Why Community Connectivity Matters
Access to the Internet is no longer a luxury—it’s a gateway to education, economic opportunity, and social participation. Yet, in many parts of Cameroon, connectivity remains limited, unreliable, or entirely unavailable. At CRISBY Foundation, we believe that empowering communities with better digital access is a key step toward reducing inequalities and supporting national development.
Our Research Focus: Sustainable Community Networks
We are currently researching scalable and community-driven models for strengthening local Internet networks in underserved regions of Cameroon.
Our goal is to identify solutions that improve accessibility while enabling communities to benefit from modern digital tools and information services.
What Community Networks Can Achieve
Community networks offer more than just connectivity. When properly supported, they create digital ecosystems where individuals can:
- Access quality online educational materials
- Communicate with family, institutions, and service providers
- Explore new income sources through digital entrepreneurship
- Participate in the wider digital economy without relocating
This approach places digital empowerment directly in the hands of the community.
How This Research Supports Global Development Goals
Our work is not only relevant to Cameroon’s digital future—it also directly contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
- SDG 4 – Quality Education: By improving Internet accessibility, we open doors to online learning, digital textbooks, and virtual academic support for all learners.
- SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth: Digital connectivity enables new forms of employment, entrepreneurship, and skills development—especially for youth and underserved communities.
- SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Community networks represent innovative, scalable infrastructure that strengthens digital resilience at the local level.
- SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities: When remote or rural communities gain equal access to digital tools, the gap between urban and underserved populations decreases.
- SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: Sustainable digital ecosystems require collaboration between communities, institutions, and technology partners—an approach central to our research.
The Vision: A Connected, Inclusive Cameroon
We envision more than just network expansion—we aim to build inclusive digital environments where young people, entrepreneurs, farmers, and local organisations can learn, collaborate, and grow.
By integrating digital inclusion research into our core objectives, we continue exploring how community networks can be built, managed, and expanded sustainably for long-term impact.
Moving Forward
A future where every Cameroonian has access to knowledge and opportunity online is not just possible—it is within reach.
Through research, collaboration, and innovation, the CRISBY Foundation is working to make this vision a reality.