Moderator: Mr. ABDULKARIM NASSOUROU, Director of Youth Employment Promotion at the Ministry of Youth and Civic Education
Panel 4 of the Conference was devoted to the theme of Socio-Economic Insertion of Young People, a central pillar of the Ministry’s action and a critical priority within the national youth policy framework.
Moderated by Mr. ABDULKARIM NASSOUROU, Director of Youth Employment Promotion at the Ministry of Youth and Civic Education, this panel aimed to present the existing mechanisms for youth insertion, highlight best practices, and examine innovative pathways toward sustainable youth empowerment.
In his opening remarks, the Moderator first introduced the panel’s team of experts and programme coordinators. He then provided a concise overview of the various insertion mechanisms currently implemented by the Ministry, in order to frame and orient the presentations that followed.
The Path of the New Entrepreneur Toward Autonomy
In an introductory reflection, the Director of Youth Economic Promotion emphasized the importance of supporting young entrepreneurs beyond the creation phase, guiding them progressively toward autonomy, resilience, and sustainability.
“The real challenge is not only to create entrepreneurs, but to accompany them until they become autonomous and resilient actors of the economy,” he noted.
He underlined the need for mentoring, financial literacy, access to markets, and institutional support throughout the entrepreneurial journey.
Youth Connekt Cameroon: Connecting Youth to Opportunities
One of the major highlights of the panel was the presentation of the joint Government–United Nations Youth Connekt Cameroon Programme, delivered by Mathurin ESSAMA, Deputy Director of the programme.
In his introduction, he stated that:
“Youth Connekt is first and foremost a question of context.”
He explained that the programme was designed to respond to the specific socio-economic and cultural realities of Cameroonian youth. Its main objective is to connect young people to opportunities, peers, mentors, and institutions across the country.
Youth Connekt Cameroon seeks to accelerate youth insertion into employment while also addressing transversal issues such as:
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Gender equality
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Sexual and reproductive health education
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Prevention of sexually transmitted infections
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Leadership development
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Innovation and entrepreneurship
With components such as bootcamps, the Student Entrepreneur Challenge, and innovation platforms, Youth Connekt Cameroon has become a flagship initiative deeply anchored in the youth employment ecosystem.
Multifunctional Youth Promotion Centres (CMPJ)
Another key presentation was delivered by MVEME ATANGANA Dominique, Head of the CMPJ Ref Madagascar, who gave a comprehensive overview of the functioning of the Multifunctional Youth Promotion Centres (CMPJ).
He explained that these structures, which are attached services of the Ministry, operate as local opportunity hubs for young people. Their interventions range from youth mentoring and skills development to entrepreneurship initiation, professional orientation, and socio-economic integration.
He highlighted the importance of the REAMORCE mechanism and emphasized the strategic role of the Biometric Youth Card, which he described as an indispensable tool in the youth insertion process.
Despite the challenges faced, he noted that the CMPJs continue to produce encouraging results, thanks to their proximity-based approach and their ability to adapt to local realities.
The National Youth Observatory
Still within this framework, attention was drawn to the National Youth Observatory, a digital platform that constitutes one of the essential entry points in the youth insertion process.
It was revealed that more than 1,500,000 young people are currently registered on this platform, making it a major national tool for data-driven youth policy planning, monitoring, and coordination.
PAJER-U: Rural and Urban Youth Support Programme
The presentation by Henri BIHENG, Coordinator of PAJER-U, focused on the role of the Rural and Urban Youth Support Programme in youth empowerment.
He explained that PAJER-U intervenes both before and after financing, providing structured support across 17 value chains. He further highlighted the programme’s success in facilitating the transition of over 300 very small and medium-sized youth-led enterprises into fully recognized SMEs.
PARI-JEDI: Supporting the Return and Reintegration of Diaspora Youth
The Programme of Assistance for the Return and Reintegration of Diaspora Youth (PARI-JEDI) was presented by its Coordinator, EPOKO EPOKO.
He described the programme as a strategic bridge between Cameroonian youth living abroad and those residing in the country. Through its sub-programme DIALYJ, PARI-JEDI promotes joint ventures, skills transfer, and shared investment initiatives.
“PARI-JEDI is about reconnecting talents, experiences, and opportunities for the collective reconstruction of Cameroon,” he emphasized.
PARSE: Socio-Economic Resilience of Vulnerable Youth in Northern Cameroon
The panel concluded with a presentation on the Project for the Socio-Economic Resilience of Vulnerable Youth in Northern Cameroon (PARSE), delivered by Matias Rayna.
He highlighted the programme’s focus on vulnerable youth, particularly in fragile contexts, and its aim to strengthen resilience through training, entrepreneurship, community integration, and access to sustainable livelihoods.
