Nkafu and BRIDGE-Africa Consortium Secure $10 Million African Union and World Bank Grant
Nkafu and BRIDGE-Africa Consortium Secure $10 Million African Union and World Bank Grant to Advance Evidence Based Policymaking Across Africa Nkafu to Lead Health Systems Financing Research Across Central Africa as Part of a Landmark Pan-African Initiative to Strengthen Evidence-Informed Policymaking May 6, 2026 - Nkafu Policy Institute Yaounde, Cameroon, May 6, 2026 — The Nkafu Policy Institute of the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation and the Building Resilience and Impact through Dialogue and Galvanising Action for Evidence-Informed Policymaking (BRIDGE-Africa) Consortium, have been awarded a USD 10 million grant under the Africa Think Tank Platform (ATTP), a flagship five-year, [...]
Call for Applications: 2026 Emerging Leaders Program
Theme: “Vision. Action. Impact” September 7-9, 2026 Yaoundé, Cameroon Register now About the Emerging Leaders Program The Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation launched the Emerging Leaders Program in 2019 to prepare a new generation of transformational leaders driven by strong moral values and committed to a progressive and democratic Africa. This program identifies highly skilled and motivated Cameroonians under the age of 35 who have demonstrated remarkable leadership and a strong understanding of public policy, along with a dedication to implementing positive change in the country. Each year, twenty (20) highly accomplished individuals are selected to join the Emerging [...]
2025 SBEC Annual Report: From Barriers To Breadthroughs: Women Entrepreneurs Powering Cameroon’s Green Economy Transition
Authors: Small Business and Entrepreneurship Center, Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation Published: March 04, 2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.64116/Report.2026.WomenGreenEcoCM Download Full report Executive Summary “We are the guardians of the Earth, not its owners,” Marlee Matlin reminds us. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the transition to a green economy is seen as a process of transforming the system of production, distribution, and consumption of wealth towards a model of sustainable development improving energy and resource efficiency, reducing carbon emissions and pollution, protecting biodiversity and ecosystems to improve human well-being and social inclusion, limit environmental risks, and preserve natural heritage. According [...]
5th State of Business Briefing report “Contribution of Technological Development of SMEs to the Economic Growth of Cameroon”
Authors: Small Business and Entrepreneurship Center (Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation) Published: January 28, 2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.64116/Report.2026.5thStateofBusinessBriefing Download full report INTRODUCTION 1.1 Government ICT Plan for SMEs in Cameroon The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications in Cameroon has developed a comprehensive plan to promote the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) among Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the country. This plan, as outlined on the official website of the Ministry, focuses on enhancing digital literacy, providing access to ICT infrastructure, and fostering innovation within the SME sector. By leveraging ICT tools and solutions, the Ministry aims to [...]
Resilience Through Collaboration: Lessons from Africa’s Think Tank Summit and NeTT4Peace
By Julienne Stéphanie Mesumbe, Deputy Director of Nkafu Policy Institute Across Africa, think tanks are navigating shrinking civic spaces, financial constraints, and political pressures that often limit their ability to influence policy. Yet, recent convenings have demonstrated that collaboration is the most effective pathway to resilience and collective impact. In October and November 2025, the Nkafu Policy Institute participated in two landmark gatherings: the 11th Africa Think Tank Summit in Addis Ababa and the Strategy Group Meeting of the African Union Network of Think Tanks for Peace (NeTT4Peace) in Rabat. Together, these events underscored a powerful truth: think tanks are stronger [...]
Community Day: Foretia Foundation Raises Cancer Awareness at St. Louis University Institute, Yaoundé
On November 28, 2025, the Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation continued the longstanding commitment to community empowerment through our monthly Community Day outreach, this time hosted at the St. Louis University Institute in Yaoundé. The event focused on an engaging and highly educational session on Breast and Prostate Cancer Awareness, two pressing health concerns that continue to affect thousands of families across Cameroon. A major highlight was an insightful health talk delivered by Dr. Stéphanie Eyombo, Medical Doctor at Medicalia Health Center. She shed light on the symptoms, risk factors, preventive measures, and the importance of early screening for [...]
Decentralizing Entrepreneurship Support: Building Localized Innovation Hubs in Cameroon through Municipal Councils
Introduction Entrepreneurship in Cameroon remains heavily concentrated in major urban centers like Douala and Yaoundé, leaving rural areas with limited access to innovation and business support, which creates significant economic disparities as rural entrepreneurs face systemic barriers like inadequate training, limited financing, and weak market linkages (World Bank, 2020). Rural SMEs, especially in agriculture, agro-processing, and renewable energy, face isolation and limited resources, unlike cities that benefit from incubators, investor networks, and modern infrastructure. This gap highlights the need for decentralized innovation hubs, managed by municipal councils in partnership with the private sector, to foster inclusive economic growth. By tailoring [...]
2024 SBEC Annual Report
Written by: Laurent Brice Nsengue, Meh Desmond Kum, Daisy Chefor Ngwenyi Meugue and Dr. Vera Kum Published: October 29, 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.64116/Report.2024.SME Reference: Nkafu Policy Institute, SBEC Annual Report, 2024, 46 pages Download Full Report EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report examines the critical role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in driving sustainable economic growth in Cameroon. It provides actionable strategies to enhance their resilience, dynamism, performance, and competitiveness. SMEs represent over 90% of businesses in Cameroon and contribute significantly to employment generation and GDP, yet they face substantial challenges limiting their growth potential. Key findings indicate that Cameroonian SMEs struggle [...]
Statement on the Post-Electoral Crisis in Cameroon
A call for full respect of the October 12 presidential poll results and for all actors to safeguard peace in Cameroon Yaoundé, Cameroon. — October 26, 2025. The Nkafu Policy Institute and the Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation call on Cameroonian authorities, political actors, and citizens to uphold the integrity of the October 12, 2025 presidential election. As the Constitutional Council prepares to announce the results, we urge the transparent publication of complete, polling-station–level tallies and a final proclamation that faithfully reflects the will of the Cameroonian people as expressed at the ballot box. Today’s peaceful demonstrations across villages, [...]
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield Named 2025 Recipient of the “Trailblazer for Africa Award”
Award to be presented October 14, 2025, at Africa @ World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C. Yaoundé, Cameroon. — October 9, 2025. The Nkafu Policy Institute, in partnership with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and Afrobarometer, today announced that Her Excellency Linda Thomas-Greenfield, former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Trailblazer for Africa Award. The Award will be conferred during Africa @ World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings on October 14, 2025, at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C. The [...]
Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation | Catalyzing Africa's Economic Transformation 
