The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), in partnership with the governments of Libya and Tunisia, concluded a workshop aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The program, titled “Harnessing AfCFTA Opportunities: Strengthening Youth- and Women-Led SMEs in Libya and Tunisia,” focused on essential areas including digitalization, access to financing, and climate change adaptation. This event was the culmination of a series of online trainings for 35 SMEs and cooperatives, with a particular focus on those led by women and youth.
SMEs are vital to both North African economies, accounting for over of the private sector in both countries. UNECA Project Coordinator Wafa Aidi noted the program’s goal was to equip these businesses with skills to “access financing, leverage digital technologies, and make the most of AfCFTA opportunities.”
While SMEs contribute significantly to non-oil employment in Libya, and form the “backbone” of both economies, women’s ownership remains limited to under . Organizers stressed that empowering these SMEs, particularly those led by youth and women, is essential for transforming the AfCFTA into a driver of integration and shared prosperity, warning that any delay reduces Africa’s chances of fully leveraging its economic potential.
MK/sf/lb/abj/APA