Yaounde: Stakeholders exchanging, networking at Connected Cameroon Forum.

The three-day event, which wraps up today, is organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany and Goethe-Institute in Cameroon.

For three days, the high-level gathering will facilitate and encourage encounters and exchanges between participants. The forum will include training workshops with four main speakers.

Speaking at the start of the forum, the Director of Goethe-Institut Kamerun, Thekla Worch-Ambara explained that the Connected Cameroon project provides a platform for exchange and networking for organisations, associations, and Start-Ups among others.

This, she stressed, was particularly in the fields of education, culture, and digitality in Cameroon.

According to Thekla, the Connected Cameroon Forum, represents a unique opportunity to go beyond the institution’s traditional partner networks and support the creation of new connections.

“The original idea assumes that there are countless different approaches, methods and impact models in Cameroonian society, which remain too confined to their regional sphere of influence. The forum aims to break this down and enable people to engage in dialogue with initiatives that may be unknown to them until now,” Thekla said.

Enter German Ambassador rep

The representative of the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Knut Zuchan, underscored the importance of the gathering stating that the approach based on physical exchanges, and capacity building guarantees success.

He added that the forum also strengthens the Germano-Cameroon relationship which is key in several areas.

The federal foreign office, which he said was the Ministry of Foreign affairs, has put in place several programs to support the activities of civil society specifically in sub-Saharan African and the Middle East.

Zuchan stressed that it was not to influence these organisations and their work but to enhance their capacity, so that they can work in their respective societies.

He added that Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs, not only provide essential services to society in various sectors such as healthcare, community development but also ensure that citizens' voices are heard in decision making processes.

Zuchan went further to shower praises on Goethe Institut in Kamerun for developing such an impactful and transformative concept.

He told participants that: “this forum is the first major milestone of connected Cameroon. The Goethe Institut will stay by your side to develop your ideas and see your projects thrive”.

One of the highlights of the event was the keynote address by Prof Armand Leka Essomba on empowerment and social cohesion. 

There were other presentations on Strategic and operational planning, project writing, financial planning and reporting, legal framework and reporting and evaluation.

About Goethe-Institut

Goethe-Institut Kamerun is a branch of Goethe-Institut, Germany’s globally active cultural institute. It is located in Yaounde.

Goethe-Institut promotes knowledge of the German language, cultivates international cultural cooperations and provides information about cultural, social and political life of Germany.

Their global network consists of 150 Goethe-Institutes in 99 countries, along with numerous partner institutions. In Cameroon, they have been part of a lively network in arts, culture and education since 1961.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3568 of Thursday September 18, 2025