Development of the Digital Economy in Cameroon: Challenges and Perspectives

• Etoundi, Roger Atsa ^[2] ; Onana, Flavien Serge Mani ^[2] ; Olle Olle, Georges D ^[2] ; Eteme, Adolphe Ayissi ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Ngaoundéré

     University of Ngaoundéré

     Camerún

     
  2. [2] University of Yaounde I
• Localización: EJISDC: The Electronic Journal on Information Systems in Developing Countries, ISSN-e 1681-4835, Nº. 76, 2016
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Since 2015, the government of Cameroon has challenged stakeholders nationwide to move toward a network economy, also known as the digital economy, aiming to foster the development of the country. This ambition of the government has been a source of many discourses with not always the same vision on what is supposed to be done in the implementation of this new economy. Different structures are mainly involved in this project following government organization, which recognizes certain attributions to each public or private institution. But they lack a clear vision of what are the prerequisites for such endeavor. Hence, without a clear roadmap, time and resources would be wasted, while other countries with clear roadmap and vision would make a difference and guarantee a leapfrog in growth and development. This reality seen in many African developing countries in their conceptualization of digital economy digital has pushed us to ask the following questions: What is the digital economy? In what conditions can a developing country claim readiness for the digital economy? The purpose of this paper is to attempt to answer these questions in the context of the digital transformation of Cameroon. The study examines the readiness of Cameroon to develop its digital economy, by exploring some key factors such as the civil society, services and goods, the policies, regulations and underlying technological infrastructures that are known as salient metrics related to the development of this economy. Practically, the study investigates qualitatively how Cameroon integrates these metrics in her ongoing projects and initiatives taken since 2010-1015, to become emergent and digital by 2035. The study presents challenges and perspectives of the Cameroonian case and provides in the framework of a roadmap, necessary measures and actions that should be considered in order to guarantee a successful development of digital economy in the country and in similar economies. The contribution of this paper is the definition of a roadmap for the implementation of digital economy in Cameroon. This roadmap can then be used as a guideline in the implementation of the digital economy in developing countries, with mere consideration of their socio-cultural context as there is no universal strategy for a digital transformation. The proposed guideline is based on policymakers as in these countries most innovations are government based.