From 15 to 17 July 2026, the Road Fund organised a training seminar on public procurement management at the United Hotel in Mbankomo. This event brought together the institution’s staff around a simple conviction: the quality of the roads maintained by Cameroon begins with a sound understanding of public procurement.
A renewed institutional framework
The decree of 10 July 2025 has fundamentally reshaped the Road Fund’s remit. Now responsible for financing road network maintenance, carrying out studies and investments, protecting road infrastructure, managing tolls and mobilising resources for infrastructure, the institution is called upon to manage a greater number of public procurement contracts that are more diverse and complex than before.
It is against this backdrop that proficiency in public procurement has emerged as a shared institutional requirement. It is no longer the sole preserve of a handful of specialists, but a skill that every staff member must master.
Numerous contracts, 850 million CFA francs: figures that put things into perspective
The data for the 2026 financial year clearly illustrate this challenge: the Road Fund has drawn up and implemented a public procurement plan representing a budgetary commitment of approximately 850 million CFA francs. Behind this volume lie numerous procedures to be rigorously processed, files to be methodically monitored and resources to be allocated transparently.
Governed by the 2018 Public Procurement Code, Cameroon’s public procurement system is a tool for economic development, governed by precise rules and overseen by specialised institutions. In its capacity as project owner, the Road Fund plays a full part in this process, from project development through to the acceptance of works.
“Within this new framework, expertise in public procurement is no longer merely a desirable skill; it is a requirement,” said Aubin Essaie Moussa, Administrator of the Road Fund.
Six modules to move from knowledge to action
Led by experts from the Collège de Paris, the seminar was structured into six progressive modules. The first two laid the foundations: the guiding principles of public procurement, the diversity of its forms and the classification of its categories. The third module placed the practice within its institutional context, introducing the key players in the Cameroonian system, the supervisory bodies and the regulatory mechanisms. The final three modules, which were firmly focused on practical application, dealt with procurement procedures and the monitoring of contract performance, with a particular emphasis on insurance contracts.
Throughout the course, the teaching approach prioritised practical scenarios: hands-on exercises, case studies and the sharing of experiences. The aim was not to memorise texts, but to develop practical skills; in particular: knowing how to prepare a tender dossier, analyse a bid, monitor the performance of a contract and prevent irregularities.
An investment for the benefit of road users
Beyond the procedures, this seminar aims to instil a vision: a well-managed public procurement process means a road rehabilitated on time, a bridge properly maintained, and a structure handed over in accordance with the rules. These are all tangible benefits for the millions of Cameroonians who use the national road network every day.