The Republic of Cameroon is on the “hinge” between West and Central Africa. It is about the size of the Yukon territory. Called “Africa in miniature,” it has great diversity of geography and culture. The north is semi-arid, the south has rainforest; grasslands are found in the centre. Significant natural resources include oil, gas, timber, minerals and agricultural products such as coffee, cotton, cocoa, maize and cassava. Poverty is concentrated in the northern regions where access and quality of services lag behind the rest of the country. Despite improvements in education and access to water, economic growth is still too low to address all poverty and development needs.