Yaoundé Opens the Debate on Rebalancing Business and Economic Ethics

From 13 to 17 July 2026, Cameroon’s capital, Yaoundé, is bringing together researchers, academics, and practitioners from all five continents to reflect on the future of business and economic ethics. Organized by the International Society of Business, Economics and Ethics (ISBEE), the forum seeks to challenge the dominant discourse on business ethics by incorporating the realities of the Global South into academic, economic, and entrepreneurial thinking.

Following previous congresses held in Geneva, Tokyo, São Paulo, and Melbourne, Yaoundé is hosting the 8th ISBEE World Congress—the first ever to be held in Sub-Saharan Africa—under the theme: « Rethinking Business Ethics from the Perspective of the Global South: Local Perspectives and Global Impact. »

The opening ceremony, held on 14 July at the Catholic University of Central Africa (UCAC) in Ekounou, Yaoundé, brought together distinguished guests, including Gabriel Bahina Evina, Mayor of Yaoundé IV; Bienvenu Thomas Tchoungui, Rector of UCAC Cameroon; and Nathalie Kohli, Swiss Ambassador to Cameroon.

For the organizers, choosing Yaoundé represents a significant shift. Their goal is to move the center of academic debate in order to promote genuine epistemic justice and learn from African realities rather than imposing a single model.

Researchers from around the world gathered to address one fundamental question: What place should human beings occupy in the way businesses operate?

According to Professor Thierry Ngosso, who teaches at universities in both Cameroon and Switzerland, the objective is not to provide immediate solutions to systemic problems but to initiate an essential debate.

« We want to examine the issue of justice in the way knowledge about business ethics is produced. Global narratives tend to overlook the productive potential of local communities in shaping the transformation of our societies, » he explained.

The forum therefore aims to promote a more equitable, inclusive, and locally grounded reflection on business ethics.

For many years, criticism of corporations and profit-driven models has largely been shaped by scholars from the Global North. Yet the needs and realities of countries in the Global South differ considerably. ISBEE therefore hopes to achieve three concrete outcomes: decentralizing knowledge, fostering global dialogue, and influencing business practice.

According to Florian Wettstein, President of ISBEE Switzerland, discussions on business ethics remain overwhelmingly dominated by Northern perspectives.

« We want to challenge some of these assumptions, frameworks, and concepts. To do so effectively, we believed it was essential to relocate the ISBEE Congress. That is why we ultimately chose Yaoundé, » he said.

A Systemic Challenge

For participants, geographical diversity is not merely symbolic—it is methodological. Local realities should actively shape the global discourse on business ethics.

The expectation in Yaoundé is not to replace existing perspectives but to enrich them.

« This is a systemic problem that requires solutions developed over many years. At this stage, what matters most is simply initiating a conversation about marginalization, exclusion, inclusion, and more holistic and comprehensive approaches to business ethics. Ultimately, we hope to develop broader frameworks that can be applied consistently around the world, » emphasized Florian Wettstein.

It is worth recalling that hosting the forum in Yaoundé is fully aligned with ISBEE’s mission. Founded in 1989 in Geneva and bringing together members from around 40 countries, ISBEE is the world’s first professional association devoted exclusively to the study of business, economics, and ethics. The organization meets every four years with the aim of uniting the global scholarly community and influencing business school curricula.

The hope emerging from Yaoundé is that every participant will return home with new perspectives and knowledge, contributing to the development of a more balanced global approach to business and economic ethics. In this sense, Yaoundé is positioning itself as a gateway for the voices of the Global South in this important international debate.

Germaine Ngo Holl