$1.4 Billion Continental SME Fund: AAASME Commences Roadshow

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across Africa are now poised to take their destiny into their own hands through what is set to become one of the most ambitious access-to-finance initiatives on the continent.

On June 28, 2025, during the 4th Africa SME Roundtable held in Abuja, Nigeria, alongside the Afreximbank Annual Meetings, the All Africa Association for Small and Medium Enterprises (AAASME) announced the unveiling of a $1.4 billion Continental SME Fund tagged Ubuntu Susu.

What is Ubuntu Susu?

Ubuntu Susu is rooted in Africa’s traditional systems of revolving contributory finance. It is an Afrocentric financial model that has thrived for centuries across Africa, the Caribbean, and among people of African descent globally. This model emphasizes solidarity, shared responsibility, and collective growth.

The innovation behind Ubuntu Susu is to create an alternative recipe for access to finance that responds to the realities of Africa’s SME ecosystem, extending its reach to the African Diaspora—recognized as the continent’s 6th region.

AAASME’s Long-standing Advocacy

According to AAASME President, Dr. Ebiekure Jasper Eradiri, the advocacy for an Afrocentric financing model has been at the heart of AAASME’s mission since 2019. This vision gained significant traction among stakeholders, including traditional leaders who endorsed it at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the 2024 edition of Africa Celebrates.

The Roadshow Begins

To raise awareness and mobilize support, AAASME has launched a continental roadshow sensitization campaign. The journey begins on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Algeria, before taking the message to the global stage at upcoming WTO and UNGA engagements.

Pre-Launch at Africa Celebrates 2025

The structure of the Fund will be officially pre-launched at Africa Celebrates 2025, scheduled for November 4–10, 2025, at the AU and UNECA facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This unique event is a fusion of Africa’s heritage, fashion, music, business, and excellence, offering the perfect stage to showcase this transformative initiative.

Why It Matters

The Ubuntu Susu fund represents a bold step toward reshaping Africa’s financial landscape. By leveraging indigenous knowledge and systems of trust, it seeks to empower SMEs—the true backbone of Africa’s economy—while also creating a bridge for diaspora participation.

AAASME’s leadership in this initiative underlines a simple truth: African problems require African solutions.