Weekly Update: Africa

Kenya – At a special meeting for the board of CIPE partner the Micro Small Enterprise Federation (MSEF), CIPE Field Representative Ben Kiragu and the Kenya Private Sector Association (KEPSA) facilitated the appointment of an electoral board that will plan and oversee the federation’s upcoming elections. These elections, which will improve governance within the organization, are consistent with a new constitution that MSEF recently approved with support from CIPE. These efforts to improve association governance are part of an ongoing CIPE program to strengthen the voice of small business associations in Kenya to advocate for reforms that will create a better business environment, especially for the informal sector.

Nigeria – CIPE Nigeria Country Director Wumi Gbadamosi and CIPE Africa Program Officer Yana Hongla met with the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), the local coordinating committee of the Enugu Coalition of Business and Professional Associations (ECOBPA) and the Southeast regional chapters of the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Enugu. The discussions with ECCIMA centered on the impact made through their most recent program with CIPE to expand public-private dialogue in Enugu and to build the capacity of ECOBPA. Similarly, CIPE met with representatives from the Imo, Abia and Anambra state chapters of MAN to learn of progress made in a current project to enhance the private sector’s participation in policymaking through tax reform initiatives.