Voices from the Frontlines: Dr. Omam Esther Calls for More Inclusive IP Systems in Fragile Settings - Geneva, Switzerland 11 July 2026

When innovation is born out of crisis, who gets to own it?

That was the question at the heart of Dr. Omam Esther's intervention at the WIPO NGO Stakeholder Dialogue, held on 10 July 2026 in Geneva. Speaking as Executive Director of Reach Out Cameroon (ROC), Country Chair of the G100 Mentoring & Motivation Wing in Cameroon, Vice Chair of the Continental Network of Women Business Associations in Africa (CONWOBAA), and Special Rapporteur for the National Women's Convention for Peace, Dr. Omam Esther urged the global intellectual property community to look beyond boardrooms and laboratories toward the makeshift workshops, shelters, and displacement camps where some of the world's most resourceful problem-solving happens every day.

Innovation Doesn't Wait for Peace

Dr. Omam Esther brings nearly three decades of experience in humanitarian action, peacebuilding, and community development to the table, with a track record of reaching more than 2,845,000 beneficiaries. That experience has shown her something the formal IP system often misses: communities affected by conflict don't stop innovating. They adapt, improvise, and rebuild creating solutions born of necessity.

The problem, she argued, is what happens next. Too often, these grassroots innovations are studied, replicated, and scaled by others, while the original creators are left with no recognition, no ownership, and no share of the benefits.

"Intellectual property isn't only about protecting ideas and inventions," she told the dialogue. "It's about ensuring that the women, young people, and local innovators behind those ideas receive the recognition, ownership, and economic benefits they rightfully deserve."

WIPO Responds: Mentorship as a Bridge

WIPO Director General Mr. Daren Tang responded directly to her intervention, pointing to concrete programs already underway. He highlighted mentoring initiatives in Cameroon and Zimbabwe, where women entrepreneurs are being guided through the practical work of building trademarks, branding, and IP strategies. Over the past six years, he noted, WIPO's training and mentoring programs have strengthened the capacities of more than 200,000 participants worldwide.

Recognition on the Sidelines

The dialogue also brought personal recognition for Dr. Omam Esther. On the sidelines of the event, she received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Egyptian Council for Innovation, Creativity & Protection of Information (ECCIPP), honoring her dedication and professionalism in advancing innovation and empowering women through sustainable entrepreneurship.

A Perspective Rarely Heard in IP Conversations

What made Dr. Omam Esther's contribution stand out was the lens she brought to a conversation usually dominated by patents, trademarks, and formal legal frameworks: the lived experience of communities in fragile and conflict-affected settings. By connecting grassroots innovation to peacebuilding and inclusive development, she reframed intellectual property as something bigger than a legal shield a tool for resilience, economic inclusion, and social justice.

As she put it: "Innovation flourishes even in the most fragile settings. Our collective responsibility is to ensure that those who create solutions are recognized, protected, and empowered to benefit from the fruits of their creativity."

Reflecting on the dialogue afterward, Dr. Omam Esther reaffirmed her commitment to building the kind of innovation, excellence, and strategic partnerships that allow grassroots communities especially those in fragile and conflict-affected settings to protect what they create, benefit from their own ingenuity, and contribute to lasting peace and sustainable development.