UNDP Botswana

Strengthening MSMEs through AfCFTA Opportunities in Goodhope

The MSME Training is underway in Godhope since yesterday! Led by UNDP Botswana in partnership with Goodhope District Council and facilitated by experts from the Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship Botswana (MTE), Botswana Unified Revenue Service - BURS.

Over the past days, from villages including Goodhope, Pitsane, Metlojane, Mmakgori, Ramatlabama, Tshidilamolomo, Mmathethe, Dikhukhung, Logagane, Mosisedi, and many more have gained vital skills in:

✅AfCFTA Awareness
✅ Market & Export Readiness
✅ Protocol on Women & Youth in Trade
✅ Digital Trade
✅ Rules of Origin
✅ MSME & .

Together, we’re building stronger, certified MSMEs ready to trade across Africa!

By joining the sessions, the Local Economic Development (LED) team from Goodhope District Council is ensuring that MSMEs have direct access to ongoing guidance, mentorship, and local policy alignment. This means Stronger institutional support where MSMEs connect training outcomes to council-led initiatives; Sustainable growth with LED teams helping to embed AfCFTA opportunities into local development plans, Closer collaboration with MSMEs benefitting from a bridge between national facilitators and local governance.

This partnership ensures that entrepreneurs are not just trained; they are supported to thrive long after the workshops. ✨

Today, in partnership with Government and regional partners, we successfully convened the , Botswana Country Scan Validation session.

The session brought together stakeholders from government, financial institutions, private sector organisations, civil society, youth organisations, women entrepreneur associations, informal economy associations, regulators and development partners to validate findings from the country assessment conducted under the Enhancing Capacities of Young Women and Youth-Led Enterprises for Regional Trade Project.

The findings highlighted key opportunities and barriers affecting women and youth-led enterprises in regional trade under the , including access to finance, digital inclusion, trade readiness and market access.

Stakeholders also confirmed the project’s relevance to Botswana’s economic development priorities and pledged continued collaboration and partnership during the implementation of the project.