As part of the upcoming Africa Regional Review meeting for the 5th UN Conference on LDCs, co-convened by UN office of the High Representative on LDCs, Landlocked  Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Government of Malawi (chair of the LDC group), UNCDF has organized a virtual dialogue with country partners and relevant stakeholders on the Impact of COVID-19 on SMEs in LDCs and the role of blended finance in supporting a resilient recovery, on February 24 between 6:00-7:30 EST.

This side event will provide insights from UNCDF’s [Blended Finance in the Least Developed Countries 2020: Supporting a Resilient Covid-19 Recovery report](https://www.convergence.finance/resource/7e4c5d28-38e0-495e-9fcb-57c7ad85cb96/view "Blended Finance in the Least Developed Countries 2020: Supporting a Resilient Covid-19 Recovery report"), including an update on the deployment of blended finance in LDCs with a particular focus on Africa, as well as analysis of its potential role in helping LDCs recover from the COVID 19 crisis. 

The session will also highlight impacts of COVID-19 on SMEs and the need for additional SME finance. 

Convergence is happy to have Ladé Araba, Managing Director for Africa, join the panel of experts to share perspectives on the role of blended finance to support a resilient recovery in Africa. 

![Screen Shot 2021-02-17 at 12.32.52 PM](//images.ctfassets.net/4cgqlwde6qy0/6tfkXZhpuUCTd2NQYrrPAK/c9cda1dd9a87e3d5146494bfded76cbe/Screen_Shot_2021-02-17_at_12.32.52_PM.png)

*__Please be sure to select ‘Impacts of COVID-19 on SMEs in LDCs and the role of blended finance in supporting a reliant recovery’ in side events you would like to attend. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants.__*

Impacts of COVID-19 on SMEs in LDCs

Ladé Araba, Managing Director for Africa at Convergence joins panel with country partners and relevant stakeholders to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on SMEs in LDCs and the role of blended finance in supporting a resilient recovery, organized by UNCDF as part of the upcoming Africa Regional Review meeting for the 5th UN Conference on LDCs.

Documents