Acknowledgment
This report is the result of a study carried out by a team from the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Center (SBEC) and the Nkafu Policy Institute. Sincere appreciation goes to the management of the Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation, whose leadership made it possible to produce this report. Warm acknowledgement to the John Templeton Foundation and Rising Tide Society for their strong collaboration and financial support given to the Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation.
Within the Foundation, the team is grateful to Ms. Lenora Ebule for her guidance and direction on the project “Powering Prosperity and Economic Freedom for Women and Youth in Cameroon”, provided by Rising Tide and the John Templeton Foundation. Sincere recognition goes to the SBEC and Nkafu Policy Institute team for writing the report and to the graphics team for the document’s design.
Foreword
Cameroon has identified poverty reduction as the first Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) prioritized for economic growth and development in its National Development Strategy 2030 (NDS 30). As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of poverty reduction and economic development, there is a growing recognition of the importance of income generating activities (IGAs) in promoting sustainable and inclusive growth in Cameroon. IGAs represent those activities carried out by individuals, providing opportunities for households to earn income, create employment, and contribute to the country’s GDP. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), in 2024, Cameroon ranked 151 out of 189 countries. Although the country experienced a consistent economic growth rate of 4.3% for a decade up to 2022, the level of poverty remained stable with about 55% of the population living in poverty (WFP, 2024). IGAs have emerged as a significant source of employment, contributing to poverty reduction in rural areas particularly. The following report sheds a light on the contribution of Income-Generating Activities makes in reducing this poverty gap and enhancing Economic Development in Cameroon, providing an in depth analysis of the role that IGAs play in the country’s economy. The report draws on primary and secondary data sources and examines the prevalence of IGAs, as well as their contribution to household income, poverty reduction, and reconciliation among communities. Studies show that in developing countries, income generating activities are supported mainly by international organizations, with the majority of households—around 70%—engaged in agricultural income-generating activities. This report’s findings are significant, as they provide evidence of the positive impact of IGAs on Cameroon’s economy. The report shows that IGAs are prevalent in Cameroon and the most common IGAs include agriculture, trade, and services, which contribute significantly to household income and employment.
The objective of this brief is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the contribution of IGAs to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Cameroon and identify opportunities for improvement. It examines the current state of IGAs in Cameroon, the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, and the potential solutions to address these challenges. The briefing note will also draw on international best practices and case studies from other countries to provide insights into how Cameroon can improve its entrepreneurial ecosystem and development.
