Regional workshop in Yaoundé: Towards enhanced quality infrastructure in Central Africa

Yaoundé, 13 May 2026 (Republic of Cameroon) - On 12 and 13 May 2026, Yaoundé successfully hosted a regional technical workshop of the National Quality Reference Centres of the Trade Competitiveness and Market Access Programme for Africa – ECCAS Component (ATCMA – ECCAS), funded by the European Union (EU) as part of its Global Gateway strategy and Corridors approach.

Organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO),
of the Economic Community of
In Central Africa (CECAS) and the ECCAS Commission, the workshop helped to strengthen
regional coordination on quality and standards issues, in particular with a view to
improve market access for economic operators in the region.

During two days of intensive discussions, participants finalized several documents
the framework for regional infrastructure governance
quality in ECCAS, as well as the operating procedures for support to the National
Standardization and laboratories under the ATCMA Program. Progress
the development of a draft Quality Policy
and a mechanism for the harmonization of subregional standards.

The discussions also led to the identification of the priority needs of States in
standardisation material for the value chains targeted by the programme, namely wood,
cocoa and cassava.

" This work should help improve compliance with international standards and
enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises in the region in markets
and international", said Ebe Muschialli, project manager at the
UNIDO.

In addition to the technical sessions, the participants also visited the
Metrology Laboratory of the Ministry of Commerce in Cameroon, offering them an overview
the existing capacities and the challenges of quality infrastructure.

" This regional workshop provided an excellent opportunity to get to know each other better,
share our experiences and identify existing gaps in quality infrastructure
in our respective countries. Interactive exchanges between participants helped to define
common priorities to strengthen quality infrastructure," said Ms. Apauline
Matata Feza, Director of Standardization at the Congolese Office of Control (OCC) and Reference
National Quality of the ATCMA Program in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This workshop follows the first meeting of the Program Steering Committee in March
2026 and marks an important step towards a harmonised quality system
and recognized in Central Africa, ensuring the conformity of products and facilitating their
traffic.

"Through this initiative, the ATCMA – ECCAS programme confirms its key role in the
strengthening regional economic integration and promoting trade
Africa and its partners, including the European Union", said
Alexandre Serres, Programme Officer at the European Union Delegation in Yaoundé.

For more information, please contact:

Ebe Muschialli, Industrial Development Officer, UNIDO Office in Vienna,
e.muschialli@unido.org
Alexandre Serres, Programme Officer, Delegation of the European Union to
Cameroon, Alexandre.SERRES@eeas. europa. had