Adaptive Social Safety Net and Economic Inclusion Project: CCIMA North West Announces Major Business Plan Competition
The Regional Delegate of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Crafts (CCIMA) for the North West Region, Edison Fru Ndi, has announced the launch of a major Business Plan Competition Program under the framework of the Adaptive Social Safety Net and Economic Inclusion Project.
This strategic initiative is designed to empower young entrepreneurs and strengthen Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) across the region. Through structured capacity building, mentorship, and financial support, the program seeks to promote inclusive economic growth, enhance resilience, and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for youths and vulnerable groups. The competition forms part of broader efforts to stimulate local production, encourage innovation, and accelerate economic transformation in the North West Region.
The announcement was made through an official communiqué issued from the CCIMA North West Regional Delegation in Bamenda on Thursday February 12, 2026. The initiative, which falls under the Adaptive Safety Nets and Economic Inclusion Project, according to Edison Fru Ndi, targets youths, startups, and enterprise promoters who are seeking to expand viable business ideas into sustainable sources of income and employment.
According to the communiqué, the program aligns with the national development vision articulated by the Head of State during the 60th National Youth Day celebrations, where youth entrepreneurship and job creation were reaffirmed as central pillars of Cameroon’s economic future. By translating this vision into concrete action at the regional level, the CCIMA North West Regional Delegation aims to foster resilience, innovation, and inclusive growth in a context marked by economic challenges.
Under the Business Plan Competition, a total of 150 youths from the North West Region will be selected to benefit from substantial financial support. Successful applicants will receive grants ranging from 5,500,000 FCFA to 11,000,000 FCFA, depending on the strength, feasibility, and growth potential of their business proposals. The funding is intended to help young entrepreneurs scale up operations, invest in innovation, and create jobs within their communities.
Eligibility for the program is open to Cameroonian nationals aged between 18 and 35 years who are already engaged in a startup or enterprise, preferably one that has been operational for one to three years. Both formal and informal businesses are eligible, provided the project presented is viable, scalable, and already operational in the city of Bamenda. While entrepreneurs from all sectors of the economy are encouraged to apply, particular emphasis is placed on activities with strong growth potential, including agro-processing, industry, construction, digital services, and other innovation-driven ventures.
Applications for the competition will be submitted exclusively through an official online platform, which is expected to become operational in March 2026. Once the platform is launched, candidates will have a six-week window to complete registration and submit their business plans.
In anticipation of this timeline, the CCIMA North West Regional Delegation has urged youths to begin preparing their concept notes and detailed business plans ahead of the official opening.
To support applicants throughout the process, the CCIMA office in Bamenda has made provisions to offer advisory and technical assistance. This support will include guidance on refining business ideas, assistance with business registration procedures, and clarification of eligibility and compliance requirements, to ensure that young entrepreneurs are well-prepared to compete successfully.
Describing the initiative as a practical pathway to economic empowerment, the communiqué calls on the youths of the North West Region to seize the opportunity presented by the Business Plan Competition. The program, it concludes, represents a concrete response to the national call for perseverance, innovation, and responsible entrepreneurship, and a strategic step toward rebuilding and transforming the regional economy through youth-led enterprise.
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