The Impact of Climate Change on Women’s Economic Empowerment in Cameroon
By Chefor Ngwenyi Meungwe (Download PDF) Introduction The global climate crisis poses significant social, economic, and environmental challenges, with women and marginalized groups experiencing its impacts most acutely. As temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more frequent, these changes threaten the livelihoods, health, and economic empowerment of vulnerable populations, particularly women in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Cameroon, agriculture—a sector where women form the majority of the workforce—has been heavily impacted by climate disruptions, leading to reduced crop yields, food insecurity, and income instability (Njoh et al 2018). Despite their critical roles in food production, Cameroonian women face persistent challenges due [...]
Effect of Information Communication Technology on the performance of women’s entrepreneurial activities in the Northwest and Southwest of Cameroon GalleryEffect of Information Communication Technology on the performance of women’s entrepreneurial activities in the Northwest and Southwest of Cameroon
Effect of Information Communication Technology on the performance of women’s entrepreneurial activities in the Northwest and Southwest of Cameroon
By Meh Desmond Kum (Download Pdf) Introduction The performance of women’s entrepreneurial activities in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon faces significant challenges, with barriers rooted in limited access to resources, restricted market reach, and efficiency constraints. These barriers are further exacerbated by the pervasive digital gender divide in developing countries, where women are systematically less likely to own ICT tools like mobile phones, which restricts their ability to leverage technology for business growth (International Telecommunication Union [ITU], 2021). This performance gap in women-owned businesses compared to male-owned enterprises remains a persistent issue, affecting women’s productivity, competitiveness, and [...]
The Role of Vocational Training in Promoting the Economic Freedom of Women and Youths in Cameroon
By Chefor Ngwenyi Meungwe (Download Pdf) Introduction The economic freedom of women and youths in Cameroon remains a pressing concern, as they continue to face significant barriers to gain full employment and self-sufficiency. With youth unemployment estimated at 40% of the active population (Mengue 2023), it is clear that traditional education pathways are not providing the necessary skills to secure employment. Women, in particular, face entrenched gender discrimination, limiting their access to opportunities and perpetuating their economic dependence. Meanwhile, youths lack the vocational skills required to compete in the job market, rendering them vulnerable to unemployment and economic instability. [...]
Empowering Women entrepreneurs to combat hunger, poverty, and gender inequality
By Meh Desmond Kum (Download Pdf) Introduction Hunger, poverty, and gender inequality are interwoven challenges that undermine global development. As the world grapples with these pressing issues, innovative solutions are needed to foster inclusive growth. The Human Poverty Index (HPI), developed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), provides a valuable lens through which these issues can be understood. By focusing on multidimensional deprivations—such as lack of access to education, income, and health services—the HPI highlights structural inequalities that disproportionately affect women. Addressing these disparities is central to combating hunger and poverty. Empowering women entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector [...]
Agri-entrepreneurship, is a key factor in eliminating hunger, ensuring food security, and improving nutrition in Cameroon.
By Nsengue Laurent Brice (Download Pdf) According to the report on The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, projections indicate that by 2030, more than 600 million people worldwide will suffer from hunger, underscoring the scale of the task ahead to achieve "zero hunger" (UN, 2023). This is why eradicating hunger is the second UN Sustainable Development Goal which is making sure that food is wholesome. Nourishing is as important as making sure that everyone has enough to eat. The fight against hunger has made significant progress in the last fifteen years. According to the most [...]
The Role of Technology in Enhancing Financial Inclusion for Women and Youth in Cameroon
By Chefor Ngwenyi Meungwe (Download Pdf) Introduction Cameroon’s digital finance landscape has expanded rapidly, yet women and youth still face significant barriers to accessing formal financial services. Financial inclusion disparities remain wide. About 37% of women and 42% of youth aged 15-24 currently engage with formal financial institutions, compared to 54% of adult men (Enongene et al., 2024). This gap limits the economic autonomy of these groups, restricting their ability to save, borrow, and invest in ways that promote long-term financial security. Such disparities are especially pronounced in rural areas, where physical financial infrastructure is limited and where socio-economic [...]
Digital Literacy and Online Entrepreneurship: Empowering Women and Youth in Cameroon
By Chefor Ngwenyi Meungwe (Download Pdf) Introduction In the rapidly evolving digital era, the need for digital literacy and online entrepreneurship has become indispensable for economic empowerment, especially for women and youth in Cameroon. Digital literacy encompasses the ability to use digital tools and platforms to access, evaluate, and create information, while online entrepreneurship involves leveraging these platforms to start and manage businesses. The push for digital literacy and online entrepreneurship aligns with both the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063. SDG 4 emphasizes the need for equitable quality education, including digital skills, while SDG 5 targets gender [...]
Economic opportunities for women and youths in Cameroon: Opportunities, challenges and prospects.
Introduction Cameroon, a lower-middle-income country located in Central Africa, has made notable strides in recent years in terms of economic growth and poverty reduction. Cameroon's economy has continued to experience steady growth, with a GDP growth rate of approximately 4.5% per annum, driven primarily by the services and agriculture sectors (World Bank, 2022). Notably, the poverty rate has declined significantly, from 37.5% in 2014 to 28.5% in 2020, according to the World Bank's most recent estimates (World Bank, 2022). Furthermore, the country has made progress in reducing extreme poverty, with the percentage of the population living on less than [...]
The Urgent Need to Improve the Business Climate in Cameroon
Written By: Dr Jean Cedric Kouam, Dr Bin Meh, Laurent Brice Nsengue, Isidore Njinju Asongalem, Meh Desmond Kum (Download the full report) Introduction In defining its new National Development Strategy 2020-2030 (NDS30), the Cameroonian government set its ambition of achieving double-digit economic growth by 2030. To achieve this, one of the main strategies put in place is to go after markets with high development potential. Among the major markets to be explored, ‘the Nigerian market occupies a prominent place’. This market indeed has several assets in terms of SMEs in the field of industrial production. According to the government, [...]
The Impact of Access to credit on Women’s Entrepreneurship
By Dr. Vera Fuein Kum INTRODUCTION This article explores how access to credit and financial resources can help women start and grow their businesses. Anchored within the paradigm of women's entrepreneurship empowerment and social development, we will first examine from the literature some cases of access to credit in women’s entrepreneurship. A brief analysis of the significance of financial accessibility for female entrepreneurship development follows this. Finally, we will suggest some recommendations that can help decision-makers better formulate more inclusive policies to ensure equitability between males and females regarding credit accessibility for women. EVIDENCE OF ACCESS TO CREDIT FOR [...]
Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation | Catalyzing Africa's Economic Transformation 
