Cameroon secures EU-backed funds to boost SME financing

Yaoundé and the European Union have jointly unveiled a groundbreaking financial package on July 15, 2026, designed to enhance access to bank loans for Cameroonian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

This initiative, developed under the Economic Development Support Project through Value Chain Promotion and Private Sector Initiative (PAD-CV), aims to unlock nearly 30 billion Central African CFA francs in credit from local banks. The scheme includes a 6 billion CFA francs financial facility, while the remaining 9.8 billion CFA francs will support technical assistance programs.

Rather than distributing funds directly to businesses, the 6 billion CFA francs will act as a guarantee, encouraging banks to extend loans to eligible entrepreneurs. To qualify, companies must submit their proposals through the newly launched call for applications on the www.padcv-cm.net platform, which will remain open for three months.

Selected projects will undergo rigorous evaluation, followed by tailored technical support and business plan refinement to meet stringent banking requirements. The ultimate goal is to present bankable proposals that financial institutions can confidently approve.

The initiative targets a diverse range of enterprises, including micro-enterprises, SMEs, startups, cooperatives, common initiative groups (GICs), producer organizations, and digital-focused clusters and incubators. A special emphasis will be placed on ventures led by women and young entrepreneurs, fostering inclusive economic growth.