Upskilling Cameroonians via Programs
Let’s Work Initiative
In Cameroon, over 50% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) fail within their first five years due to inadequate skills & Training.
CEPI’s “Let’s Work Initiative” offers comprehensive training tailored to the Cameroonian context, focusing on:
- Accounting: Understanding financial statements and cash flow management.
- Marketing: Strategies for digital and frugal marketing tailored for SMEs.
- Operations: Efficient management practices to streamline processes.
- Sales: Techniques for effective customer engagement and sales growth.
This program seeks to empower 3000 entrepreneurs by 2030 to not only survive but thrive in a competitive market. With SMEs contributing over 33% of Cameroon’s GDP, boosting their operational effectiveness is crucial for advancing free market ideals and economic development.
Women Allies for Property Rights (WAPROR)
Women’s property rights in Cameroon remain severely limited despite legislative frameworks aimed at promoting gender equality. The 1974 Land Tenure Ordinance and Decree No. 76/165 (1976), amended by Decree 2005/481, legally support women’s rights to land ownership. However, customary practices often undermine these laws, with women owning only 2% of land while producing 80% of the country’s food Additionally, a staggering 90% of women face barriers to land ownership due to patriarchal customs. This disparity highlights the urgent need for legal reforms and community awareness to enhance women’s economic empowerment in Cameroon. This program is empowering women with knowledge about their legal rights and the procedures for declaring land ownership.
Trade for You
This program will seek to support the implementation of regional and international trade agreements and help local farmers, especially women to export to other markets. Our evidence-based and sensitization across local communities will ensure quantifiable impacts for all Cameroonians. This program will teach basic business skills and ensure that at least 50 women entrepreneurs are registered and upskilled with practical and verifiable training on accounting principles, digital marketing, branding, procurement and market research.
Agriculture Council
This program will seek to educate, sensitize and inform farmers of modern farming techniques, while equipping them with the skills to market their products to buyers at all levels.The project emphasizes capacity building through training workshops, enabling farmers to adopt best practices in resource management. Additionally, we facilitate partnerships between stakeholders to promote policy advocacy for agricultural development. By fostering a community of practice, we aim to create resilient agricultural systems that support local economies and improve livelihoods across the region.
AI Academy
The “AI Academy” initiative aims to empower civil society in Cameroon by providing comprehensive training focused on artificial intelligence. Our program emphasizes capacity building for civil society organizations, equipping them with the knowledge to influence AI policy effectively. We facilitate workshops that cover AI fundamentals, ethical governance, and practical applications, fostering a collaborative environment among participants. Additionally, we are dedicated to creating a network for emerging coders, encouraging innovation and collaboration among the next generation of tech leaders. This initiative not only enhances local expertise but also ensures that AI development aligns with community values and needs.
EVENT REPORTS
Report || Webinar - Getting Started with Digital Marketing
Introduction
The Cameroon Economic Policy Institute (CEPI) organized a training on Marketing titled “Getting Started With Digital Marketing” on 08 September 2023. The event was facilitated by CEPI’s founder, Mr. Henri Kouam and the trainer was Mr. Mahery Zuffelato, Marketing Expert based in Paris, France.
The event took place against a backdrop of high bankruptcies in Cameroon and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) that will increase competition for Cameroonian business both home and abroad. In its report on the second general business census (RGE-2) published in 2019, the national statistics institute (INS) revealed that 2,316 businesses out of 6,458 closed down between 2009 and 2016; a bankruptcy rate of about 36% over the period. INS mainly blamed this reality on the size of the company, the degree of the manager (or main promoter), and the company’s legal form. According to the institute, compared with large companies (GE), a medium-sized company (ME) is almost 20% more likely to go bankrupt. The risk is 31% for a small business and 39% for a very small business.
As such, this training was designed to equip Cameroon, African and European entrepreneurs and professionals on the basics of marketing. Mr. Mahery Zuffelato, the Marketing Expert from New Collab gave an interesting presentation that can be found on the website of Cameroon Economic Policy Institute (CEPI);
- He recommended that businesses and professionals invest in creating engaging content.
- They should use sales promotions to encourage consumers to buy their products.
