Cameroon:Sustainable Development Starts with Strong Public Policy Analysis, Says Nkafu Policy Experts

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

YAOUNDE, Cameroon – Specialists from the Nkafu Policy Institute, a leading think tank of the Foretia Foundation, have accentuated that sustainable development in Africa depends on the actual use of public policy analysis to guide decision-making and governance.

At the start of the three-day Public Policy Analysis Course (PPAC) in Yaoundé, these policy analysts and researchers emphasized the need for evidence-based policymaking to tackle the complex economic, social and governance challenges facing Cameroon and the broader Economic Community of Central African States, ECCAS.

The Public Policy Analysis Course is aimed at providing a structured, practical platform for building capacity among policymakers, and researchers to respond to ECCAS-specific challenges. The training focuses on enhancing the technical and interpersonal competencies in policy analysis, communication and advocacy, thereby contributing to evidence-based policymaking and fostering collaboration among ECCAS stakeholders.

Dr Adeline Nembot, Senior Policy Analyst at the Nkafu Policy Institute said: The Public Policy Analysis Program has been going on for several editions, and what pushes us to continue to organize such events is the identified problems at the level of Central Africa, the problem of policies, and the implementation of policies in this region. So, we call here the leaders of economic policies.”

“We equip them with notions, knowledge, and even practical capacities, to be able to identify not only the problem but also to be able to implement good decisions that will bring well-being in the region. One of our main activities is to pledge through our writings, through the notes that we publish, so that the government can implement through the results that we obtain.”

By addressing these regional gaps, the PPAC directly supports the comprehension of the African Union frameworks, particularly those outlined in Agenda 2063 and the AGA, while reinforcing ECCAS' role in advancing good governance and sustainable development.

“After these three days of training, we expect our participants to have the ability to not only identify the problem, because if we cannot identify the problem, it will be difficult to solve it,” Dr Adeline Nembot added.

“In Central Africa, since this edition affects the whole region, in previous years, we have had to organize in Cameroon, but this time, we have elaborated and we have touched several countries in Central Africa. So, it is to identify the problems that these populations or these policies face to be able to bring solutions that will improve the living and economic conditions of this region.”
Need for Evidence-based Policymaking

According to the Nkafu Policy Institute, many African nations struggle with policy implementation gaps due to a lack of thorough analysis and stakeholder engagement. Professor William Arrey, Senior Fellow, Peace and Security Division at the Nkafu Policy Institute said: “Public policy is so important because this is what helps the governments and other stakeholders to make decisions that work for the citizens, that work for the people. We cannot pretend to prescribe a solution to a problem when we don't understand it.”

“Now you will see sometimes the government will waste so much money, and so much time, without really tackling the problem, while leaving the problem intact. So, it is so important that not only to have that policy, but at some point, we take some kind of retrospective look at that policy, to better inform decision-makers on how to tackle societal problems.”

The African Union's Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasize good governance, institutional capacity-building, and inclusive policy formulation as key factors in driving long-term development. However, research by institutions like the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) suggests that weak public policy analysis remains a major obstacle to achieving these objectives.

Experts further called for stronger collaboration between policymakers, researchers, and development partners to create a well-informed policy ecosystem. They stressed that sustainable development can only be achieved when policies align with economic realities and the needs of local communities.