Vannie Djounguep's Inspiring Journey

• Vannie Djounguep from Cameroon is a gender equality advocate, entrepreneur, and environmentalist. She founded ARA - Africa Resilience Association to empower women in the informal sector and promote environmental sustainability, specifically biochar cocoa.
• Despite her challenges along her entrepreneurial journey, initiatives like the Advancing Gender Equality and Women Empowerment 2023 Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy Training Programme have fueled her resilience and determination to overcome these obstacles and achieve her entrepreneurial goals.
• Vannie aims to utilize her new knowledge to improve financial literacy among female entrepreneurs and introduce biochar cocoa production to address climate change and poverty in Cameroon.

Vannie Djounguep is reshaping gender equality, entrepreneurship, and environmental sustainability in Cameroon and beyond. Her inspiring story is one of empowerment and impact. Originating from Cameroon, Vannie is not only an accomplished author but also a gender expert and sociologist dedicated to positively impacting her community. Recently, she participated in the esteemed Advancing Gender Equality and Women Empowerment 2023 Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy Training Programme, organized by the UNITAR Division for Prosperity / Hiroshima Office in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and generously funded by the Government of Canada.

As the founder and Executive Director of ARA - Africa Resilience Association, an organization advocating for gender equality and environmental protection, she focuses on empowering women in the informal sector. Her tireless efforts support these women, giving them the tools and resources they need to thrive in their ventures. Moreover, Vannie is a strong proponent of environmental sustainability, particularly in promoting biochar cocoa. By leveraging her expertise and influence, she is driving positive change in the agricultural sector and promoting practices that are not only ecologically sound but also economically viable.

As a female entrepreneur in Cameroon, Vannie has faced many challenges. One significant hurdle was the burden of heavy taxation, which strained her finances and hindered the growth of her business, leading her to establish an Association instead (which is more cost-effective to manage). A survey conducted by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) of Cameroon in 2016 revealed that taxation is the primary obstacle to entrepreneurship. In November 2019, Cameroon adopted its new National Development Strategy (NDS30), with one of the government's objectives being to create a business-friendly environment for entrepreneurship. However, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), over 90% of the workforce in Cameroon still operates in the informal sector. This strong predominance of the informal sector is attributed to high taxation. Additionally, financing problems, including limited access to credit and high financing costs, are equally significant challenges.

In addition to financial challenges, Vannie has faced gender-related biases and obstacles during her entrepreneurial journey. These stereotypes influenced how she was perceived and treated in the business world. Furthermore, failed collaborations presented another challenge for Vannie, impeding her ability to establish long-lasting partnerships and expand her business network. Despite these significant hurdles, Vannie found moments of inspiration that fueled her resilience and determination to overcome these barriers and achieve her entrepreneurial goals. Supportive friends, an encouraging mother who, despite discouragement from others, instilled faith by saying, "You'll find what you seek; keep pushing forward," and the pivotal entrepreneurial programme run by UNITAR that offered her a fresh perspective all played vital roles in Vannie's journey. With a giant smile on her face, she said,

It is important to have a strong conviction to resist the discouragement of others, as we all have our dreams that drive us to live."

When asked about this, Vannie described herUNITAR trainee experience as a dream come true. Having previously applied for a similar programme at UNITAR without success, she was determined to make the most of this opportunity. Her passion for learning, the desire to enhance her entrepreneurial skills, and the potential to significantly bolster her CV motivated her to apply for and successfully become a part of this enriching programme. Additionally, the prospect of securing funding for her business further fuelled her decision to be a part of this transformative initiative. Despite initial challenges with the EdApp online learning tool, she embraced it as a chance to improve her IT skills. She gave us her overall impression of the programme.

"The discussion rooms were precious," she said, "allowing participants to delve into their motivations for pursuing entrepreneurship. Moreover, the programme offered enlightening discussion sessions, access to a dedicated coach for personalized teaching and training, and uplifting success stories from individuals who had overcome similar challenges. Furthermore, the programme educated us about potential investors and provided links to various websites, which I found extremely beneficial. These resources have expanded my understanding of the investment landscape and equipped me with the knowledge to seek potential investors for my entrepreneurial endeavours". Overall, the programme was comprehensive, engaging, and genuinely empowering.

She is motivated to share her newfound knowledge with entrepreneurs in her community. Vannie strongly advocates financial literacy as a crucial but often overlooked aspect of entrepreneurship. She is determined to address this by providing female entrepreneurs in Cameroon with the necessary skills for success. She explained,

We give to others, which is true, but we must not forget that to give, we need to be full; otherwise, we won't have anything to give."

Beyond theoretical knowledge, Vannie envisions establishing a significant biochar cocoa firm as a practical application of her training. This venture aims to alleviate poverty in Cameroon and combat climate change. Biochar, produced through the pyrolysis-based recycling of cocoa pod shells, has shown its potential in tackling climate change. Vannie is committed to harnessing this innovation for the greater good.

In her professional pursuits and voluntary efforts, Vannie Djounguep embodies empowerment and is an inspiring role model for those striving to make a tangible difference. Her diverse contributions to gender equality, entrepreneurship, and environmental conservation continue to inspire others to join her in creating a brighter and more equitable future for all.