Ethiopia

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat has called for more partnerships to support youth development in Africa. He made this statement ahead of the 35th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly in a virtual event which showcased the results of the 1 Million by 2021 initiative. Launched in 2019, the initiative sought to provide direct opportunities for African youth in the areas of Education, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Engagement (the 4Es).

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) constitute over 90% of total business units in Africa. They are often described as efficient and prolific job creators, the seeds of big businesses and the fuel of national economic engines. Even in developed industrial economies, SMEs, rather than the multinationals, provide the largest amount of employment. For Africa to become a meaningful and proportionate shareholder of the global digital economy, it needs to leverage on data and commercial intelligence to benefit the masses of MSMEs, young startups, youth and women.