Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are the quiet powerhouses of the global economy, they alone making up 90% of all businesses and employ more than half of the world’s workforce. 

In developing countries, their role goes far beyond economics; they are lifelines for communities and catalysts for social stability. With over a billion young people expected to join the global workforce in the next decade, SMEs stand at the frontlines of this transformation — creating jobs, nurturing talent, and shaping the future of work.

Yet, their greatest strength isn’t just in numbers, but in their roots. SMEs thrive because they understand their communities — they source locally, train locally, and grow with the people they serve. Across Africa, a new wave of entrepreneurs is redefining what business means: blending profit with purpose, and replacing charity with intentional, built-in social impact.

This is how African SMEs can rewrite this story, by proving that long-term success comes not from giving back, but from building forward. Click here to view report