SBEC and National Employment Fund Sign MoU to Combat Youth Unemployment

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

BUEA, Cameroon – To combat youth unemployment in Cameroon, the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Center (SBEC) of the Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation and the National Employment Fund (NEF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to train at least 570 young job seekers in the Center Region of Cameroon.
The agreement, formalized on November 21, 2024, in Yaoundé outlines a two-year collaboration running through December 2026.

The initiative combines NEF's extensive expertise in employment services with SBEC's innovative approaches to entrepreneurship development, marking a significant milestone in public-private partnerships to empower the nation's youth.

"This partnership represents a strategic approach to tackling youth unemployment in Cameroon," said Sylvia Namondo, Interim Director of SBEC. "By combining our resources and expertise with NEF's extensive network and experience, we're creating a robust platform for youth empowerment. Our goal isn't just to provide training, but to ensure sustainable professional integration for these young job seekers."

The collaboration will involve comprehensive training programs and consistent follow-up to provide young job seekers with tools to succeed in employment and entrepreneurship. SBEC and NEF will co-organize workshops and training sessions, reflecting their commitment to ensuring effective program implementation.

This partnership aligns with both organizations' missions: NEF's mandate to promote employment and the Foretia Foundation's commitment to catalyzing Africa's economic transformation through social entrepreneurship while reducing inequalities. The Foundation works to create economic opportunities for all through innovation, progressive policies, and targeted initiatives like this training program.

Youth unemployment remains a significant challenge in Cameroon, with limited opportunities for skill acquisition and job placement contributing to the issue. This initiative aims to bridge the gap by offering:

As Cameroon grapples with unemployment, this MOU serves as a model for how partnerships between public institutions and private organizations can drive meaningful change. By combining expertise and resources, SBEC and NEF aim to address the root causes of youth joblessness and create sustainable pathways to economic empowerment.

“Our goal isn’t just to provide training but to ensure that these young job seekers find meaningful and sustainable opportunities,” Sylvia Namondo reiterated.

About the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation

The Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation was established to catalyze Africa's economic transformation by focusing on social entrepreneurship, science and technology, innovation, public health, and progressive policies that create economic opportunities for all.

The foundation works in partnership with local governments, policymakers, private enterprises, civil society organizations, and development partners to expand the resources available to entrepreneurs, farmers, and small business owners and improve individual livelihoods.

About SBEC

The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre (SBEC) was founded by the Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation to support SMEs across the country and to promote business-friendly policies that stimulate innovation and job creation. Through the SBEC Network, member SMEs receive training and administrative support to increase productivity and efficiency.