Google has partnered with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat to launch a new program aiming to train 7,500 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa. The "AfCFTA Digital Inclusion & Entrepreneurship Programme" will equip businesses with skills in AI integration and cross-border trade navigation.

• The training is an extension of the Google Hustle Academy and will be managed by UpSkill Universe.
• The curriculum focuses on AI for Productivity (using Google Gemini), Cross-Border Digital Trade, and Cloud for Small Businesses (Google Workspace and Google Cloud).
• Training content will be delivered in English, French, Arabic, and Portuguese to address language fragmentation.
• Secretary-General H.E. Wamkele Mene of the AfCFTA Secretariat emphasized the program's role in empowering MSMEs, which generate nearly 80 percent of jobs on the continent.
• Businesses must have operated for at least six months and be based in specific AfCFTA member states to qualify, with cohorts running from November 2025 through June 2026.