On March 31, 2026, the World Bank Group approved funding of 394.8 million dollars, or approximately 224.3 billion FCFA. This investment is intended to support the development of the forest economy in Cameroon, Congo, and the Central African Republic.

The World Bank loan is part of the first phase of the Sustainable Congo Basin Forest Economies Program (SCBFEP). This initiative aims to improve forest management, strengthen value chains in the sector, and generate 220,000 jobs in the three beneficiary countries. "The initiative aims to demonstrate that sustainable economic development and responsible forest management can, and must, go hand in hand," the institution emphasizes.

The World Bank specified in an official statement that this first phase is part of a larger 1.02 billion dollar program, designed to leverage the economic, climatic, and social benefits of the Congo Basin, considered the world's second-largest tropical forest biome.

According to Chakib Jenane, Regional Director for the Planet at the World Bank, "this new program marks an important step for the Congo Basin, where sustainable forest economies create jobs, increase incomes, and strengthen the resilience of millions of people. By increasing legal timber production, improving governance, and investing in skills and business development, countries can pave the way for inclusive and sustainable prosperity."