| Overview : ENGAGEMENT OF PRIVATE SECTOR, MANUFACTURERS’ AND SMEs’ BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE AWARENESS ON AFRICA CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA (AFCFTA) OPPORTUNITIES FOR UGANDAN BUSNIESS AND STRENGTHEN THE CAPACITIES FOR INCREASED EXPORT TO THE AFRICAN MARKET BY UGANDAN SMEs’. Background The Government of Uganda strives to promote private sector development and job creation through active participation in international trade agreements. As such, Uganda has since independence been an active participant in regional economic integration initiatives and in promoting pan-Africanism and its values. Export growth and diversification in Uganda has over the last two decades been impressive increasing from USD 395 million in 2000 to about USD 3.36 billion in 2018. The African continent remains the main destination of Uganda’s exports, followed by Europe and then the Middle East. Uganda’s export earnings from African countries increased more than the export revenues from non-African countries during the past 10 years. Earnings from African economies increased from USD 798 million in 2008 to USD 1.87 billion by 2019. On the other hand, earnings from non-African economies increased from USD 927 million in 2008 to USD 1.5 billion by 2018 further highlighting the importance of the AfCFTA to Uganda. The private sector is the engine of for sustainable economic growth and development, job creation and poverty alleviation in Uganda and across Africa and the world. The private sector in Uganda accounts for 80 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), generates 77 percent of formal jobs, and provides more than 80 percent of Government’s domestic revenues. The private sector is a key stakeholder and beneficiary of the AfCFTA. The business communities are the actual traders and investors; responsible for moving goods and services across border. The private sector thus has key role to play in realizing AfCFTA’s promise To ensure that the private sector can fully take advantage of the African Free Trade Area, it is important that businesses fully comprehend what the AfCFTA entails, potential benefits and opportunities and most importantly how to position the business to leverage the evolving opportunities for expansion and mitigation of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. To do that, the private sector needs to be supported to assess the opportunities, develop workable strategies, and address the challenges that may constrain their way to success. In this regard, UNDP has in consultation with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC), developed an initiative – “Trading Beyond EAC and COMESA; Unlocking Uganda’s Potential in the AfCFTA” – intended to support the efforts to harness the enormous potential that the trade agreement presents for Uganda. The pilot initiative has three key objectives namely: a) Creation of awareness on AfCFTA amongst stakeholders b) Development of a National AfCFTA Implementation Strategy c) Establishment of a Trade Financing Facility especially targeting women and youth owned and led SMEs. To this end, UNDP is looking to partner with Private sector, Manufacturing, and SMEs’ Business Membership Organizations (BMOs) with a significant membership to create on awareness on AfCFTA, and strengthen the export readiness capacity of SMEs To submit proposals and other related documents to tenders.kampala@undp.org no later than Tuesday 14th September 2021, at 23:59 hours (East African Standard Time). For additional information, please contact ug.procurement@undp.org. | 
