Empowering Cameroon’s Entrepreneurs: A Conversation with SBEC Interim Director Sylvia Namondo

As Cameroon continues to face economic challenges, the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in driving inclusive growth has never been more critical. At the forefront of supporting these enterprises is the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Center (SBEC), a program of the Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation. With the upcoming 2025 SBEC Forum approaching, we sat down with Sylvia Namondo, Interim Director of SBEC, to discuss the organization's evolution, impact, and vision for transforming Cameroon's entrepreneurial landscape.

Bridging Critical Gaps in Cameroon's Economy

Could you begin by telling us about SBEC's founding and how it fits within the broader mission of the Foretia Foundation?

"The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Center was created to address Cameroon's urgent need for inclusive economic growth," explains Namondo. "As a program of the Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation, SBEC embodies the Foundation's commitment to catalyzing Africa's economic transformation through private-sector-driven development."

Namondo emphasizes that SBEC's focus is particularly on empowering entrepreneurs, especially women and youth, with the training, funding access, and policy advocacy they need to build resilient SMEs. "By bridging gaps in skills, finance, and technology, we are fueling job creation and social mobility across the country."

What are some of the key milestones SBEC has achieved since its inception?

"Over the years, we have made significant progress in fostering entrepreneurship and SME growth in Cameroon," Namondo says with evident pride. "Since 2022, we have written and disseminated over 35 policy briefs and reports driving dialogue on entrepreneurship issues. This reflects our commitment to collaborative stakeholder engagement and translating discussions into actionable solutions for market access, sustainability, and improving the entrepreneurship ecosystem."

The statistics are impressive: SBEC has trained over 1,000 SMEs under its flagship program, with 52% of these businesses being women-led. "Our training has measurably improved business operations, stock control, and planning for these enterprises," Namondo explains.

"We have also enabled over 70 businesses to overcome their business management challenges through our administrative support program”.

Another significant milestone has been SBEC's collaboration with Cameroon's Ministry of Small and Medium-size Enterprises (MINPMEESA) to access the country's SME database for targeted outreach. "This partnership has allowed us to precisely identify and support tax-compliant businesses with high growth potential across at least five regions of Cameroon."

Understanding Cameroon's Entrepreneurial Landscape

What is the current state of SMEs in Cameroon, particularly for youth and women-led businesses?

"The reality is challenging," Namondo acknowledges. "Cameroon's SME sector faces significant hurdles, with limited access to finance being perhaps the most critical, as only 12% of SMEs secure bank loans. Add to this the high rate of informality, with 75% operating informally, and various regulatory hurdles."

Despite these challenges, Namondo sees tremendous potential. "These entrepreneurs are driving innovation in agribusiness, technology, and retail. They're creating solutions specific to Cameroon's needs."

But with youth unemployment at 58%, she stresses that supporting SMEs through training, funding, and formalization remains critical for job creation and inclusive economic growth.

How does SBEC's approach address these specific challenges?

"We have developed a three-pronged approach," Namondo explains. "First, capacity building through our flagship 6-month training program that equips entrepreneurs with critical skills in financial management, inventory control, and business planning."

"Second, we provide comprehensive administrative support. We have formalized over 70 previously informal businesses by developing bankable plans, installing tailored accounting systems, and linking them to financial institutions."

"Third, we drive systemic change through advocacy. We convene policymakers and business leaders in stakeholder meetings, such as our Student Entrepreneur Program in 2023, which pushed for entrepreneurship-focused curriculum reforms. We also publish policy briefs to shape SME-friendly regulations."

This integrated approach has yielded tangible results. Post-training evaluations reveal that 31% of participants enhanced their financial recording capabilities, 29% improved stock control systems, and 29% strengthened business planning processes.

The 2025 SBEC Forum: Scaling Up Cameroon's Entrepreneurs

The upcoming 2025 SBEC Forum focuses on 'Scaling Up: Expanding Youth and Women-Led SMEs in Cameroon.' Why this specific theme?

"Cameroon's economic future hinges on empowering its vibrant yet under-served SME sector," Namondo states emphatically. "Women lead 24% of businesses but face systemic barriers to growth. Similarly, youth entrepreneurs have the innovation but lack the support structures to scale."

The forum's theme directly addresses these realities. "We're focusing on scaling up because we have seen that starting businesses isn't enough; entrepreneurs need targeted support to grow their operations, formalize their businesses, and access larger markets."

