Following Douala, Yaoundé, and Ngaoundéré, the initiative to integrate innovation and intellectual property into the economic empowerment of women in agribusiness and young female engineers continued in Dschang, in western Cameroon. From January 19 to 23, 2026, the city hosted a new series of training workshops jointly organized by OAPI and UNFPA Cameroon, with support from WIPO and the University of Dschang.
A strategic partnership serving women's innovation
This step is part of a clear ambition: to create a collaborative ecosystem between women in agribusiness and young female scientists in the Western region. The objective is to identify and develop innovative solutions capable of improving the production, processing, preservation, and marketing of agricultural products brought to market by women.
The numbers speak for themselves: a major role, but still undervalued
According to data provided by UNFPA, women's contribution to the Cameroonian economy is considerable. They produce nearly 80% of the food and represent approximately 62% of the agricultural workforce. Despite this crucial role, they continue to face structural inequalities that hinder the full realization of their potential.
In the area of intellectual property, figures shared by the OAPI reveal that women represent only about 15% of patent holders. Yet, obtaining a patent is a powerful lever for productivity, potentially increasing income by 30 to 50% depending on the type of innovation protected.
Voices committed to changing the game
Representing the Director General of OAPI, Ms. Magui NNOKO KOUBITOBO, Director of Foresight and Cooperation, emphasized:
"Beyond the technical aspects, these workshops are an opportunity to encourage reflection on concrete solutions to the challenges encountered in agribusiness, where technologies can play a vital role in adding value to agricultural products."
For her part, the representative of the UNFPA Resident Representative in Cameroon reiterated the strategic importance of protecting innovations:
"For women farmers and processors, patenting a unique process can transform a small-scale business into a player in the formal market. A monopoly on production is a way to secure their investment and increase their profit margin."
A collaborative dynamic in the making
With nearly 70 participants already trained since the launch of the series of workshops, the Dschang session concluded with a constructive dialogue aimed at identifying common interests and laying the groundwork for future collaboration between the target groups.
It was agreed, in particular, to establish a collaborative platform to foster the development of participatory projects. The best of these projects will receive technical and financial support to accelerate their implementation and economic impact through intellectual property rights in terms of invention or even branding, such as trademarks or innovative models that meet the needs of Cameroonian consumers.
Five days of training to transform know-how into commercial value
For five days, OAPI, UNFPA, WIPO, and the University of Dschang combined their expertise to provide participants with essential tools for transforming their know-how into sustainable economic and social value. The discussions, marked by strong engagement from the women, confirmed the immense potential for innovation in agriculture, technology, and entrepreneurship.
