Cameroon Urged to Adopt Circular Economy Model to Tackle Waste Crisis, Youth Unemployment

By Mbuh Stella, Addis Ababa

As Africa pushes forward with its Continental Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP 2024–2034), experts are calling on Cameroon to accelerate national policy reforms that would embed circular economy principles into its development strategy.

The move, they say, could transform the country’s growing waste problem into an opportunity for economic growth and youth employment.

Speaking at the Africa Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) high-level session with African Journalists, at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) headquarters in Addis Ababa, leaders from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation emphasized that the circular economy is not just an environmental agenda but it is a development solution for Africa’s next generation.

“Circular economy is about using resources that we have for development without being wasteful, being efficient with the resources that we have,” said Davinah Milenge Uwella, Chief Programme Coordinator at the African Development Bank.

“Within circular economy we have regenerative resources. The AfDB’s 10-Year Strategy (2024–2033) includes circular economy as one of the key initiatives to protect nature through nature-based solutions in agriculture, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and especially in waste management,” Uwella said.

Why Circular Economy Matters for Cameroon

Cameroon’s urban centers, particularly Douala, Yaounde, Buea and Bamenda, are drowning under the weight of unmanaged waste.

According to the World Bank, Cameroon’s cities produce an estimated six million tonnes of solid waste annually, most of which end up in open dumpsites or informal landfills.

E-waste alone accounts for more than 23,000 tonnes a year, with less than 10 percent properly processed.

Meanwhile, statistics from the National Institute of statistics indicate that youth unemployment stands at 39.3 percent, a figure that experts say could be reduced through green innovation and recycling enterprises.

Transitioning to a circular economy model where materials are reused, recycled, and repurposed rather than discarded could create thousands of sustainable jobs while reducing the country’s dependency on imported raw materials.

“We have a lot of youthful population on the continent,” Uwella added. “So how do we finance those? How do we scale them? Through facilities such as the Africa Circular Economy Facility (ACEF), we can tap into the SMEs that need finance and the policy levers that make such financing possible. You need policy to drive finance.”

Experts Warn: Policy Gaps Risk Slowing Momentum

While many African nations, including Rwanda, Nigeria, and South Africa, have begun implementing national circular economy policies, Cameroon still lacks a formal strategy.

“As far as I actually know, Cameroon does not yet have a circular economy policy in place,” said Dr. Sophie Moggs, Policy Analyst at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

“Even so, the fact that journalists and organizations are now talking about circular economy is very important. By identifying local examples, Cameroon can find what barriers exist and begin to address them through government-business dialogue.”

Dr. Moggs described the circular economy as “a systems solution to our triple planetary crisis” which are environmental degradation, climate change, and resource scarcity, stressing that fragmented efforts could stall progress without strong policy coordination.

“We need policies that talk to each other across climate, biodiversity, and industry agendas,” she said.

“And we need to focus on sectors with the biggest impact: plastics and packaging, fashion and textiles, the built environment, electronics, and food and agriculture.”

Economic Incentives for Growth and Innovation

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, the circular economy could unlock $8 trillion in economic benefits globally by 2030, while helping countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 40 percent. For Cameroon, this approach aligns with its Vision 2035 Development Plan and could attract new investment through green financing mechanisms such as the AfDB’s ACEF and EU-AU cooperation frameworks.

“Circular economy is anchored in behavior change,” Uwella noted.

“The media is very critical in ensuring the right message gets sent out and creating platforms where practitioners can showcase their good practices.”

Dr. Moggs also emphasized the importance of design and innovation.

“Waste is a human invention,” she said. “If both businesses and policymakers think from a design perspective, making products more durable and recyclable, they can start creating tangible outcomes. Policies should set clear standards for product design and support secondary materials markets.”

Cameroon’s Missed Opportunity and the Way Forward

Analysts say Cameroon risks falling behind regional peers if it fails to act swiftly. The African Union’s Circular Economy Action Plan offers technical and financial support for countries ready to embed circularity into national development agendas.

Adopting a national circular economy policy could: create thousands of green jobs for youth in recycling, repair, and upcycling sectors, enhance climate resilience through cleaner production and energy efficiency, while boosting innovation and small business competitiveness across industries.

A Call for Policy Action

As global partners push for a sustainable future, Cameroon’s shift toward a circular economy could become a game-changer, turning the country’s waste crisis into an engine for innovation and inclusive growth.

“If you can start talking to the government about it in a way that will generate jobs for the future, economic growth, and climate resilience, then real progress can happen,” Dr. Moggs concluded.

“You need policy to drive finance,” Uwella added. “There are markers around policy that enable finance flow to where it’s needed.”

With Africa’s youthful population and finite natural resources, Cameroon’s adoption of a circular economy could signal more than just reform. It could define a new economic future that is cleaner, smarter, and more inclusive.