By Boris Esono Nwenfor & Ngunyi Sonita Nwohtazie
YAOUNDE, Cameroon – The Third Central Africa Think Tank Forum, convened by the Nkafu Policy Institute, a think tank of the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation, opened on Thursday, August 7, in Yaoundé with a resounding call for bold, evidence-based action to address the region’s deepening socio-economic and governance challenges.
The 2025 Central Africa Think Tank Forum is expected to strengthen networks, increase visibility for Think Tanks and CSOs, Actionable Strategies for Governance and Economic Reforms and capacity building. The 2025 Central Africa Think Tank Forum provides a unique platform for advancing policy dialogue and fostering collaboration between key stakeholders in Central Africa. By bringing together thought leaders, civil society, and policymakers, this forum will play a critical role in shaping the future of governance, economic development, and regional integration.
A key focus of the forum is addressing practical challenges, such as maintaining think tank independence while engaging governments, building research capacity rooted in community realities, and creating sustainable funding models.
Speaking to the press, Dr Denis Foretia, Co-Chair of the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation and Executive Chairman of the Nkafu Policy Institute, underscored the urgent need for policy reform guided by rigorous evidence. “We must bring public policy to the forefront,” Dr. Foretia said.
“We want to ensure that we support governments and our policy processes in Central Africa to enact the correct and evidence-informed policies in the first place. Because once bad policies are in place, it becomes very difficult to remove them.”
Focusing particularly on the business climate, Dr Foretia emphasised that lowering tax burdens could be a strategic move to drive investment and economic growth in the sub-region. He said, “There are opportunities to reduce taxes to improve the business environment. Stimulating economic growth in Central Africa starts with smarter, more inclusive economic policies.”
Think Tanks Should Be Grounded In Local Realities
Echoing that sentiment was Professor Jean-Emmanuel Podi, Vice Chancellor of the ICT University, who cautioned that for think tanks to be truly impactful, they must be grounded in local realities. “Think tanks must produce contextualised solutions. We cannot simply repeat what is said elsewhere. We must develop proposals tailored to our own needs,” Prof. Podi said.
“We must be financially autonomous. We cannot claim independence if we constantly rely on others to fund our work.”
Prof. Podi also criticised African education systems for failing to prepare young people to solve local problems, instead fostering dependency on external aid or migration.
“Our curricula do not train people to solve their problems. We must build a self-reliant generation that stays and builds the future of this continent.”
The forum, held under the theme “Shaping the Future: The Role of Think Tanks and Civil Society in Central Africa’s Policy Processes”, comes at a critical time. The Central Africa region continues to struggle with low development indicators, high unemployment, especially among youth and widening inequalities. It also remains the least integrated region on the continent.
Central Africa Region Faces Complex Socio-Political
The Central Africa region faces complex socio-political, economic, and governance challenges. These include slow democratic reforms, rising inequality, underdevelopment, and limited participation of civil society in policy-making processes. As countries in the region strive to implement the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the role of think tanks and civil society organisations (CSOs) in driving informed public policy and governance reforms has never been more critical.
For Wanah Bumakor Immanuel, a participant, the forum is a much-needed turning point. “This forum is important because the Central African region is suffering,” he said. “Civil society can play a key role in creating solutions and pushing governments to act on policies that meet the needs of the people.”
He added that the discussions so far had sparked hope. “We’ve talked about developing African solutions to global challenges, not always importing ideas from the West. We need strategies that drive employment, create wealth, and revive the private sector. That’s how we’ll see real impact.”
Now in its third edition, the Think Tank Forum has grown into a vital platform for regional collaboration. It builds on progress made over the last two years, including joint research initiatives on inequality, informality, women’s rights, and governance involving more than 20 Central African think tanks.
The message is clear: Central Africa’s transformation will not come from outside. It will come from the bold ideas, strong institutions, and collaborative spirit of its people. “This forum is not just a meeting,” Dr Foretia concluded. “It’s a movement toward reshaping our policy future, with evidence, with purpose, and with unity.”
About the Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation
The Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation was established to catalyse 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 partners with local governments, policymakers, private enterprises, civil society organisations, and development partners to expand resources available to entrepreneurs, farmers, and small business owners, thereby improving individual livelihoods.
About the Nkafu Policy Institute
The Nkafu Policy Institute is an African think tank with a mission to provide independent, in-depth, and insightful policy recommendations that enable all Africans to prosper in free, fair, democratic, and sustainable economies. The Institute’s team of analysts, experts, and researchers works on governance and democracy, health and education, peace and security, science and technology, and economic policy.
