Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of African economies, driving job creation, value chain integration, and inclusive growth. Yet, persistent barriers such as limited access to finance, liquidity constraints, insufficient technical capacity, and weak ecosystem coordination continue to constrain their full potential. Addressing these challenges requires holistic approaches that bring together capital, technical assistance, innovation, and partnerships across the ecosystem.
The Alliance for Entrepreneurship in Africa (AforE) has been launched as a collaborative platform to strengthen African SME ecosystems, build synergies across development partners and private investors, and accelerate innovative solutions. This roundtable will highlight concrete initiatives and investment models while providing a space for dialogue among ecosystem actors, including DFIs, investors, financial institutions, governments, and SMEs themselves.
The session will feature case studies from AfricInvest and Equity Bank, complemented by insights from the SME Finance Forum’s global gap analysis. Participants will then engage in a moderated roundtable discussion on how to scale support for SMEs through value chain integration, financing innovation, and ecosystem strengthening.
