How UN-Backed Digital Hubs Are Opening the Internet to Cameroon's Informal Traders

Before the Internet Arrived

Nearly 90% of Cameroon’s workforce operates in the informal economy, including street vendors, artisans, and small-scale traders who keep markets alive but often struggle to grow. Many rely on cash, lack access to credit, and have little exposure to digital tools or wider markets. The problem isn’t their talent but the lack of opportunity.

A new partnership between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Cameroon and the MTN Foundation is trying to change that. Young entrepreneurs, especially women, are receiving hands-on training in digital marketing, online business management, and practical technology use. The UNDP and the International Trade Centre (ITC) are extending this effort through e-commerce initiatives focused on branding, market research, and access to national and regional marketplaces. These programs are giving local businesses the digital confidence to compete and grow.

For many traders, going online is no longer a distant idea but a practical path to earning more and reaching beyond their usual stalls. The quiet rise of these digital entrepreneurs shows a changing rhythm in Cameroon’s trading culture, often seen as steady, hopeful, and human.

Many of the traders now venturing online come from this same informal economy, which contributes about 24% of Cameroon’s GDP. Street vendors, artisans, small-scale farmers, and micro-enterprises make up this backbone, though most operate without registration or formal recognition. Access to credit remains limited, government support is inconsistent, and business networks often exclude those without formal credentials. Growth becomes an uphill task for anyone outside the formal sector.

Digital adoption hasn’t been smooth either. Internet access in Cameroon sits around 42%–44%, and connectivity is heavily concentrated in cities like Douala and Yaoundé. Rural communities often rely on unstable connections, if they have any at all. On top of that, mobile data costs can consume about 36.3% of daily income per gigabyte, making regular online activity nearly impossible for low-income traders. Many still depend on basic phones rather than smartphones, while limited digital literacy further deepens the divide. Women and youth in rural areas feel this gap most, locked out of online markets that could expand their reach.

Physical access also slows progress. Only 10% of the country’s roughly 50,000 kilometers of roads are paved, leaving traders vulnerable to transport delays, higher costs, and market disruptions. Moving goods across borders within the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) region becomes even more complicated, with poor road quality and outdated systems adding to expenses. Payments remain mostly cash-based, and cross-border transfers are slow and costly. Few traders have access to electronic payment tools like ATMs or POS terminals, which limits efficiency for both sellers and buyers.

Before digital initiatives took root, local markets dictated income. Seasonal demand shifts, economic shocks, and limited mobility kept small businesses confined to familiar buyers. For many people, informal trade was the only practical route. Women traders faced extra constraints from capital shortages and social expectations, leaving them even more isolated from broader economic opportunities.

The recent wave of digital training programs builds directly on these long-standing challenges. Through targeted partnerships, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) are helping traders develop the skills and confidence to navigate online markets. Their approach feels practical and grounded, focusing on tools traders can use immediately, such as e-commerce basics, mobile payments, branding, and market research. Many participants describe learning how to manage online sales, communicate with customers, and handle transactions securely for the first time.

The ITC SME Trade Academy has taken this further with Cameroon-specific courses tailored to the country’s bilingual context. Lessons are available in both French and English and address topics such as digital marketing, inventory management, and customer engagement. Women and youth, often left behind in digital spaces, are placed at the center of these programs. Trainers offer mentorship and one-on-one guidance, recognizing that many participants start with little exposure to technology.

These initiatives tie closely to Cameroon’s National E-Commerce Strategy, developed with the Commonwealth Secretariat and coordinated through the Ministry of Commerce. The strategy aims to strengthen the digital trade environment by improving regulations, infrastructure, and business readiness for online markets. It provides a shared direction for both public and private actors.

Local innovation gives this work a human face. Entrepreneurs like Fabrice Alomo, who founded MyAConnect and AMarket, once designed digital platforms that address local logistical and financial barriers. Mentors such as Ngala Boris guide new traders through the first steps of selling online, while organizations like the Foretia Foundation help reach marginalized groups through training and advocacy. Together with the Ministry of Commerce, these players create a bridge between policy goals and everyday business needs, allowing traders to see tangible benefits from the digital economy.

Mobile Money Changes Everything

Partnerships between local entrepreneurs and international organizations are now beginning to show real results. Digital platforms like MyAConnect and AMarket have become essential connectors between small traders and formal markets. Both platforms respond directly to Cameroon’s logistical and financial realities. Using GPS-enabled delivery systems and local community hubs, they allow goods from rural producers to reach urban buyers more easily. These systems make trade faster and more predictable, especially for those far from main commercial centers.

Mobile money has reshaped how transactions happen. Many traders who never had bank accounts now use mobile wallets to send and receive payments securely. Cashless transactions help them avoid theft and delays while also opening access to larger markets. This growing trust in mobile payments makes e-commerce feel more attainable for both buyers and sellers.

UNDP’s collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC) links these digital tools with training that produces measurable skills. The Digital Innovation Hub in Douala, created with the MTN Foundation, offers mentorship, shared workspaces, and practical sessions on using online business platforms. Young entrepreneurs, especially women, are learning to manage online stores, track customer data, and analyze sales trends. These lessons turn training into action, creating visible progress in how small businesses operate.

