ECA North Africa Launches Capacity-Building Workshop for Women-Led SMEs in Libya

Participants include women entrepreneurs from Libya, representatives from the Libyan Ministry of Economy and Trade, and officials from other North African countries.

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Office for North Africa has launched a capacity-building workshop for women entrepreneurs leading small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in partnership with the Libyan Ministry of Economy and Trade. Held in Tunis, Tunisia from September 24-27, 2024, the workshop focuses on improving export practices, digital capabilities, and sustainable investments for women-led businesses.

The workshop is part of the ECA’s ongoing initiative to support female entrepreneurs across North Africa, a region where female labour force participation stands at 20.1%, below both continental and global averages. Through this program, the ECA aims to boost employment opportunities for women by enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs, especially within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.

Participants include women entrepreneurs from Libya, representatives from the Libyan Ministry of Economy and Trade, and officials from other North African countries. Adam Elhiraika, Director of the ECA Office for North Africa, emphasized the importance of women-led SMEs in generating employment and contributing to economic development in the region.

“SMEs play a crucial role in creating employment for women across North Africa. It is important that our member states support the growth and resilience of these businesses to enhance female participation in the workforce,” Elhiraika stated.

The workshop will cover peer learning sessions on export market access, digitization of export activities, and strategies for incorporating sustainable business practices. These sessions are designed to strengthen the resilience of women-led enterprises, helping them thrive in regional and global markets.

This event builds on a series of successful training workshops conducted by the ECA in Morocco, where over 350 women entrepreneurs benefited from similar programs. Additionally, the initiative has been extended to include Mauritania, further expanding its reach in North Africa.

The ECA aims to continue fostering entrepreneurship, economic inclusion, and sustainable business growth among women in North Africa, contributing to long-term development and gender equity in the region.