- They should work with influencers and leverage new tools such as TikTok to drive traffic to their website.
- Email marketing should focus on informing and converting new customers into buyers.
- Finally, organic content can generate real revenues for businesses who invest the time and effort to speak and reach their audience.
The event with over 25 participants from three continents concluded at 3PM and the experts presentation can be accessed from CEPI management. Mr. Henri Kouam thanked the participants and the trainer for their time and ended the event. The Cameroon Economic Policy Institute is a think tank of the Henri Kouam Foundation who seeks to improve the quality of economic policies through fact-based research, debates, and advocacy to reduce poverty and improve the livelihoods of Cameroonians. They are reachable on all social media websites and provide free training for businesses and professionals as well as regular publications to support economic policies and the business community.
Report || Webinar - The Role of Media and Civil Society Organisations (CSO's) in Supporting Policy Outcomes in Cameroon || 25/08/2023
Introduction
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the media are indispensable for a well-functioning democracy like Cameroon. However, there is no record of cooperation between both entities to support or achieve policy outcomes that are directly linked to economic development. As such, the Cameroon Economic Policy Institute (CEPI) conducted a webinar under the theme “ The Role of Civil Society Organizations and the Media in Supporting Policy Outcomes” with civil society organizations and media representatives to discuss strategies and a framework for better cooperation between both entities. The panel discussion moderated by Mr. Henri Kouam- the founder of CEPI – took place via Google Meets on the 25th of August 2023.
A panelist – Mr. Peter Nsosie, a TV presenter at Dash Media – noted that before civil society organizations seek to engage with the media, they should have a communication plan and develop their social media presence to ensure more impact. Secondly, he noted that the media and CSOs must reinforce governance and hold the government and other stakeholders to account.
Another panelist, Mr. Yanick Ngellewi – an Economic Journalist at Royal FM noted that the funding mechanisms of media reduce incentives to cooperate. He advocated for a realignment of objectives and admitted that focusing on social issues instead of economic issues can be damaging to the debate. He outlined that human rights issues sometimes take away from more urgent debates such as living standards, access to education, and health care among others.
The panelist recommended that media and CSO debate should focus on real economic issues such as the cost of living crisis, access to education, and the improvement in our infrastructure.
● Secondly, they outlined that NGOs and CSOs must share the results of their research with the media through both formal and informal networks. This will encourage servant leadership and ensure that the media and CSOs work together towards the improvement of economic policies in Cameroon.
● Media organizations must diversify their pool of experts and establish relationships with research-based institutions that can answer specific questions about Cameroon’s economic development. The media and CSOs need to act as watchdogs to ensure the civil liberties, property rights, and economic freedoms of all Cameroonians.
● The event illustrated the need for civil society organizations and the media to set an agenda that reflects the needs, challenges, and opportunities in the policy front. This will attract the attention of policymakers and allow for more inclusive policy-making across Cameroon. Finally, it was noted that NGOs must disclose who their funders and partners are, to establish a relationship based on trust, transparency, and openness in discussing ideas.
The Cameroon Economic Policy Institute (CEPI) reiterated its commitment to improving the quality of economic policies through fact-based research, debates, and advocacy to reduce poverty and improve the livelihoods of Cameroonians
Media report: https://theguardianpostcameroon.com/post/1627/en/stakeholders-discuss-media-csos-roles-in-supporting-cameroons-policy-outcomes
Report || Webinar - The Impact of Climate on Cameroonian Farmers || 05/01/2024
Introduction
Climate change directly impacts more than 70% of the population whose livelihood depends directly on agriculture. As such, the Cameroon Economic Policy Institute (CEPI), a think tank, conducted its first working session with Cameroon’s Agriculture Council and held a session under the theme “The Impact of Climate Change on Farmers”. Mr. Henri facilitated the group of 17 participants
Kouam- the founder of CEPI – via Google Meets.
The panelists found that the socioeconomic impact of climate change shocks is hurting both the structurally poor and close to 40% of vulnerable households in Cameroon. Women, especially those living in conflict areas or indigenous groups, are more severely hit by climate change because they account for 75% of workers in the informal agricultural sector and are primarily responsible for the welfare of their households and food security.
