(Business in Cameroon) – Cameroon’s Project for the Inclusion and Employability of Women and Youth (Propiej), under the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training, has opened applications to select 100 innovative projects.
The initiative falls under the Integrated Agro-Pastoral and Fisheries Import-Substitution Plan (PIISAH), aimed at boosting local production and cutting the country’s reliance on food imports.
According to the Cameroon Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Crafts (CCIMA), the call targets micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and social economy organizations active in agriculture, livestock, aquaculture, agro-industry, and renewable energy. Eligible projects must be led by young people aged 18-35 or women aged 35-56, with applications due by November 20, 2025, via the project’s website.
Backed by the Ministry of Economy, the UNDP, and the World Bank, Propiej seeks to stimulate local entrepreneurship by supporting high-impact initiatives. Selected applicants will receive help securing financing from the Cameroon Bank for SMEs (BC/PME) to acquire equipment and fund working capital. They will also benefit from management and business training to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of their enterprises.
The program’s broader goal is to increase domestic agricultural and fisheries output and reduce the heavy cost of food imports, which continues to strain Cameroon’s trade balance. The National Institute of Statistics (INS) estimates the country spends about XAF 3 trillion each year importing staples such as rice, fish, wheat, maize, and vegetable oils.
To tackle this dependency, the government launched a three-year plan (2024–2026) worth XAF 1.5 trillion to expand local production and processing capacity. So far, about XAF 800 billion has been allocated to strengthen value chains in rice, maize, fish, and other key products.
Despite these efforts, progress has been uneven, underscoring the need to better connect import-substitution policies with real-sector activity.
Frédéric Nonos
