AfCFTA SME Resilience Programme
Technical Assistance to Strengthen SME Resilience Under the AfCFTA Framework
GOPA Consulting / African Development Bank (AfDB)
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Year
2023
Client
African Union / AfCFTA Secretariat
Funding
European Union
Target
SMEs across West and Central Africa
Year
2025
Objectives & Context
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) creates unprecedented opportunities for African businesses but also exposes smaller enterprises to intensified competitive pressure from larger, better-capitalised firms. Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across West and Central Africa lack the capacity to understand regulatory frameworks, adapt their production and supply chains, and access new markets effectively. Without targeted support, the risk is that AfCFTA benefits accrue predominantly to large corporations while smaller businesses face marginalisation or closure, deepening inequality and undermining inclusive growth objectives.
Our Approach & Solution
TSC Global provided technical assistance to design and pilot a capacity-building programme for MSMEs, working in partnership with the AfCFTA Secretariat and EU technical teams. The programme included diagnostic assessments of MSME competitiveness gaps across five focus countries, design of modular training curricula on trade compliance, digital tools for cross-border commerce, and financing pathways. TSC Global also produced policy briefs on MSME-sensitive provisions within AfCFTA protocols and facilitated multi-stakeholder dialogues between private sector associations, national trade ministries, and regional bodies.
Results & Impact
The programme successfully enrolled over 1,200 MSME representatives in capacity-building activities during the pilot phase, across Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire and Kenya. Participating firms reported improved awareness of AfCFTA regulations, and a subset demonstrated measurable increases in export readiness. Policy recommendations were formally submitted to the AfCFTA Secretariat for integration into the MSME-specific annex under negotiation.
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