IATF: UNIDO Boosts Women-Led SMEs in Africa
Algiers, Algeria, 9 September 2025 – Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of Africa’s economic transformation. Yet, despite their critical role, many SMEs face significant challenges in accessing markets, scaling operations, and integrating into regional and global value chains. In response, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has been at the forefront of implementing strategic initiatives to boost SME competitiveness, unlock market access, and strengthen industrial clusters across the continent.
During the Intra-Africa Trade Fair (IATF) which was held from 4 to 10 September 2025 in Algiers, Algeria, UNIDO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting women SMEs in Africa by enhancing their trade competitiveness, improving market access, and fostering cluster development.
Best practices and impactful results from UNIDO’s projects such as the Ghana cluster experience, the cactus and prickly value chain in Tunisia, as well as the APILE project in Comoros were presented at the IATF in Algiers, during a session focused on “UNIDO Initiatives on SME Trade Competitiveness, Market Access and Cluster Development” at an African Union (AU) event.
Mrs. Ron Osman, Director for Industry, Minerals, Entrepreneurship and Tourism at the African Union Commission (AUC) remarked that “the future of Africa’s sustainable industrial development depends on how effectively we empower SMEs—not just to survive, but to scale, innovate, and trade. Through cluster development we can foster job creation, inclusive value chains and boost intra-African trade and international market access. By collaborating with UNIDO we are laying the foundation for inclusive industrialization in the continent as enshrined in the AU’s Agenda 2063”.
“The African private sector is the backbone of the economies in Africa and as the premier advocacy arm of the African Union for the private sector, we are ready at the Africa Business Council to strengthen our partnership with UNIDO to empower our women SMEs to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)” said Dr. Amany Asfour, President of the Africa Business Council (AfBC).
UNIDO experts Ms. Lemia Chekir-Thabet and Ms. Catherine Mwangi highlighted the role of clusters in economic diversification, industrial upgrading and export promotion by reflecting on how local clusters can further contribute to boosting women’s economic empowerment. Concrete examples of the impact of the UNIDO interventions in terms of process upgrading, quality enhancement, standards development, product diversification and market access were presented as well as new initiatives such as the EUR 200 million EU-funded pan-African Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Programme jointly implemented with ITC under EU funding.
President of the Africa Women in Processing (AWIP) Mrs. Rabiatou Arzika stated that “ For women-led processing enterprises across Africa, access to markets is not just about profit—it's about empowerment, dignity and economic inclusion. UNIDO’s guidance in mainstreaming cluster development will help African SMEs to break barriers, scale our impact, and become active players in regional and continental trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)”.
As the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) continues to spotlight the continent’s vast economic potential, UNIDO’s intervention at the AU event reaffirmed its commitment to building resilient, competitive, and inclusive industrial ecosystems. By enhancing SME trade capacity, promoting regional market access, and fostering dynamic clusters, UNIDO is not only supporting the realization of the AfCFTA’s vision but also empowering African businesses—especially women-led businesses—to drive the continent’s industrial transformation from the ground up. As Africa continues to build a unified, resilient, and sustainable market, UNIDO’s work remains pivotal in ensuring that no SME is left behind.
For more information, please contact:
Ebe Muschialli
Industrial Development Officer, UNIDO
e.muschialli [at] unido.org
