African university and innovation in social responsibility: Feedback of a responsible research experience in Douala (Cameroon)[Université africaine et innovation dans la responsabilité sociétale : retour d'une expérience de recherche responsable à Douala]

The persistence of underdevelopment has led African universities to question and rethink their social responsibility since the global economic crisis of the 1990s. This is the case in Cameroon, where the University Social Responsibility Index (USR) is still weak in accordance with the observation made at the University of Douala (IRSO = 0.4), the largest in the country. Some innovations of the USR are nevertheless observed. The responsible research experienced in the Project for the Elaboration of a Food Security Strategy in the City of Douala (SYSTALDO Project) is one of these innovations of the University/Municipality partnership. The relevance of the Quintuple Helix Innovation System Index (IQHIS = 0.64) in the implementation of this project demonstrates a significant improvement in the contribution of the University of Douala in the local development. The vulgarization of this five-fold innovation, however, suffers from the absence of an incentive and coercive device. A National Responsible Research Policy (NRRP) would better promote this innovation by local authorities in the municipalization of national development.