ILO Deepens Partnership with Cameroon to Drive Jobs for Youth and Women

The visit comes at a critical time for Cameroon, where demographic pressures and economic transition are intensifying the need for scalable, inclusive job creation strategies.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has reinforced its commitment to supporting Cameroon's employment agenda following a high-level visit by its Regional Director for Africa, Fanfan Rwanyindo Kayirangwa. The two-day mission has set the stage for a renewed and results-driven partnership aimed at tackling unemployment and expanding decent work opportunities—particularly for young people and women.

The visit comes at a critical time for Cameroon, where demographic pressures and economic transition are intensifying the need for scalable, inclusive job creation strategies. With youth making up a significant share of the population, policymakers are under increasing pressure to convert growth into sustainable employment outcomes.

Aligning Global Expertise with National Priorities

At the heart of the discussions was the Presidential Special Programme for Youth and Women's Employment, a flagship initiative designed to accelerate job creation and improve working conditions across sectors. The ILO has pledged to provide technical expertise across the full policy cycle—from programme design and implementation to monitoring and evaluation.

"Cameroon can count on the International Labour Organization to continue providing its expertise and technical support to ensure the success of the Presidential Special Programme for Youth and Women's Employment," Ms Kayirangwa said.

Officials say the collaboration will focus on delivering measurable, high-impact results, moving beyond policy commitments to tangible improvements in employment access and job quality.

High-Level Engagement Signals Strong Political Backing

During the mission, Ms Kayirangwa held talks with Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute, signalling strong political support for deepened cooperation with the ILO. The discussions highlighted the Government's interest in leveraging international expertise to strengthen implementation frameworks and maximise programme impact.

The Regional Director was accompanied by Claude Yao Kouame, head of the ILO's Decent Work Technical Support Team for Central Africa, who will oversee follow-up actions—ensuring continuity between commitments and execution on the ground.

Strengthening Social Dialogue and Labour Standards

Meetings with the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Grégoire Owona, underscored the importance of social dialogue as a cornerstone of effective labour policy. Both sides agreed on the need to revitalise engagement between government, employers, and workers to ensure stability and policy coherence.

Key priorities identified include:

• Strengthening workers' protection frameworks

• Enhancing compliance with international labour standards

• Promoting tripartite cooperation in policy design and implementation

• Improving enforcement mechanisms to ensure real-world impact

Experts note that stronger social dialogue can help reduce labour disputes, improve productivity, and create more resilient labour markets.

Focus on Skills, Employability, and Innovation

Youth employment and skills development featured prominently in discussions with the Minister of Youth and Civic Education, Mounouna Foutsou. The ILO will support reforms to vocational training systems, ensuring they are better aligned with labour market demands.

This includes:

• Developing industry-relevant training programmes

• Expanding access to skills development for informal and untrained youth

• Promoting innovative pathways for socio-professional integration

• Encouraging entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities

With many young people lacking formal qualifications, the emphasis on inclusive training models is seen as critical to reducing unemployment and underemployment.

Inclusive Growth and Support for Vulnerable Groups

Beyond core employment programmes, the mission also explored broader socio-economic challenges, including the integration of migrants and internally displaced persons (IDPs) into the labour market.

In collaboration with national institutions and United Nations agencies, the ILO will support initiatives aimed at:

• Creating jobs that contribute to peacebuilding and social stability

• Expanding economic opportunities in fragile and conflict-affected areas

• Supporting vulnerable youth through targeted employment programmes

This integrated approach reflects a growing recognition that employment policy must also address issues of resilience, inclusion, and social cohesion.

Tripartism at the Core of Reform

Consultations with employers' and workers' organisations reaffirmed the importance of tripartism, a defining principle of the ILO that brings together governments, businesses, and labour representatives.

This collaborative model is expected to play a central role in:

• Designing effective employment policies

• Ensuring buy-in from all stakeholders

• Enhancing enterprise productivity and competitiveness

• Strengthening accountability in implementation

A Roadmap for Measurable Impact

At the conclusion of the mission, Ms Kayirangwa emphasised that the success of the partnership will depend on implementation and measurable outcomes, not just policy alignment.

The agreed action framework is expected to include:

• Clear performance indicators for job creation

• Monitoring systems to track progress

• Capacity-building for institutions involved in delivery

• Ongoing technical support from the ILO

Looking Ahead

As Cameroon works to address structural employment challenges, the strengthened partnership with the ILO signals a shift toward more coordinated, evidence-based policymaking. With a focus on youth, women, and vulnerable populations, the initiative aims to translate economic potential into inclusive growth.

"The commitment is clear," Ms Kayirangwa said. "We will continue to support Cameroon in implementing inclusive and sustainable policies, in the service of social justice and decent work for all."

The outcomes of this mission are expected to shape the next phase of Cameroon's employment strategy—placing decent work at the centre of national development efforts.