International Development Expert · Cultural Diplomat · Filmmaker

Christine
Dikonguè

I help institutions, governments, and diaspora-led ventures build the systems, strategies, and partnerships needed to compete on the global stage — with a particular focus on African and emerging markets.

10+ years. 15+ countries. 100+ institutions.

Christine Dikonguè
As seen & heard at
WTO · MC14, Yaoundé United Nations · New York Semafor Africa Summit Africa CEO Forum Africa Business Heroes · Jack Ma Foundation Africa Global Dialogue · UN OSAA & UNECA New York African Film Festival
Does this sound familiar?

You're building something bold — but the world isn't seeing it yet.

You lead an institution, a government initiative, or a venture with real impact — but your positioning, partnerships, and programmes aren't yet reflecting the ambition of your work.

You need a strategist who understands both emerging market realities and the global stage. Someone who's been in the room at the UN, the WTO, and the Africa CEO Forum — and can help you get there too.

"Culture is not peripheral to economic life — it is its foundation."

Christine Dikonguè · Toronto · Douala · Paris

In the room

From New York to Kigali.
Present where it matters.

Christine with President Barack Obama, Economic Club of Canada
Economic Club of Canada
Christine at the United Nations
United Nations · New York
Christine with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO Director-General
With Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala · WTO
Christine with President Macky Sall of Senegal
With President Macky Sall · Sénégal
Christine at UNGA
#UNGA · New York
Christine speaking at Canadian SME Small Business Summit
CanadianSME Small Business Summit
Global stage

International engagements
& advisory roles.

March 2026
WTO · ITC · Yaoundé, Cameroon
Delegate — WTO-ITC High-Level Event on Women and Trade, MC14

Ministerial-level dialogue on women entrepreneurs' access to international trade, value chain integration, and gender-inclusive market participation across developing economies.

June 2026
United Nations · New York
Delegate — United Nations Open Source Week, UN Headquarters

Engaging multilateral technology and innovation policy frameworks relevant to inclusive industrial development and digital transformation.

2025 – 2026
UN OSAA · UNECA
Conference Moderator — Africa Global Dialogue

Moderated high-level sessions on entrepreneurship, technology transfer, and inclusive industrial development under the UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa and UNECA.

2025
Semafor World Economy Forum
Inaugural Principal — Semafor Africa Summit

Named among the inaugural cohort of Principals — a premier convening of senior global leaders, heads of state, investors, and policymakers shaping African economic development.

2026
Africa CEO Forum
Organizer, Central Africa Delegation

Organized and led the Central Africa delegation, facilitating regional representation and high-level dialogue on industrial development and investment.

2022 – Present
Jack Ma Foundation · Alibaba · Kigali
Judge & Business Mentor — Africa Business Heroes

Evaluating high-growth ventures and mentoring finalists across Sub-Saharan Africa, assessing MSME competitiveness, innovation potential, and scalability.

Areas of expertise

Research. Strategy. Execution.

From programme design to high-level convening — across emerging markets, bilateral frameworks, and multilateral institutions.

Industrial Development
Technical cooperation programme design
MSME competitiveness & enterprise upgrading
Value chain development & market access
EU–Africa & AfCFTA trade frameworks
SDG-9 inclusive industrialization
Grant writing & resource mobilization
Strategy & Diplomacy
Institutional partnership building
High-level convening & forum design
Women's economic empowerment
Advisory services to governments & UN agencies
Bilingual stakeholder engagement (EN/FR)
Impact report & policy development
Tech & Innovation
Digital transformation for MSMEs
Startup ecosystem building & acceleration
Go-to-market strategy, Sub-Saharan Africa
Pan-African women in tech networks
Impact investing & venture mentorship
Documentary filmmaking & cultural strategy
Recognition

Trusted by leaders across three continents.

From Geneva to Kigali, Toronto to Douala — decision-makers and institution builders rely on Christine's expertise to navigate complex markets and build programmes that last.

100+Institutions — UN, AU, UNESCO, UNDP, WTO, ITC, Governments of Canada, Cameroon, Nigeria & France
15+Countries with mobilized institutional & private sector partnerships across ECCAS, ECOWAS & COMESA
10+Years designing and leading technical cooperation programmes across Africa, Europe & Canada
Book a consultation
Honours
Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent — recognized for leadership in innovation, entrepreneurship, and African development.
MIPAD · UN General Assembly
Top 100 Black Women to Watch — for leadership in innovation and international development across the Canada–Africa axis.
Canada Recognition
Speaker at 100+ institutions including the UN, UNECA, AU, UNESCO, UNDP, WTO, and ITC — expert input on inclusive industrial development and women's economic empowerment.
Global speaking track record
Board Member, TFO (Télévision francophone de l'Ontario) since 2023 — strategic governance in bilingual (FR/EN) public media.
TFO Ontario
Ventures & Roles

Where I build.

Agency · Toronto · Paris · Douala
Akwāa Agency

Multi-country technical cooperation programmes with the UN, African Union, and Governments of Canada, Cameroon, Nigeria & France. Founded 2019.

Network · Pan-African
AWIN — African Women Innovators Network

Cross-border platform connecting women entrepreneurs in emerging markets with mentors, investors, and enterprise development resources.

Accelerator · Canada–Africa
AfricaHacks

Co-founded a multi-country digital transformation programme across 7+ countries serving 10,000+ users across ECOWAS, ECCAS & COMESA.

Advisory · Douala City Hall
Invest in Cameroon

Industrial Development & Innovation Expert to the Mayor of Douala. Investment promotion in the Bonaberi industrial zone; digital economy for MSMEs.

Board · Ontario
TFO — Télévision Francophone de l'Ontario

Board member since 2023. Strategic governance for Ontario's French-language public broadcaster in a bilingual (FR/EN) environment.

Fintech · London
Taptap Send

Strategic Growth Lead, Sub-Saharan Africa. Scaled to $10M+ monthly transaction volume — 30% customer acquisition growth across West & Central Africa.

Roots & Lineage

Princess Sawa.
Keeper of memory.

I carry the title of Princesse Sawa, descended from the royal lineages of the Sawa peoples of the Cameroonian coast — a living responsibility to protect, transmit, and elevate our culture.

My grandfather, Jean-Pierre Dikongué Pipa, was a pioneer of African cinema. I carry that legacy forward through documentary filmmaking and advocacy for African storytelling on the world stage.

Royalties of BonaberiSawa lineage · Littoral Region, Cameroon
Royalties of MalimbaSawa lineage · coastal Cameroon
Royalties of Bonabile (Bimbia)Sawa lineage · home of a silenced history
Jean-Pierre Dikongué PipaPioneer of African cinema · her grandfather
Princess Ntouba Dikonguè ChristineCultural diplomat · filmmaker · development expert
Cinema

Telling African stories
in our own voice.

Granddaughter of pioneering Cameroonian filmmaker Jean-Pierre Dikongué Pipa, Christine carries that legacy forward through her own documentary work — amplifying stories and silenced histories from Sub-Saharan Africa on the international stage.

Sous le Soleil du Kwat — film poster
World premiere · New York African Film Festival
Sous le Soleil du Kwat

A film by Dikonguè Christine. Produced by Akwā Media. A love story set against the golden light of the Wouri river — Christine's directorial debut.

In development
Bimbia, la porte oubliée

A documentary returning to the forgotten slave port of Bimbia on the Cameroonian coast — rooted in Christine's royal Bimbia lineage, reclaiming a silenced history for the world to hear.

Let's build across borders.

Available for speaking engagements, strategic consulting, and institutional partnerships.
Toronto · Douala · Paris · Bilingual EN/FR