By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Officials from the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT) are working to position the 2020-2030 National Development Strategy (NDS30),as a primary engine for the inclusion of women and young people.
This effort was the focus of MINEPAT’s 2026 Annual Conference of Officials of Central and Devolved Services, held from 27-28 January in Yaoundé. The event, chaired by the Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey, drew ministry officials alongside development and financial partners.
This year’s conference was themed, “Making the NDS30 a Real Tool for the Inclusion of Young People and Women during the Seven-Year Term of Great Expectations.”
Opening the conference, Minister Ousmane Mey described it as “an eagerly anticipated event” and “a propitious moment for comprehensive evaluation,” allowing for deep, participatory and forward-looking reflection.
He linked the theme to Cameroon’s broader context and its Vision 2035 for emergence, which is being implemented through the NDS30. Minister Ousmane Mey noted that President Paul Biya’s recent speech during the current presidential term, characterized by greatness and hope, serves as a primary guide for the ministry’s actions.
Amid persistent challenges like unemployment, the Minister stated the Ministry is following the head of state’s repeated directives by dedicating this year’s discussions to youth and women’s inclusion. The goal, he said, is to harness the country’s demographic dividend through targeted investments in human capital.
According to Minister Ousmane Mey, labor-intensive approaches (HIMO) stand out as a key strategy for rapidly creating productive jobs, especially in high-absorption sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure and digital technology. Their success, he said, hinges on better integration into sectoral policies, sufficient funding and coordination with other development tools.
“The annual conference offers a valuable forum for formulating concrete proposals to optimize HIMO approaches and other acceleration levers,” Minister Ousmane Mey said. “This aims to sustainably strengthen the economic inclusion of youth and women in implementing the NDS30.”
He stressed the need to examine HIMO activities in detail, including types, sectors and legal frameworks to ensure they play a decisive role.
During the conference, discussions center on two sub-themes. The first, “Assessment and projection of the priorities to be included in the NDS30: the place of youth and women,” was moderated by Minister Delegate Paul Tasong. It featured objective analyses of current inclusion levels, highlighting achievements, ongoing challenges and strategic priorities for reinforcement.
The second, “Labor-intensive approaches and other levers for accelerating the inclusion of youth and women in the implementation of the NDS30,” was led by MINEPAT Secretary General Jean Tchoffo. It focused on optimizing HIMO and related tools to boost economic inclusion and enhance the impact of public interventions.
The two-day conference concluded on 28 January with key recommendations to advance these goals. Participants also presented New Year wishes to Minister Ousmane Mey and to Paul Tasong, the Minister Delegate for Planning at MINEPAT.
The NDS30 is Cameroon’s roadmap for structural economic transformation and inclusive development through to 2030, aligning with the long-term Vision 2035 to make the country an emerging, democratic nation united in diversity. By prioritizing youth and women group often facing barriers to employment and opportunity – the ministry seeks to translate national strategies into tangible gains amid economic pressures.