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The statement urges WTO ministers at MC14 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to prioritize sustainable development within the WTO reform agenda and consolidate momentum on environmental initiatives. It highlights the need for a course-correction in WTO reform to address climate change, nature loss, and pollution, while calling for the full implementation of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and the advancement of dialogues on sustainable agriculture and plastic pollution.

The policy brief examines the critical juncture facing the World Trade Organization (WTO) ahead of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé, Cameroon. While the 2022 Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (Fish 1) established a historic first step by prohibiting subsidies for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, it does not address the structural causes of overcapacity. The author argues that the upcoming MC14 must restore momentum for 'Fish 2'—additional disciplines targeting broader overfishing—to avoid the risk of the entire 2022 agreement terminating under its sunset clause by September 2029.

The document analyzes the tension between the multilateral Work Programme on Electronic Commerce (WPEC) and the plurilateral Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on E-Commerce. It highlights the conflict over the moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions, where developing countries fear revenue loss and policy constraints, while other members push for a permanent ban on such duties. The author outlines the stakes for MC14, including the potential incorporation of the JSI Agreement into the WTO framework and the future of the WPEC.

The report examines the November 29, 2024, draft text for 'Fish 2' negotiations at the WTO. It details a proposed hybrid approach combining a broad prohibition of subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing with a management-based exemption and special and differential treatment (SDT) for developing nations. Key provisions include a two-tiered system for demonstrating stock sustainability, specific rules for distant-water fishing, and a five-year review clause to potentially mandate quantitative subsidy reductions. The document highlights that while convergence is high, significant gaps remain regarding the duration of transition periods and the definition of artisanal fishing.

This case study describes the installation of a hybrid solar grid system by Aptech Africa for the UNDP country office in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to ensure power stability for critical IT equipment and reduce the organization's carbon footprint.

Triomphant Tchulang developed the Bi-Solar Tech Fridge in Cameroon after a two-year period of refining a prototype to overcome issues with energy consistency, storage capacity, and temperature control. The project aims to mitigate the impact of high temperatures and heatwaves on community health and agricultural storage using solar energy.

The research paper examines the Anglophone separatist conflict in Cameroon, tracing its origins to long-standing grievances over marginalisation and 'Francophonisation'. It asserts that the escalation into civil war was triggered by the violent repression of peaceful protests in 2017 and is sustained by President Paul Biya's insistence on a military solution over political accountability. The author highlights the humanitarian toll, including over 3,000 deaths and 750,000 internally displaced persons, and calls for a joint UN and African Union framework to negotiate reforms regarding Anglophone autonomy and resource management.

The report documents a general decline in open domestic ivory markets across Central Africa from 2007 to 2015, with trade shifting toward underground transactions and raw ivory exports to Asia, particularly China. While most cities saw a near total disappearance of displayed ivory, Kinshasa remained a significant hub. The decline is attributed to increased law enforcement, rising raw ivory prices driven by Asian demand, and crashing elephant populations. The report also highlights severe deficiencies in government stockpile management, with an estimated 56,497 kg of ivory leaking from state custody between 1990 and 2015.

The document analyzes the shift in piracy activity from the Horn of Africa to the Gulf of Guinea. While international efforts led to a dramatic decline in Somali piracy, West African piracy increased in 2012, driven primarily by the theft of refined petroleum products linked to illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta. The author highlights the regional approach to security in West Africa, including the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS) and the establishment of an Inter-regional Coordination Centre in Yaoundé, while noting persistent challenges in intelligence gathering and inter-operability.

The author argues that while the 2022 WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies ('Fish 1') was a historic first step in banning the most harmful subsidies, it is insufficient to address structural causes of overfishing. The upcoming MC14 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, is presented as a vital opportunity to commit to 'Fish 2'—additional disciplines targeting general overcapacity. This is urgent because a 'termination clause' threatens to void the entire 2022 agreement by September 2029 if comprehensive disciplines are not adopted. The document highlights that global fisheries subsidies exceeded USD 35 billion in 2018, with over 80% benefiting industrial fleets, thereby undermining ocean sustainability and the livelihoods of coastal and island developing states.

The report examines the potential for decentralised renewable energy (DRE) equipment to drive socio-economic development in Benin, Cameroon, and Madagascar, focusing on agricultural productive uses. It identifies significant opportunities in value chains such as cotton and cashew in Benin, cocoa and sorghum in Cameroon, and rice, fishing, and livestock in Madagascar. While solar pumps and refrigeration are the most common technologies, the report highlights barriers including high initial costs, lack of technical standards, and the absence of formal e-waste recycling systems. It recommends market development measures such as increased awareness, technical standardisation, and the integration of microfinance to accelerate adoption.