BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a5108816f035 DTSTART:20260526T060000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20260526T150000Z LOCATION:Kampala\, Uganda SUMMARY:Expert Group Meeting on strengthening SME participation in regional value chains under the AfCFTA CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:African SMEs represent more than 90% of enterprises and are ess ential drivers of job creation\, industrial diversification\, and inclusiv e economic transformation. Nevertheless\, SMEs in vulnerable African count ries continue to face structural challenges—limited access to finance an d technology\, high informality\, low productivity\, and fragmented market access—which hinder their integration into regional value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).To address these challeng es\, UNCTAD is implementing the four-year project “Enhancing the capacit y of African vulnerable countries in adopting policy incentives and innova tive instruments for SMEs’ participation in regional value chains” (20 24–2028). The project supports six countries—Benin\, Burundi\, Cabo Ve rde\, Central African Republic\, Togo and Uganda—through policy analysis \, capacity building\, methodological development\, digital innovation\, a nd institutional coordination.As part of the project technical implementat ion framework\, UNCTAD convenes a regional Expert Group Meeting to refine and validate the methodological framework for country assessments and to i dentify opportunities for regional industrial development under the AfCFTA . This meeting ensures high-level ownership\, technical rigor\, and alignm ent with national priorities and AfCFTA implementation strategies.<\;p&g t\;African SMEs represent more than 90% of enterprises and are essential d rivers of job creation\, industrial diversification\, and inclusive econom ic transformation. Nevertheless\, SMEs in vulnerable African countries con tinue to face structural challenges—limited access to finance and techno logy\, high informality\, low productivity\, and fragmented market access —which hinder their integration into regional value chains under the Afr ican Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;To addres s these challenges\, UNCTAD is implementing the four-year project “Enhan cing the capacity of African vulnerable countries in adopting policy incen tives and innovative instruments for SMEs’ participation in regional val ue chains” (2024–2028). The project supports six countries—Benin\, B urundi\, Cabo Verde\, Central African Republic\, Togo and Uganda—through policy analysis\, capacity building\, methodological development\, digita l innovation\, and institutional coordination.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;As pa rt of the project technical implementation framework\, UNCTAD convenes a r egional Expert Group Meeting to refine and validate the methodological fra mework for country assessments and to identify opportunities for regional industrial development under the AfCFTA. This meeting ensures high-level o wnership\, technical rigor\, and alignment with national priorities and Af CFTA implementation strategies.<\;/p>\;\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\ nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/expert-group-meeting-strengthening-sme-partici pation-regional-value-chains-under-afcfta DTSTAMP:20260710T145809Z END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a5108816f0ad DTSTART:20260527T060000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20260527T150000Z LOCATION:Kampala\, Uganda SUMMARY:Expert Group Meeting on strengthening SME participation in regional value chains under the AfCFTA CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:African SMEs represent more than 90% of enterprises and are ess ential drivers of job creation\, industrial diversification\, and inclusiv e economic transformation. Nevertheless\, SMEs in vulnerable African count ries continue to face structural challenges—limited access to finance an d technology\, high informality\, low productivity\, and fragmented market access—which hinder their integration into regional value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).To address these challeng es\, UNCTAD is implementing the four-year project “Enhancing the capacit y of African vulnerable countries in adopting policy incentives and innova tive instruments for SMEs’ participation in regional value chains” (20 24–2028). The project supports six countries—Benin\, Burundi\, Cabo Ve rde\, Central African Republic\, Togo and Uganda—through policy analysis \, capacity building\, methodological development\, digital innovation\, a nd institutional coordination.As part of the project technical implementat ion framework\, UNCTAD convenes a regional Expert Group Meeting to refine and validate the methodological framework for country assessments and to i dentify opportunities for regional industrial development under the AfCFTA . This meeting ensures high-level ownership\, technical rigor\, and alignm ent with national priorities and AfCFTA implementation strategies.<\;p&g t\;African SMEs represent more than 90% of enterprises and are essential d rivers of job creation\, industrial diversification\, and inclusive econom ic transformation. Nevertheless\, SMEs in vulnerable African countries con tinue to face structural challenges—limited access to finance and techno logy\, high informality\, low productivity\, and fragmented market access —which hinder their integration into regional value chains under the Afr ican Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;To addres s these challenges\, UNCTAD is implementing the four-year project “Enhan cing the capacity of African vulnerable countries in adopting policy incen tives and innovative instruments for SMEs’ participation in regional val ue chains” (2024–2028). The project supports six countries—Benin\, B urundi\, Cabo Verde\, Central African Republic\, Togo and Uganda—through policy analysis\, capacity building\, methodological development\, digita l innovation\, and institutional coordination.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;As pa rt of the project technical implementation framework\, UNCTAD convenes a r egional Expert Group Meeting to refine and validate the methodological fra mework for country assessments and to identify opportunities for regional industrial development under the AfCFTA. This meeting ensures high-level o wnership\, technical rigor\, and alignment with national priorities and Af CFTA implementation strategies.<\;/p>\;\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\ nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/expert-group-meeting-strengthening-sme-partici pation-regional-value-chains-under-afcfta DTSTAMP:20260710T145809Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR