The Ecobank Group and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), under its 100,000 MSMEs by 2021 (100K MSMEs), have launched the MSME Academy to provide easy access to practical training and resources on financing opportunities in various countries; how to build a digital presence for businesses; and how to adapt business operations in the era of COVID-19 pandemic.
The Pan African MSME Academy offers free access to market intelligence and a host of mentors with a diverse experience while assisting with access to funding opportunities. The MSME Academy will have three components: an informational webinar with invited speakers, a series of virtual instructor-led training, and mentorship for the MSMEs.
MSMEs are invited to join our first series of informational webinars tailored for MSMEs operating in Ghana. The first webinar provides tips on access to finance and building a digital presence.
Scheduled to come off on August 21, 2020, interested businesses can register to the MSME Academy at https://msmeacademy.nepad.org/
The AUDA-NEPAD 100K MSMEs programme is focused on the implementation of the Agenda 2063 Aspiration number-one (1), which aims at building a Prosperous Africa based on Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development.
The programme will provide support to African MSMEs and is structured on three pillars: the MSME Academy; MSME Marketplace; and MSME Financing Support Programme to be delivered through an MSME Digital Platform.
MSME Academy: The MSME Academy aims to build the capacities of MSMEs across Africa through a combination of relevant content library, a network of institutions specialised in MSME support such as incubators and accelerators, and a community of peers, mentors and advisors.
MSME Marketplace: a consolidated marketplace of marketplaces, enabling MSMEs to access e-commerce, procurement and alternative financing opportunities across the continent.
MSME Financing Support Programme: a scheme that will bring together financial institutions, guarantee funds and other institutions to reduce the cost of risk for lenders to deliver capital to MSMEs at scale. The objective is to radically expand access to finance by aggregating smaller financial institutions such as micro-credit institutions and credit unions that have access to micro-enterprises, standardising their processes and building trust in their capabilities.
The MSME Digital Platform is a one-stop-shop for all MSMEs across Africa to access all these three programmes, which jointly address MSMEs’ challenges with access to capacity building, markets and capital.
