Under the high patronage of the Prime Minister, the 7ᵗʰ edition of the NSED kicked off on Tuesday at the Ongola A Samba Hall of the Central Regional Council. Social innovation, territorial development, and the structuring of key stakeholders are at the heart of the discussions.
The 7ᵗʰ edition of the National Social Economy Days (NSED) was officially launched in Yaoundé on August 5, 2025, by the Minister of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts, Achille Bassilekin III, representing the Prime Minister, Head of Government.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gabriel Mbairobe, and the Swiss Ambassador to Cameroon, Natalie Kohli.
A major national event held every two years
Organized since 2013 by the Ministry of SMEs, Social Economy and Handicrafts, the NSED is a key biennial event focused on social economy. It serves as a platform for reflection, experience-sharing, and showcasing the know-how of Social Economy Units (SEUs).
The 2025 edition is held under the theme:
“Promoting Social Innovation and Developing Networks in Local Communities.”
Social innovation for inclusive development
Over three days, 300 participants – including elected officials, local government representatives, technical and financial partners, social economy networks, sectoral ministries, and MINPMEESA officials – will take part in thematic discussions and an exhibition fair.
The main objective is to strengthen the innovation capacity of social economy stakeholders in order to drive sustainable and inclusive local development. Key goals include:
Highlighting innovative social initiatives;
Assessing actors’ skills and innovation capabilities;
Proposing mechanisms to finance networks;
Exploring the creation of specialized social economy incubators.
A catalyst for growth and decent jobs
The social economy is now recognized not only as a crucial tool in the fight against poverty and social exclusion, but also as a strategic lever for wealth creation and decent employment at the local level.
Ongoing initiatives by the Ministry – such as the accelerated structuring of SEUs, the organization of cooperative markets, and the capacity-building of local executives – will be reinforced in line with the resolutions of the FORA’ESS, held in May 2024 at the Yaoundé Conference Centre.