Ahead of the International Day for Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) on 27 June, member institutions of the Smallholder and Agri-SME Finance and Investment Network (SAFIN) have joined forces to raise awareness about small businesses in the agriculture sector. Despite accounting for 50% of all jobs, and 80% of food production and trade in sub-Saharan Africa alone, these enterprises are often overlooked by the finance providers that can power their growth.
The campaign, Missing Middle, focuses on the voices and transformational potential of MSMEs in agriculture, and showcases the different approaches investors and development partners use to support them. In 2022, the estimated financing gap for these enterprises in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa was estimated at US$ 106 billion, and their financial pressure has only risen in recent years due to a series of global shocks. Through this campaign, SAFIN members aim to mobilize attention and commitment for more financial and non-financial support for the engines of food systems.
“Supporting MSMEs in agriculture is a proven approach to addressing many challenges in emerging markets, from unemployment to hunger to climate change,” said Nadia Martinez, Senior Coordinator of SAFIN. “This World MSME Day, we are using the collective voice of our network to amplify their stories of transformation.”
With only six years left to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the call for greater support for small enterprises- the backbone of global economies and food systems- is more important than ever. As part of broader efforts to recognize how MSMEs are advancing the SDGs this World MSME Day, the #MissingMiddle campaign puts a special spotlight on their role in ending hunger and ensuring decent work for all.
Join the campaign
Visit the campaign microsite here.
Download social media assets here.
