Strengthening Domestic Resource Mobilization for NTDs in Cameroon: Professor Epee’s Mentorship Journey
Domestic resource mobilization(DRM) is often described as a financing exercise. In practice, it is also about timing, trust, evidence, and leadership. It requires people who understand where decisions are made, how national priorities are shaped, and how technical evidence can be translated into practical action.
In Cameroon, this bridging role is being strengthened through the Kikundi mentorship programme, with Professor Epee serving as a senior national champion and technical lead in the country’s DRM process for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
Professor Epee brings deep knowledge of Cameroon’s health system, Ministry of Public Health processes, budgeting environment, and wider institutional landscape. Her experience is helping ensure that the DRM process remains realistic, nationally grounded, and connected to the people and institutions that can act on it.
With technical guidance from her mentor, Justin Tine, Professor Epee is strengthening her capacity to analyze and prioritize financing gaps, identify domestic financing opportunities, engage decision-makers, and develop practical strategies to increase domestic investment in NTD elimination. At the same time, her national experience is helping translate financing concepts into practical recommendations for the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders.
Important progress has already been made. The mentorship has supported financial gap analysis and prioritization, stakeholder mapping, and the identification of opportunities within government budgeting and resource allocation processes. It has also helped explore how NTD interventions can be better positioned within existing health system priorities, including Universal Health Coverage, primary health care, national information systems, and local development plans.
The work has also looked beyond traditional public financing. Professor Epee and Justin has contributed to an assessment of Cameroon’s private sector landscape, helping identify opportunities for corporate social investment, public-private partnerships, and potential engagement with companies whose priorities may align with NTD objectives.
The process has faced some practical challenges, particularly around access to the data needed to complete the financial gaps analysis. However, this has not slowed the momentum. The mentorship has continued to move forward by making the best use of available information, drawing on Professor Epee’s deep knowledge of the national system, and maintaining engagement with key stakeholders.
As the work now moves into a more action-oriented phase, the focus is shifting from analysis to practical planning. Between June and September, the mentorship is supporting the prioritization of DRM interventions and the development of a practical roadmap based on stakeholder mapping and national financing opportunities. This phase will be important for turning evidence into concrete steps that can support funding diversification, stronger national ownership, and long-term sustainability for NTD elimination in Cameroon.
Cameroon’s experience highlights the vital role national champions can play in advancing sustainable financing for NTDs. Identifying funding opportunities is only part of the process; progress also depends on understanding how decisions are made, engaging the right institutions, and positioning NTDs within existing policy, budgeting, and resource allocation processes.
In summary, Professor Epee’s leadership, supported by Justin's expertise through the Kikundi Mentorship Programme, is helping Cameroon advance a more practical and nationally grounded approach to financing NTD elimination.