Global efforts to advance sustainable development highlight the potential of aquatic ecosystems as drivers of inclusive and climate-resilient growth. The blue economy refers to the sustainable use of all bodies of water, both marine and inland, to generate economic, social, and environmental benefits. In 2015, the African Union adopted its Integrated Maritime Strategy, followed in 2020 by the African Blue Economy Strategy. To support evidence-based policymaking, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) developed the Blue Economy Valuation Toolkit (BEVTK) in 2020, which has already been applied in several African countries.
In Central Africa, interest in the blue economy has been growing alongside the search for new pathways for diversification, industrialization, and inclusion, as articulated in the 2017 Douala Consensus. ECCAS adopted a regional strategy aligned with the African Union framework, which highlights existing gaps in knowledge and in harmonized valuation methodologies. This momentum was further strengthened by the 2025 International Conference on the Blue Economy in the Gulf of Guinea, held in Yaoundé, whose Declaration calls for increased investment in data, finance, science, and innovation, and recognizes the BEVTK presented by ECA as a reference tool.
Cameroon has taken significant steps to make the blue economy a pillar of sustainable development. The Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (MINEPIA) is leading the development of a National Blue Economy Strategy. In parallel, the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT) is collaborating with ECA on several initiatives, including the deployment of the BEVTK to produce a first socioeconomic and environmental valuation in support of this strategy.
At this stage, the objective is not to achieve a “perfect” result, but rather to establish a common methodological foundation, test valuation approaches using available data, and generate initial orders of magnitude. The exercise also aims to build a core group of technical staff from MINEPAT, MINEPIA, the National Institute of Statistics, and other public institutions, who will continue and deepen the work on measuring and monitoring the blue economy. This week is part of that approach: launching a first structured assessment, strengthening national capacities, and creating a space for dialogue to consolidate these efforts and anchor them within the country’s policies and statistical systems.
 

Concept Note [Français]