Project Info

Project Code
2225C
Tranche
T14
Tranche Type
Regular
Status
Active
Title
Strengthened Resilience of Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in Africa and Asia

Entities

Implementing Entity (Lead)
DESA
Collaborating DA Entities
UNCTAD
ECA
ESCAP
Other Collaborating Entities
Other UN entities

Financial and Evaluation Info

Total Budget
$500,000.00
Project Selected for Evaluation
No

Countries and Regions

Countries or Areas: Cambodia, Ethiopia, Philippines (the), Zimbabwe
Regions: Africa, Asia
Sub-Regions:
Intermediate Regions:
Countries in Special Situations: Land Locked Developing Countries (LLDC), Least Developed Countries (LDC)

Areas of Work

SDG
1
2
4
5
8
9
10
17
SDG Targets
1.1
1.2
1.4
1.5
2.1
2.3
4.4
5.a
5.b
8.3
8.5
8.6
9.1
9.2
9.3
10.3
10.4
17.9

Brief Description

The need to support countries formulating policies and strategies for MSME resilience has been recognized by the General Assembly resolution A/RES/74/270 . In the Secretary-General's report 'Shared responsibility, global solidarity: Responding to the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic' , supporting MSMEs is outlined as a focus area to tackle socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Supporting MSMEs and informal workers is also included as one of the five pillars in the UN Framework for the Immediate Socioeconomic Response to the COVID-19 crisis . In this context, this project aims to formulate enabling policy environments and strengthen capacities of policymakers and MSME entrepreneurs to enhance MSME resilience to external shocks and risks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, in Cambodia, Ethiopia, the Philippines and Zimbabwe. The project will improve the capacity of policymakers to plan and implement coherent policy mechanisms promoting MSME resilience. It will also strengthen MSME entrepreneurial capacities for resilience and competitiveness for the inclusive and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. To upscale impact and sustainability, the project will forge extensive partnerships within and across target countries. It will pursue synergies with regional MSME supporting strategies such as the African Union SMEs Strategy and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation's Small and Medium Enterprises Working Group Strategic Plan for 2021-2024, in addition to pursuing coherent interventions with MSME supporting programmes of government departments, UN Country Teams and development partners in target countries.

Objective and Expected Outcomes

Objective
To enhance the resilience of MSMEs in Africa and Asia to contribute to the 2030 Agenda
Expected Outcome 1
Enhanced capacity of policymakers to create and implement effective policies that support MSME resilience and contribute to an enabling environment for MSMEs in target countries
Expected Outcome 2
Improved capacity of MSME entrepreneurs, associations, business incubators in target countries to enhance MSME skills for resilience and build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic