OAPI–UNFPA Workshop

 Strengthens Women’s Innovation and Agribusiness Capacity in Dschang

The Mbouoh Hotel conference hall in Dschang hosted a four-day intensive training and exchange workshop organized by the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The event brought together female engineering students, young women in technical and technological training, professional female engineers, and women engaged in the agribusiness sector.

The workshop focused on creativity, innovation, intellectual property protection, valorization of inventions, and technology transfer. It aimed to familiarize participants with the technological innovation process, introduce intellectual property tools offered by OAPI, and promote the strategic use of intellectual property in professional careers, particularly within the agribusiness value chain.

The closing ceremony gathered over 70 participants from the engineering and agribusiness sectors. Experts delivered presentations on value creation for products, creativity and innovation concepts, stages of the technological innovation process, factors influencing innovation, and the role of women in technical fields, including challenges, stereotypes, and emerging opportunities.

Addressing participants, the UNFPA Representative, Mme Raina Simen, described the OAPI–UNFPA collaboration as a catalyst for boosting women’s entrepreneurship. She said the University of Dschang was selected due to its strong scientific standing and disclosed that UNFPA plans to finance six projects, with the objective of promoting the “Made in Cameroon” label.

The OAPI Representative, Mme Magui Koubitobo Nnoko, underscored the importance of women’s economic autonomy and the creation of a collaborative ecosystem to improve, process, and market agro-products. She noted that the training encouraged dialogue between engineers and agribusiness actors and laid the foundation for scientific exchange, project development, and access to financing. She commended CATI²–UDs for its leadership in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Representing the Rector of the University of Dschang, Prof. Moupou Moïse(SG) expressed confidence in the sustainability of the initiative, emphasizing that women’s empowerment is a global development imperative. He revealed that by 2025, CATI²–UDs had supported the creation of 135 enterprises, with four benefiting from 80 million FCFA in funding from the Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. He added that 356 individuals have been trained across various sectors through the immense contribution from Cati2-UDs.

Participants welcomed the initiative as Vanessa Piembek, a food security consultant and geoscientist, said the workshop strengthened participants’ capacities in entrepreneurship and intellectual property management. She noted that the training also created a platform for collaboration between female engineers and agribusiness entrepreneurs, with the most promising projects expected to receive funding.

For Fokou Fondjo, President of the Local Socio-Economic Network of Dschang, the workshop opened new opportunities for agribusiness actors. she said OAPI’s certification mechanisms for agricultural and processed products would improve market access and foster collaboration with female engineers. She added that more than 500 agribusiness actors have already been identified in Dschang, describing the initiative as a significant step toward local economic development.

The training serves as a bench mark for female empowerment and development of the innovative spectrum.