The IECD in Cameroon is developing its activities in several sectors: agriculture and agri-food, industry and the hotel and catering industry.

Since 1992, IECD’s Écoles Familiales Agricoles (EFA) programme has been training young people in agricultural trades and supporting their professional integration. It offers a complete training programme with fulfilling prospects for the students of its partner centres.

Since 1998, through the support programme for Very Small Enterprises (VSEs), the IECD has been strengthening the entrepreneurial fabric of Cameroon with its local partner, Cameroun Entreprises Développement (CED). It offers training courses for small business managers. Since 2024, it has been developing new training and support programmes based on the skills-based approach (SBA).

In 2014, two new projects were launched with the aim of stimulating the rural economy in Cameroon.

• The TRANSFORM project aims to facilitate the scaling-up of entrepreneurs in the agri-food sector by offering them continuous access to two modern production centres, thereby encouraging professional innovation and networking with players in the sector.
• The Agricultural Development project supports those involved in market gardening by promoting the produce from their farms and ensuring fair distribution under the ‘Les Potagers de Bafou’ brand.

In 2022, the IECD launches 3 new projects:

• The ‘Graines d’Espérance’ project prepares young people’s access to employment by offering technical and vocational training in industry and construction. It supports the CEFTI in improving the training reference framework and the practical workshop in the electrical engineering sector.
• The project to experiment with training standards in the agri-food sector, in partnership with the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training (MINEFOP) and two vocational training centres (Ben’s Butcher and the Obala Agricultural Institute (IAO)).
• The Hospitality & Catering programme strengthens the ‘Sorawell’ vocational training centre, which targets young girls wishing to follow the various training courses on offer.

Finally, since 2023, the IECD has been working in consortium with ESSOR on the RELIEEF regional project – Renforcer l’Insertion par l’Emploi et l’Entrepreneuriat des Femmes – which aims to reduce gender inequalities in the integration of young people in 4 target countries: Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo.