The project seeks to reinforce the capacities of women both in the formal and the informal sectors.

Women in Cameroon are dynamic as far as economic development is concerned. They contribute in the economic development of the country both in the formal and informal sectors. However the women have problems with their activities. The women are the most hit with poverty in the society. It is for this reason that a Support Project for the Development of Women's Entrepreneurship in Cameroon (RBSA-DEF) Cameroon was officially launched yesterday in Yaounde. The project, which is an initiative of the International Labour Organisation, was launched under the patronage of the Minister of Women's Empowerment and the Family, Marie Thérèse Abena Obama. The Support project, for Women Entrepreneurship in Cameroon, which is in its pilot phase, has as objective to create a favourable environment for women's entrepreneurship and to reinforce the capacities of women both in the formal and the informal sectors.

Speaking during the launching, the Minister of Women's Empowerment and the Family said improving the situation and status of the Cameroonian woman in all sectors is the preoccupation of the government. She explained that government's policy concerning the development of women and the girl child is a transversal action which calls for the joint action of several ministerial departments as well as national and international partners.

In this domain, the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and the Family carries out activities to reinforce the capacities of women in domains such as hotel management, industrial dressing, management of income-generating activities, agro-pastoral activities and micro-credits to trainees of women's empowerment centres. According to the minister, the success of the project will give way to the creation of palpable projects to support women's activities both in the rural and urban areas. "We want to see results at the end of this project. After two years we should be able to come and evaluate and show that we have improved the living conditions of women and families," she said. The Minister called on the partners to work hand in glove to ensure the success of the pilot phase of the project so that in future a global programme of great importance will be put in place for the development of women and families in Cameroon. The project is a regional project which is going on in several French- speaking African countries such as Mali, Mauritania, Rwanda, Senegal and Cameroon The only English speaking country is Nigeria.