Mrs. Tabe Ruth epse Elage, Programs and Compliance officer of FORUDEF noted that climate change is impacting cassava production in Batoke. In contrast, production in the Oyomodjock and Akwaya areas has been equally impacted negatively due to climate change. Climate change is causing people to leave their farms and move to crowded or climate-sensitive areas, which is equally causing production to fall. Members of Cameroon’s Agriculture Council recommended the following.
1. Mr. Itua Hansel from the Center for Rural Action – We should improve technical support and advisory for farmers, using aid to support start-ups and small-scale holders.
2. Mrs. Tabe Ruth epse Elage, from FORUDEF, argues that at least 500 farmers should be trained in each region on climate change adaptation and mitigation. Her collaborator, Mr. Fortu Sien finds that mixed cropping could improve soil resilience, allowing
3. Mr. Fortu Sien: On-farm training and intercropping to maximize soil nutrients that can improve climate change resilience. Instead of mono-cropping, Nitrogen-intensive crops like soy and beans are grouped in cultivation. This will allow regions to adapt cultivation to their changing local climate.
4. Mr. March Hilton from Get Your Farmers CIG and Germain Steph from Agri-AI, based in Yaounde recommend investment in rural infrastructure, irrigation, and storage solutions.
5. Finally, access to credit, the promotion of agro-forestry and land management, and regularity of data collection and reporting were recommended by Cameroon’s Agriculture Council. The Founder of CEPI, Mr. Henri Kouam, noted that monthly or quarterly data collection and reporting will support the effective design and implementation of agriculture policies
The Cameroon Economic Policy Institute (CEPI) aims to improve the quality of economic policies through fact-based research, debates, and advocacy to reduce poverty and improve the livelihoods of Cameroonians.
Report || Roundtable - Discussion- Unlocking Trade Finance in the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area
Introduction
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are at a natural disadvantage when it comes to accessing trade finance when compared to larger firms in Cameroon. This is due to their smaller distribution networks and limited portfolios where SMEs earning less than 5 million ($10,000) are considered too risky for trade finance lending. As such, the Cameroon Economic Policy Institute of the Henri Kouam Foundation organized a discussion under its project “Trade for You”. This discussion sought to analyze the challenges and opportunities for SME trade finance following the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) signing. The discussion of 12 attendees included representatives from Afriland First Bank, United Bank of Africa, Ecobank, and over five Microfinance institutions (MFIs) based in Yaoundé, Buea, and Limbe.
Main Constraints to SME Access to Trade Finance
– Banks face difficulties tracking the impact of trade finance on SMEs as their activities are very fragmented and there isn’t sufficient interaction between all departments at various banks. – There are few support activities for SMEs looking to export and procedures are complex. For example, you require an export or import’ card, a tax number, and certification from Agence de Normes et Qualité (ANOR) regarding quality control.
– Government credit guarantee schemes are limited to a few banks, which does not diminish the risk faced by other banks when lending to SMEs lacking the required collateral.
– Finally, Microfinance institutions (MFIs) cannot legally offer trade finance and must rely on banks or partnerships with export firms.
Recommendations
-Banks should increase the share of loans given out to SMEs from currently low levels of about 6-15% of total financing.
-Overly burdensome regulatory frameworks and infrastructure deficiencies often limit the number of new formal businesses entering the market and act as constraints to firm growth. The cost of starting a business should be reduced and new firms should get a three-year tax break upon formation. -Financial institutions and banks should focus on building the capacity of SMEs and potential exporters to reduce bad loans and improve their understanding of regulatory requirements. For example, guidance from industry bodies like APPECAM will make it easier for firms to get the right documentation before applying for a bank loan. This support should be extended to agribusiness, youth employment & women entrepreneurs.
3. MFIs should develop partnerships with banks and trade finance companies at home and abroad to facilitate SME access to finance. Letters of credit and bank guarantees can be obtained easily if they establish effective working relationships.
Mr. Henri Kouam, the founder of CEPI thanked the participants for their time and their contributions and promised to come back to the subject in a year’s time to see what progress has been collectively achieved to support SME access to Trade Finance in the context of the AfCFTA.
(See Guardian post below)