SBEC Policy Brief

Introduction The Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) represents one of Africa's most underperforming regional integration projects despite significant structural advantages including a shared currency, harmonized trade regulations, and geographic proximity. Research indicates that CEMAC's regional integration challenges are deeply rooted in structural and institutional limitations that constrain trade flows and economic cooperation (Fokum, 2023). Intra-regional trade within CEMAC accounts for barely 2% of total trade volume, representing the lowest performance among Africa's regional economic communities and significantly underperforming compared to other regional blocs such as the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) where intra-regional trade contributes [...]

Introduction Rural Cameroon confronts an unprecedented employment crisis where traditional agrarian economies catastrophically intersect with digital transformation imperatives. With youth unemployment rates at 36% in rural areas—nearly double the national average (Region, 2023)—conventional economic development strategies have demonstrably failed to generate sustainable livelihood pathways. The digital gig economy, characterized by short-term contracts and freelance work rather than permanent employment structures, presents a revolutionary opportunity to transcend geographical limitations that have historically confined rural youth to subsistence-level local markets (Zumbrun, 2015). This brief proposes a radical paradigm shift: repositioning rural Cameroon not as an economic periphery disconnected from global value [...]

Introduction Arts and culture have long been recognized as catalysts for economic development, providing a platform for creativity, innovation, and economic activities that contribute to a nation’s GDP (Throsby, 2001). Globally, cultural industries generate employment and foster community resilience, making them critical components of sustainable development (Familugba, 2024). In Cameroon, the arts and culture sector hold immense potential for economic empowerment, particularly for women and youth. With a rich cultural heritage and diverse artistic traditions, Cameroon is well-positioned to leverage its creative industries to create jobs, enhance skills, and promote social cohesion. Women and youth, who often face economic [...]

Introduction Cameroon's biodiverse landscapes harbor approximately 8,000 plant species, with significant numbers possessing medicinal properties stewarded primarily by women over countless generations (Mahmoud et al., 2020). Indigenous and local women have traditionally served as the primary custodians of medicinal plant knowledge, sustainable harvesting practices, and preparation techniques representing not merely cultural heritage but increasingly valuable economic and scientific resources in a global botanical medicine market (Laird et al., 2019). This biocultural capital remains largely unprotected and undervalued, with assessments finding that the majority of commercially valuable traditional medicinal knowledge lacks legal protection, while multinational pharmaceutical companies have filed numerous [...]

WhjhWritten by: Meh Desmond Kum, Laurent Brice Nsengue, Chefor Ngwenyi Meungwe and Dr Vera Kum Download full report EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Agricultural entrepreneurial spirit plays an essential part in all economies. People must find ways to market their products more effectively. Some of these value chains are critical for farmers to make a profit and derive meaning from their products. As a result, the purpose of this report is to inform stakeholders about how to increase agricultural entrepreneurship in Cameroon, as well as to highlight some critical strategies required for the country's long-term growth. To achieve sustainable agricultural growth in Cameroon, [...]