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 [...]
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 [...]
Navigating Business Risks and Enhancing the Resilience of SMEs in Cameroon in the face of the 2025 Finance Law
Introduction In this analysis, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in the economic landscape highlighting their significant contribution to economic growth, job creation, and local development. It should be noted that the Cameroonian economic fabric is made up of 99.8% SMEs, of which 79.32% are Very Small Enterprises (VSE), 19.43% Small Enterprises (SE), and 1.25% Medium Enterprises (ME). According to the distribution by sector of activity, these actors of our productive fabric are found at 84.2% in the tertiary sector, 15.63% in the secondary sector, and only 0.17% in the primary sector. ( MINPMEESA statistical yearbook, 2022). These [...]
Sustainable Business Practices: Empowering Future Generations in Cameroon
Background It is widely recognized by governments around the world that promoting green entrepreneurship is a key factor in any sustainable development initiative. Taking into account both financial and non-financial factors, green entrepreneurship promotes the dissemination of ideas that can improve the global socio-economic and ecological climate. In line with sustainable development norms and suggestions (Flam, 2010), green entrepreneurship is viewed as a major force behind the worldwide shift towards a more responsible and sustainable type of entrepreneurship (Schaper, 2002). Moreover, sustainable entrepreneurship aligns with global frameworks like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to which Cameroon has committed [...]
2023 SBEC Annual Report
Download report Executive Summary Cameroon is recognized as the economic behemoth of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). The country underlines a diverse economy with considerable growth potential. However, it, at the same time, also confronts challenges such as high poverty rates, limited access to financing, and inadequate socio-economic and physical infrastructure, all of which stand in the way of the development of nation’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The report explores the entrepreneurial landscape and economic development in Cameroon, with a particular focus on the contribution of women and youth to entrepreneurship. The objective of this study is to [...]
Call for Applications! Join the Income Generating Skills Training Program in Bamenda
Are you a woman or youth in Cameroon looking to enhance your income and entrepreneurial skills? The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Center (SBEC) of the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation invites you to participate in our exciting Income Generating Skills (IGS) Training Program! Date: January 24 and 25, 2024 Venue: Hiltop Hotel, Up Station Bamenda Why should you join? Boost your Household Income: Our training aims to reduce vulnerability and increase your disposable household income, empowering you to thrive economically. Enhance Entrepreneurship Skills: Gain valuable knowledge and skills to develop and manage your own micro business, setting you on the path to [...]
CALL FOR APPLICATION FOR TRAINERS SUBJECT: JOB PREPAREDNESS BOOTCAMP
Background Cameroon faces widespread disparities in freedom of economic access, especially for women and youths. Social insertion through the acquisition of decent jobs or creating one from income generating skills remains a hard piece to swallow for the youths and women in Cameroon. The lack of soft skills to face the job market that is becoming even more competitive nowadays and the inadequacy of income generating skills harnessed into reliable business ventures, have been diagnosed as causalities to the low level of social insertion of youths and women. It is in this regard, that the Small Business and Entrepreneurship [...]
CALL FOR APPLICATION FOR TRAINERS SUBJECT: SME FLAGSHIP TRAINING
Background In Cameroon, 72.24% of businesses created since 2010 are non-existent in the May 2016 file of the General Directorate of Taxes, which formally attests to their death (CAMERCAP-PARC). The lack of effective management of businesses as a whole contributes to this situation, which can only be regretted. It is in this light that the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre (SBEC) of the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation is intervening through its 6-month flagship training for SMEs to build the capacity of youths and women entrepreneurs in business management techniques in 5 regions (Centre, West, Littoral, South-West and North-West) [...]
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