award for Cameroonian Universities on graduation from ENSA as agro- economist.

He had his Advanced levels in CCAST Kumba and His Ordinary Levels in SJC Sasse.