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This paper concerning the influence of risks on rural development projects performance in Cameroon is based on a methodical approach to risk identification and mitigation. Its main objective is to contribute to the improvement of the performance of rural development projects. The study was conducted on three projects funded by various donors, through semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and observation. It identified twenty-two (22) major project risks, of which 68% are exogenous and 32% endogenous. Eleven (11) ofthem occur frequently; sixteen (16) have a significant impact on meeting deadlines; fourteen (14) greatly influence budget execution, and eleven (11) have a notable impact on the quality of the planned deliverables. The study reveals that risk management measures are generally implemented once they manifest and have already had a negative impact on the outcome chain. It also presents a risk criticality model that project teams can use to make management decisions. Furthermore, the study highlights the needto strengthen the risk management skills of project teams in order to ensure the performance of rural development projects.