Stories like that of Aminatou Bouba from Zamai in the Far North make these statistics human. She once sold puffballs by the roadside, struggling to earn enough to support her family. After joining a UNDP program, she learned dressmaking, received a sewing machine, and opened a small shop. Now she employs nine young people and trains them herself. Her story mirrors what many digital and vocational programs aim to achieve: self-reliance through opportunity.

Projects such as the Youth and Women Entrepreneurship Empowerment Project (YWEEP ) and YouthConnekt focus on giving youth and women digital tools and business mentorship. Thousands have already joined these initiatives, gaining the resources to start or grow online enterprises. Local platforms continue to refine marketing, logistics, and inventory tracking systems, lowering costs and expanding reach. Together, these efforts are reshaping how traders connect, earn, and imagine their place in Cameroon’s growing digital economy.

These growing connections between training, technology, and entrepreneurship are beginning to show measurable change. Close to 600 small and medium-sized enterprises were using AMarket to sell to customers beyond their usual local reach. Traders describe how these digital platforms have opened access to regional buyers, expanded sales opportunities, and created new ways to diversify income. For many, online visibility has replaced word-of-mouth as the main driver of growth.

Women’s participation in digital trade has also grown quickly. An ITC survey shows that training programs targeting women entrepreneurs have led to a twofold increase in their participation in cross-border e-commerce compared with offline trading. Mentorship, tailored courses, and user-friendly tools have helped women navigate spaces that once felt inaccessible. Many now manage their own digital storefronts, negotiate directly with suppliers, and reach new markets without relying on intermediaries. These shifts are not only about income; they reflect growing confidence and independence.

Youth employment has followed a similar pattern. With Cameroon’s youth unemployment rate around 6.23%, online commerce has created practical options in areas like logistics, digital marketing, and customer support. Many young people are turning digital skills into business ventures that sustain local economies.

Digital use has also expanded beyond sales. Traders increasingly adopt digital record-keeping and register their businesses formally through UNCTAD’s eRegistrations platform. Since 2016, over 25,000 SMEs have been formalized, cutting registration time to just 72 hours and unlocking access to credit, insurance, and legal protection. Only about 12% of businesses nationwide are formalized, yet those that are tend to secure more financing and show stronger performance. UNCTAD’s partnership with ECOWAS on a regional e-commerce strategy further strengthens cross-border trade and aligns with AfCFTA goals.

These outcomes reflect how coordinated digital support like training, mentorship, and access to platforms helps traders build stable incomes and stronger, more connected businesses.

What Still Needs Fixing

Even with strong progress in digital trade, challenges still slow Cameroon’s transition toward a more connected economy. Digital literacy remains uneven, especially outside major cities. Many traders are gaining access to smartphones but still struggle to manage online storefronts, run marketing campaigns, or use mobile payment tools efficiently. Without ongoing mentorship and hands-on training, these users risk falling behind as digital markets evolve.

Connectivity also continues to hold back progress. Internet service in rural areas is unreliable, and the cost of data remains high. The Comparedial Mobile Data Affordability Index places Cameroon at about 36.3% of daily income per gigabyte, which makes regular online business activity costly for low-income traders. Infrastructure challenges deepen the problem. Limited road networks and weak delivery systems make it difficult for traders to move products efficiently or fulfill online orders across regions.

Security concerns add another layer of hesitation. Cyber fraud, phishing attempts, and mobile money fraud have made many traders—especially older ones—wary of digital transactions. Strengthening cybersecurity frameworks and building consumer protection mechanisms are essential to building trust. Without them, digital inclusion remains fragile.

Cultural attitudes also play a role. Many older traders still prefer face-to-face transactions, valuing personal interaction and tangible exchanges. Some worry about fake products or delayed deliveries when buying online. Public awareness campaigns could help bridge these generational gaps by showing how digital tools can complement, not replace, traditional ways of trading.

On a larger scale, regional alignment remains incomplete. The AfCFTA’s Digital Trade Protocol (DTP) could harmonize digital regulations, improve data flows, and strengthen cybersecurity, yet implementation across member states has been uneven. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) warns that without unified data governance and consumer protection standards, countries like Cameroon may miss out on integrated digital markets.

Efforts are underway to close these gaps. The Cameroon National Broadband Plan (2020–2030), the World Bank’s DE4A initiative, and cybersecurity campaigns by the National Agency for Information and Communication Technologies (ANTIC) are expanding infrastructure and awareness. Together, they signal a steady shift toward broader and more inclusive digital participation.

The shift from open-air markets to online storefronts is reshaping how Cameroon trades, learns, and grows. Programs led by UNDP and the ITC have helped traders gain the skills and confidence to operate digitally, linking technology to real opportunities for income and youth employment. Local innovators and national policies are working in sync, creating a stronger foundation for digital business.

Scaling these achievements now depends on reaching more people. Expanding digital literacy, reducing data costs, and improving cybersecurity will allow traders from every region to participate. Regional cooperation through frameworks like the AfCFTA’s Digital Trade Protocol could also open larger markets and drive cross-border growth.

Cameroon stands at a defining point. With consistent investment and shared commitment, its traders could shape Central Africa’s next digital economy, grounded in access, inclusion, and shared prosperity.