Yaoundé, 30 January 2026 (ECA) – To raise awareness for better protection, and to measure for better valuation: this was the core ambition of "Cameroon’s Blue Economy Week." Organized from January 24 to 30, 2026, by the Sub-Regional Office for Central Africa and the Regional Integration and Trade Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), this initiative demonstrated that environmental preservation, social protection, and economic prosperity are three inseparable dimensions of the same vision. While transforming aquatic resources into drivers of sustainable growth is vital for poverty reduction, it must not come at the expense of ecosystem balance and the lives and livelihoods of the communities who depend on them.
The journey began on January 24, along the shores of Douala, Limbe, and Buea. Moving beyond the formality of conference halls, ECA chose to anchor its action in the sand, alongside 500 young volunteers. Joining the fourth annual edition of the "Cameroon Beach Clean-up" was more than a sanitation exercise; it was a powerful act of civic responsibility and intergenerational solidarity.
Spanning the beaches of Douala (500 meters), Limbe (700 meters), and Buea (3 kilometers), this mobilization was led by the Association for Community Awareness (ASCOA), and conducted in partnership with other civil society organizations such as For Earth’s Sake and Earth Care Purpose. As a result, wesuccessfully removed 4.46 tons of waste. By clearing the coastlines of pollution, the volunteers underscored a fundamental truth: there can be no blue economy without a preserved environment.
As Jean Luc Mastaki, Director of the ECA Sub-Regional Office, noted: "Seeing these young people pull entire bags of plastic from the riverbanks reminds us that the blue economy is not just about figures and spreadsheets. It is rooted in the commitment of citizens who protect, every day, the ecosystems upon which our collective prosperity depends."
The transition to the technical phase in Yaoundé (January 27–30) translated this environmental urgency into strategic indicators. Cameroon has now joined the growing circle of African nations implementing the ECA’s Blue Economy Valuation Toolkit(BEVTK), a vital compass for guiding public policy.
Preliminary data highlights the sector's critical importance: the blue economy already accounts for 5.8% of national GDP and supports 3% of all jobs in Cameroon. Even more striking is the estimated value of ecosystem services (those often-overlooked natural benefits) which stands at 22.6 trillion CFA francs.
"We can only value what we can measure," emphasized Adama Ekberg Coulibaly, Head of the Sub-Regional Initiatives Section at the ECA. This assessment is far from a mere accounting exercise; it is an act of protection for the communities whose survival depends directly on the health of our waters.
The success of this week rests primarily on the ownership of these tools by national stakeholders. Intensive training for government officials, private sector representatives, and civil society members has forged a robust technical core. By mastering the BEVTK, these experts are becoming the architects of an inclusive blue economy, capable of steering national strategy in alignment with Cameroon’s Vision 2035 and the NDS30.
Soumaya Iraqui, Head of the Economic Diversification Policy Reforms Section at the ECA, stated: "Our ultimate satisfaction lies in the national partners' ability to deeply grasp the BEVTK logic, enrich local data, and translate results into impactful messages for policymakers, ensuring the autonomous update of this assessment in the future."
Supported by Denmark (DANIDA), this initiative marks the start of a profound movement. Cameroon is no longer merely exploiting its resources; it is learning to cherish and manage them with intelligence, securing a prosperous future for generations to come.
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Zacharie Roger MBARGA - Communications Officer
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
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