Namondo outlines the forum's three primary objectives: "First, to diagnose policy gaps by assessing current support systems for women and youth entrepreneurs. Second, to drive reform, particularly around better access to finance and reduced informality.

And third, to foster partnerships that bridge public-private divides to strengthen infrastructure, education, and market access for 'Made in Cameroon' goods."

How will this year's forum differ from previous editions?

"In 2024, we focused primarily on evaluation and advocacy, examining existing SME policies, advocating for tax reforms, strengthening public-private partnerships, and addressing financing gaps," Namondo explains. "This year, we are shifting from diagnosis to delivery."

The 2025 forum will be more implementation-focused, with objectives including operationalizing policy recommendations from 2024 (particularly around the proposed Start-Up Act), facilitating direct market access through a new product exhibition platform, creating actionable partnerships between financial institutions and women/youth-led SMEs, implementing tech-driven solutions for business formalization, and establishing measurable commitments from stakeholders.

"Perhaps the most exciting additions are the product exhibition, speed mentoring and pitch sessions, and partnership matchmaking," Namondo says. "These reflect our commitment to creating immediate business opportunities for participants, not just policy discussions."

SBEC's Comprehensive Support Model

Beyond the annual forum, how does SBEC support entrepreneurs throughout the year?

"We provide a robust suite of programs designed to address the full lifecycle of SME growth," Namondo explains. "Our flagship 6-month business management training has equipped several entrepreneurs with critical skills in financial literacy, inventory control, and digital transformation."

SBEC's support extends beyond training. "We offer hands-on administrative support, including business registration assistance, accounting system implementation, and tax compliance guidance.

Our mentorship program connects entrepreneurs with seasoned industry experts for tailored advice, while our financial access initiatives develop bankable business plans and facilitate introductions to lending institutions."

The transition from informal to formal business seems particularly challenging in Cameroon. How does SBEC facilitate this process?
"We employ a practical approach," Namondo says.

"We have developed simplified tools like manual accounting systems specifically designed for low-literacy entrepreneurs. Concurrently, we advocate for policy reforms to reduce bureaucratic hurdles."

SBEC's strategy involves demonstrating the tangible benefits of formalization; including access to government contracts, banking services, and investor funding, providing both the means and motivation for informal businesses to transition. "Our partnerships with MINPMEESA ensure we can guide SMEs through every step of the compliance process."

Measuring Impact and Looking Forward

How does SBEC measure its impact, and what have been some of the most significant outcomes?

"We track our impact across four key dimensions," Namondo explains. "First, business growth, including formalization rates (70+ SMEs formalized), revenue and job growth (over 430 jobs created), and business survival rates."

"Second, ecosystem change, including policy adoption, financial access improvements (76+ funded business plans), and reduced informality. Third, capacity building, measured through skill retention and training outcomes. And fourth, systemic shifts, including policy influence through published briefs, private-sector linkages, and academic integration."

The statistics tell a compelling story. SBEC has delivered tangible results in catalyzing economic growth, developing customized accounting systems, accompanying over 70 entrepreneurs through the formalization process, and crafting bankable business plans.

What is your vision for SBEC's future, and what would you like to see achieved through the 2025 forum?

"Our vision is to create a more inclusive, resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem in Cameroon," Namondo states. "Through the 2025 SBEC Forum specifically, we aim to advance adoption of Cameroon's Start-Up Act, strengthen public-private partnerships for SME financing and distribution, increase formalization through showcased success stories, and deliver new partnerships between SMEs and financial institutions."

Looking beyond the forum, Namondo envisions SBEC continuing to expand its reach and deepen its impact. "We are particularly focused on scaling our support, reaching entrepreneurs in more remote regions, and strengthening our data collection to better demonstrate the ROI of investing in women and youth-led businesses."

As our conversation concludes, Namondo's message to potential participants and partners is clear: "Join us in transforming Cameroon's economic landscape by investing in its most dynamic entrepreneurs.

Whether you are a policymaker, financial institution, corporation, or entrepreneur, the 2025 SBEC Forum offers a unique opportunity to be part of creating sustainable, inclusive growth for our country."

The 2025 SBEC Forum will take place on April 29-30 at Djeuga Palace Hotel in Yaoundé, Cameroon. For more information, contact info@foretiafoundation.org, call (+237) 654 86 72 54, or register at foretiafoundation.org/2025-sbec-forum/