Ubuntu-Susu: AAASME Unveils Continental Fund to Drive Inclusive Growth, Investment

The African Alliance of Associations of Small and Medium Enterprises (AAASME) has announced significant progress in its campaign for an Afrocentric model of finance, reaffirming its commitment to transforming the financial landscape for Africa’s SMEs.

Since first raising the call at the 2019 Africa Industrialisation Week (AIW) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, AAASME has worked with continental partners to develop innovative pathways for SMEs to access finance.

This vision took a historic step forward at the 4th Africa SME Roundtable in June 2025, themed “From Millions to Billions: Igniting Continental Investment, SME Growth and Expansion.” There, SMEs across the continent reached a consensus to take ownership of their economic destiny, unveiling the Ubuntu-Susu Continental SME Fund on the margins of the 32nd Annual Meetings of Afreximbank in Abuja, Nigeria.

Building on this momentum, AAASME launched the Ubuntu-Susu Roadshow Sensitization Campaign during the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2025 in Algiers. The campaign will culminate in the pre-launch of the Fund in November 2025 at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, as part of the Africa Celebrates event.

“Ubuntu-Susu represents more than a financial mechanism — it is a statement of independence, innovation, and unity by Africa’s SMEs,” said Dr. Ebiekure Jasper Eradiri, President of AAASME. “Our guiding pillars are the 4Cs: Collaboration, Cooperation, Coordination, and Communication. With these, we will deliver sustainable solutions to empower more than 100 million SMEs across Africa.”

As the foremost continental body advocating, supporting, and promoting SME development, AAASME is positioning Ubuntu-Susu as a scalable, Afrocentric, and inclusive financial model to fuel SME growth, expansion, and resilience across Africa.

Call to Action
AAASME urges governments, financial institutions, development partners, and the private sector to rally behind this transformative initiative. By working together, the Ubuntu-Susu Fund will unlock unprecedented opportunities for Africa’s SMEs — driving the continent from millions to billions.

About AAASME
The African Alliance of Associations of Small and Medium Enterprises (AAASME) is a continental umbrella organization dedicated to the advocacy, support, and development of the SME ecosystem across Africa. Since 2019, AAASME has led the movement for an Afrocentric model of finance and alternative access to funding for Africa’s entrepreneurs.