African SMEs represent more than 90% of enterprises and are essential drivers of job creation, industrial diversification, and inclusive economic transformation. Nevertheless, SMEs in vulnerable African countries continue to face structural challenges—limited access to finance and 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 challenges, UNCTAD is implementing the four-year project “Enhancing the capacity of African vulnerable countries in adopting policy incentives and innovative instruments for SMEs’ participation in regional value chains” (2024–2028). The project supports six countries—Benin, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Togo and Uganda—through policy analysis, capacity building, methodological development, digital innovation, and institutional coordination.
As part of the project technical implementation framework, UNCTAD convenes a regional Expert Group Meeting to refine and validate the methodological framework for country assessments and to identify opportunities for regional industrial development under the AfCFTA. This meeting ensures high-level ownership, technical rigor, and alignment with national priorities and AfCFTA implementation strategies.
