• CSR in CEMAC banks is inadequate, lacking real ESG focus.

• Critics say current efforts are more marketing than impact.

• Experts call for training, strategy, and transparency.

Despite recent progress, corporate social responsibility remains lacking among banks in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, or CEMAC, experts said at the Business Sustainability Forum in Cameroon on June 16, 2025. The event was organized by Afrique RSE, a pan-African consultancy focused on sustainable economies.

“Corporate social responsibility in the Cameroonian banking sector today is more illusion than reality,” said Francis Hervé Eyalla Saba, president of the Cameroonian National Consumers Network. “Some companies make an effort, but CSR should primarily benefit the consumer, the true engine of value creation. It should be a return, a kind of dividend reinvested into the consumer, enabling continued consumption and value generation.”

One of the most significant gaps lies in how banks evaluate projects. Thierry Téné, partner and director at Afrique RSE, said, "Very few CEMAC banks truly incorporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria in project financing, which should be the core of their business." Consequently, many financed projects are inadequately assessed for environmental impact, social outcomes, and governance quality. Beyond project financing, internal practices, customer service approaches, and sustainability reporting also fall short.

CSR as Disguised Marketing

The way banks communicate their so-called CSR initiatives, such as donations to hospitals or the construction of schools and clinics, has drawn criticism. Consumer advocates argue that these are often thinly veiled marketing campaigns rather than genuine acts of social responsibility.

Eyalla Saba remarked, "When a company builds a hospital, it shouldn’t need to advertise it to the public. These actions should be kept within the circle of relevant partners and stakeholders. Once a CSR initiative is publicized, it loses its authenticity. At that point, it’s no longer CSR."

However, according to Afrique RSE, a well-implemented CSR policy could significantly help Cameroon and other CEMAC nations advance toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and improve economic and financial performance.

Téné recommends a more structured and authentic approach. This includes training senior executives on sustainability, conducting in-depth diagnostics, crafting dedicated CSR strategies, and publishing annual sustainability reports to ensure transparent monitoring.

The United Nations defines CSR as a company’s commitment to sustainable development through accountability for the environmental and social impacts of its operations. It encompasses labor conditions, equity, workplace safety, client and partner relations, resource conservation, pollution control, and climate change mitigation.