Local SMEs and the Frustration Gap in Extractives

Local SMEs and the Frustration Gap in Extractives

🌍Across Africa, local SMEs continue to invest in capacity, training, and compliance; yet only a handful ever break into supply chains of large extractive projects.

This is not a matter of “effort” but of systemic barriers, some already known and documented:
❌Procurement filters that prioritize international track records over demonstrated local competence.
❌ Certification & compliance costs that are disproportionately high for small enterprises.
❌ Information asymmetry, where only a few are aware of upcoming tenders or technical requirements.
❌ Fragmented support programs that lack alignment with operator needs.

While efforts to improve exist, they often remain isolated and symbolic. The challenge is not to reinvent the wheel, but to scale, align, and embed these practices into the very architecture of extractive value chains.

….