Central Africa is at a strategic turning point. Facing an uncertain global environment (geopolitical tensions, climate change, supply chain disruptions), the region remains highly exposed to external shocks. This vulnerability is structural: the economy is characterized by a heavy reliance on extractive exports (extraction accounts for 26% of GDP), very low intra-regional trade (only 2.8% of total exports), and a narrow productive base. For instance, manufacturing contributes only 14% of GDP.
To bridge this transformation gap, the Sub-regional Office for Central Africa of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in partnership with ECCAS, CEMAC, and the United Nations System, is organizing a High-Level Regional Conference in Yaoundé on November 26th and 27th, 2025.
The main objective is to build a coalition for transformative financing and strengthen the region's capacity to mobilize sustainable financing for diversification projects. This initiative aims to channel resources toward high-impact bankable projects aligned with three strategic pillars:
-
Developing productive capacities, given that Central Africa scores below the African average on the UNCTAD Productive Capacities Index (PCI), with a score of 29.1.
-
Strengthening regional trade integration, particularly by better integrating SMEs and formalizing the crucial informal cross-border trade (ICBT).
-
Leveraging the Blue Economy, an underexploited sector whose annual value in Africa is projected to reach US$576 billion by 2063.
This initiative has been unanimously welcomed by major Development Finance Institutions (DFIs). The World Bank, for example, announced a portfolio of regional projects of US$300 million each in the Congo Basin and the blue economy. AfDB, Afreximbank, and BDEAC have also confirmed their commitment through various instruments (climate window, Congo Basin Blue Fund, support schemes for exporting SMEs).
The conference is expected to lead to concrete outcomes:
- The training of 30 to 40 policymakers on sustainable financing mechanisms (blended, green/blue finance).
- The validation of at least two priority regional bankable projects, such as the Regional SME/RVC Competitiveness Program and the Regional Blue Economy Training Center.
-
The adoption of a Joint Communiqué consolidating the endorsement of Member States and the expressions of interest for financing from the DFIs.