The ECOWAS Commission, through its Directorate of Trade and its Directorate of Private Sector and Industry, in collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Sierra Leone, with the support of development partners such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the European Union, the BMZ, GIZ and the International Trade Centre (ITC), successfully launched from 6 to 8 May 2026 in Freetown, Sierra Leone, the Regional Assessment and Capacity Building Programme for Business Support Organizations (BSOs) and women and youth-owned enterprises in West Africa, focused on export readiness under the AfCFTA.
The initiative forms part of the implementation of the ECOWAS Regional Strategy for the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and aims to strengthen the export readiness and competitiveness of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), particularly those led by women and youth, while enhancing the capacity of Business Support Organisations to effectively support businesses engaging in regional and continental trade.
