The Programme for Training in Economic Policy Management (GPE) in Cameroon, based at the University of Yaoundé II, aims to regain its leadership in Central Africa and the Great Lakes region. After a period of slowdown, the institution is banking on digitalization, data training, and infrastructure modernization to revive its attractiveness.
This strategy was unveiled at a press conference in Yaoundé on May 6, 2026, presenting the program's 2025-2029 strategic plan. The main objective is to adapt the training offer to the current needs of public administrations, which are faced with data management, public policy evaluation, and digital transformation.
Established in 1999 with support from the World Bank and the African Capacity Building Foundation, the GPE now covers 12 countries, including the six Cemac states and countries in the Great Lakes region. However, the program experienced a decline following the withdrawal of its main donors in 2017, before being fully funded by the Cameroonian government from 2018. This transition coincided with a period of lethargy between 2018 and 2021.
To revitalize its activities, the GPE plans to accelerate its digital transformation by setting up a digital campus, digitizing academic and administrative procedures, and creating an interactive platform for managing teaching and monitoring auditors. Hybrid training courses, combining face-to-face and distance learning, are also planned.
The GPE also plans new connected learning spaces, a digital media library, and an integrated digital environment. The academic offer will evolve with a Master's degree in "Data, Economics and Development Policy" and the introduction of five specialized certificates, aimed at training experts capable of using data for public policies.
Beyond Cameroon, the GPE aims to reactivate its regional base, notably through an agreement with Gabon's IEF and the strengthening of its alumni network. This strategy comes in a context of increasing digitalization of administrations and increased use of data in economic policies.
According to the GPE, this initiative will meet the skills needs in the Cemac zone, particularly in view of discussions between the states and the International Monetary Fund. The program has been headed since 2024 by Prof. Viviane Ondoua Biwolé, who wants to restore the GPE's regional visibility of the past. The graduation ceremony scheduled for May 22, 2026, in Yaoundé will highlight this ambition. It remains to be seen whether this transformation will enable the GPE to reposition itself as a leading center for economic policy training.
