Expertise France is a French public international cooperation agency. It designs and implements projects which aim to contribute to the balanced development of partner countries, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda and the priorities of France’s external action. Expertise France’s mission is to meet the demand of partner countries seeking to enhance the quality of their public policies in order to address the environmental, social, economic and security challenges they are facing. The agency achieves this goal by implementing projects in the main areas of public action:

-     Democratic, economic and financial governance;

-     Stability, international security and peace Stability, international security and peace

-     Sustainable development, climate and agriculture

-     Health and human development

In order to give substance to this dialogue and to enshrine it in the long term and with a specific focus on the second theme of his declaration of intent, a total of EUR 2.75 Million in funding have been granted by the French Development Agency (AFD) to Expertise France in the form of a technical assistance and capacity-building facility to support the AU on issues within its area of expertise.

Based on a request from different departments from the AU Commission, the French Facility for Technical Assistance to the African Union facilitated the conduct of a number of studies, strategy and policy papers aimed at supporting the African Union Commission on topics related to economy and commerce.

Africa Union SME strategy

 The African Union, established as a unique Pan African continental body, is charged with spearheading Africa’s rapid integration and sustainable development by promoting unity, solidarity, cohesion, and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African States as well as developing a new partnership worldwide.  As part of the efforts to inspire economic growth and transformation on the continent, the AU has developed the SME Strategy for Africa in line with its 2063 agenda ‘’Africa we Want’’. The vision of the AU SME Strategy is to “develop competitive, diversified and sustainable economies underpinned by dynamic, entrepreneurial and industrial sectors that generate employment, reduce poverty and foster social inclusion”.

Considering the AU’s comparative advantage in engaging RECs and Member States and recognizing that Africa’s private sector has not been an important source of competitive, diversified, and sustainable job growth, the strategy identifies how the AU can leverage its convening power to engage RECs as well as Member States in re-examining how to strengthen and reinvigorate the private sector engagement in SMEs to achieve the set goal.  To making significant stride towards the realization of AU vision, the strategy hinges on seven pillars that are presented below:

1. Create an enabling business environment and ensure energy access and infrastructure
2. Facilitate innovation and technology and promote start-ups, knowledge-based sectors, and growth enterprises
3. Promote access to innovative financing
4. Ensure access to markets, export competitiveness and regional integration
5. Promote business development services and institutional capacity building
6. Promote learning practices and knowledge management
7. Promote inclusive entrepreneurship (youth, women) and livelihood development

The implementation of AU SME strategy is essential to make SMEs competitive in export markets, especially under the AfCFTA, which aims to boost intra-continental trade through agreements on rules of origin, preferential tariffs, trade procedures and regulations. Thanks to these agreements, African SMEs will find favorable condition for growing their business on the continent.

The AU SME strategy is implemented by the Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals Department (ETTIM), in close collaboration with RECs, Member States and the private sector and in partnership with international and bilateral development agencies and Development Finance Institutions.

Recognizing that Africa’s private sector had not been an important source of growth and had limited impact on employment creation, the SME strategy clearly outlines the AU's roadmap to be followed by RECs, Member States, International and Bilateral Development agencies and Development Finance Institutions for bringing SMEs to be more competitive in the continental and international markets and for placing them at the center of Africa's development in the crucial years ahead. This is particularly true in this difficult period of COVID-19 which resulted in shocks with multiple effects in Africa, in particular the disruption of supply chains, which has led to a resurgence of food insecurity threats. The SME strategy is therefore part of a post-COVID-19 economic recovery phase.

While the negotiations on the regulations and procedures to facilitate trade under AFCTA are progressing well, the success of this historic initiative will depend on a strong African private sector and competitive SMEs. This calls for appropriate and effective support for enhancing entrepreneurship and industrialization through creating conducive business environment and upgrading their performances for accessing the regional and continental markets. A greater involvement in regional and global value chains, Public and Private Partnership (PPP), subcontracting and outsourcing activities from large companies will sustain SMEs businesses. Sectors with high growth potential, such as manufacturing, agro-processing, green-renewable energy, ICT, services and creative industry are fertile ground for the development of SMEs. But to accompany these companies in the transformation of the economy, adequate financing systems must be implemented.

In seeking to achieve the objectives of the AU SME Strategy, the AUC invites applicants who are citizens of Member States for the long-term Junior Project Officer of Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals of the African Union Commission. This junior officer position is financed by the French Facility for Technical Assistance to the African Union.