Google Celebrates International SMB Month, Offers 1,000 Scholarships to Africans

As part of a month-long observance of International Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises Day this June, Google has announced new initiatives to promote small retail businesses in Africa.

The initiatives include the Shopping Small Business Summit, a one-hour virtual training session aimed at assisting SMB owners gain skills and resources to compete online.

Topics will include e-commerce trends and digital marketing and is open to all who register at g.co/events/shoppingsmall.

Google has also teamed with Coursera, a well-known open online education provider, to build an online career certificate course in digital marketing and e-commerce for SMEs, and is offering 1000 scholarships to Africans who wish to participate. The certificate program is the most recent in a succession of efforts targeted at training people for entry-level jobs.

E-commerce presents an opportunity for small businesses in Africa to reach new customers and grow. Through the digital marketing & e-commerce career certificates and specialised training and 1000 scholarships, we want to be able to assist small businesses in Africa gain the expertise to connect online, expand their customer base and scale up.

Juliet Ehimuan, Google Country Director for West Africa

Local Opportunity Finder, a new tool that examines a Google Business Profile and gives personalized recommendations for adjustments a business owner can do to improve how their business profile appears to customers in Google Search, is also launching this month.

In addition, in June, the free, one-week Hustle Academy will focus on vital skills that will assist small and medium-sized retail businesses (SMBs) in developing the abilities they need to expand.

Google sees an opportunity for growth that is more inclusive.

Small retail enterprises in Africa have a lot of room to grow because of the continent’s young population and urbanization.

There are about 2,000 retail malls in South Africa, with a total area of approximately 24 million square meters. With more than 90% of the industry made up of informal merchants, wholesale and retail are the third greatest contributors to Nigeria’s GDP, while Kenya has experienced a steady rise in the number of outlets over the previous five years, with an e-commerce market growth rate of 44% in 2021.

Kenyan and Nigerian e-commerce marketplaces grew by 40% and 30%, respectively, in 2021, while online sales in South Africa climbed by 66% from 2019 to 2020, reaching more than $1.8 billion.

As more consumers on the continent continue to search for goods and services online, it is critical that small retail businesses learn how to better harness online tools for growth.

Juliet Ehimuan, Google Country Director for West Africa

Initiatives like Google Hustle Academy, Google Business Profile, Market Finder, and Market Kit demonstrate Google’s continuous commitment to aiding small businesses in Africa.

The programs marking International SMB Day this month underline Google’s commitment to ensuring that small retail businesses across Africa have access to the digital technologies, tools, and training they need to prosper and be more resilient.