LocationsHigh-level experts, Think-Tanks, chapter authors and UN officials gathered in Gabon on 20–21 April 2026 to shape a flagship analysis of governance across nine Central African nations
UNDP Convenes Expert Framing Workshop to Develop Landmark Report on The State of Governance in Central Africa
April 23, 2026
Group photo of the participants of the workshop
UNDP WACA
Libreville, Gabon — 22 April 2026: A two-day Expert Framing Workshop convened by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Libreville, Republic of Gabon, marked the inaugural step in developing a new flagship report entitled, The State of Governance in Central Africa. The sub-region holds roughly 30 per cent of the earth's known mineral resource reserves, and its youth—representing over 72 per cent of the population—are positioned to drive its future.
The Central Africa sub-region, comprising nine countries: Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, and São Tomé and Príncipe — stands at a defining moment. Despite extraordinary natural and human wealth, the sub-region continues to grapple with governance deficits, entrenched inequality, insecurity, and the persistent grip of colonial legacies on its institutions.
Speaking during the workshop, Njoya Tikum, UNDP Director of the Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa and Resident Representative in Senegal, outlined the context of the report.
“The upcoming flagship report is inspired by the recognition of Central Africa’s comparative advantage and its potential to be geographically at the heart of the continent. It possesses immense human, social, economic, and cultural wealth, which, if better governed, will accelerate the transformation of Africa,” he noted. “Therefore, the report is designed not merely to catalogue challenges, but to identify the opportunities and pathways for reimagining governance in the region.”
Njoya Tikum, UNDP Director of the Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa and Resident Representative in Senegal
UNDP WACA
Njoya Tikum highlighted that the report will focus on historical context, emerging geopolitical trends, state-society relations, constitutionalism and the rule of law, socio-economic service delivery, security, state capacity, natural resource governance, digital transformation, and cross-border regional governance.
The Libreville workshop served as the first strategic gathering to align experts—serving as chapter authors, peer reviewers, regional think-tank representatives, editors, and UN partners—around a shared research framework, methodology, and timeline. Authors, discussants, and presenters included leading researchers affiliated with the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Afrobarometer, the Nkafu Institute, International IDEA, the Open Society Foundations (OSF), and CELMAD, among others.
The framing workshop provided independent experts from Central Africa the opportunity to shape the narrative about the region and co-design pathways for a renewed, context-responsive governance model.
Addressing the opening ceremony, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Gabon, Ms. Fatou Aminata Lo Diop, said: “The sub-region possesses undeniable strengths—exceptional natural resources, strong and dynamic human capital, and a major geostrategic position—and yet this potential remains largely untapped. This paradox challenges us collectively and demands that we address a central and fundamental question: how can we make governance a true lever for sustainable transformation, capable of unlocking this potential and putting it resolutely at the service of the people?”
François Ndong Obiang, Gabon’s Minister of Reform and Relations with Institutions, officially opened the consultative workshop. He underscored the event's paramount importance to Gabon, noting that good governance remains a sacred imperative for his government.
“This workshop, which is of paramount importance, arouses the interest and attention of the entire Gabonese Government, because it comes at a time when reflection and action must converge to meet the challenges and aspirations of our societies,” Minister Ndong Obiang stated.
He noted that the new Gabonese Constitution, approved by 91.64% of voters in a referendum on November 16, 2024, establishes in Article 40 that good governance must be a sacred imperative for the State, serving as a solid foundation upon which democracy, justice, and social cohesion rest. “It embodies the will of our people to work for a State where transparency, accountability, and citizen participation are not empty words, but the indispensable pillars of our governance,” he added.
François Ndong Obiang, Gabon’s Minister of Reform and Relations with Institutions,
UNDP WACA
Following two days of intensive presentations and discussions, participants agreed on the need to ensure the authenticity of the report's contributions while also ensuring that issues of politics, integration, inclusion, the rule of law, and leadership are examined synergistically through a human security approach.
About the Report
The State of Governance in Central Africa Report will generate evidence-based analysis across nine countries as defined by the African Union. It is envisioned as a catalytic tool to elevate the governance discourse in the region, inform policy, and support the aspirations of Central Africa's countries and citizens — particularly its youth — for accountable, inclusive, and transformative leadership.
Media Contact:
Jacob Enoh Eben | Head of Communications | UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa | jacob.enoh.eben@undp.org | Tel: +221 77 358 6662
Delcia Boyer | Communications Consultant | UNDP Gabon | delcia.boyer@undp.org | Tel: +241060122131
Minji KIM | Communications Specialist | UNDP Gabon | minji.kim1@undp.org | Tel: +241 076 53 03 65