The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the International Trade Facilitation Association (ITFA), has unveiled plans to establish a $50 million fund aimed at supporting the international certification of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as well as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Nigeria.
The initiative was formally announced in Abuja during the opening session of a three-day programme titled Support to Potential and Established Nature-Positive MSMEs (SPEM) Partner Learning Session, held under the theme, “Sustainability as a Mindset: Lessons from the Field.”
Addressing participants, UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, emphasized that the fund is designed to reduce entry barriers for Nigerian MSMEs and NGOs seeking access to international markets.
“This project marks a significant step towards embedding sustainability within Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem. True sustainability goes far beyond grants—our businesses require international certifications, strong networks, and the right technical knowledge just as much as they require financial capital,” she noted.
Attafuah, represented at the event by UNDP Economics Advisor, Dr. Tony Muhumuza, revealed that more than 300 MSMEs and NGOs across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones have already participated in activities geared toward promoting sustainability, knowledge exchange, and matchmaking.
She explained further that the new Standards & Certification Fund, seeded with ITFA’s initial contribution, will enable enterprises to obtain the necessary certifications to meet global benchmarks, particularly in sectors like agriculture, agro-processing, renewable energy, and natural products.
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Also speaking, Mrs. Ibironke Olubamise, National Coordinator of the UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme, noted that the decision to support NGOs through certification emerged from UNDP’s recognition of the financial instability of many civil society organizations.
“Most NGOs operate from grant cycle to grant cycle, barely sustaining themselves. Through this fund, our aim is to reposition them as social enterprises that can generate income, sustain their structures, and expand their community impact,” she explained.
Olubamise pointed to the example of Ashi Integrated Global Foundation, a UNDP-supported beneficiary that, through this approach, secured Nigeria’s first internationally certified shea butter exports to the United States and United Kingdom two years ago.
In his remarks, ITFA Coordinator, Dr. Collins Ezeiruaku, stressed that the Certification Fund is essential for scaling Nigerian MSMEs to meet global standards.
“Our objective is to mobilize about $50 million. The focus is to help more MSMEs and organizations attain certification, which is often the gateway to global markets. Too many MSMEs operate like NGOs and disappear with their founders due to weak structures. What they truly need is certification, networks, and knowledge to break that cycle,” he said.
Ezeiruaku also urged participants to maximize networking opportunities throughout the three-day programme:
“In this same space, someone may be struggling with fish feed while another participant is already producing it. By exchanging ideas and sharing solutions, challenges can be addressed without financial transactions. Funding is critical, but long-term sustainability requires far more than money.”
