Chambers: The first recourse for small businesses: At the heart of their ecosystem, chambers are ideal business supporters in a world of crisis.

• Author: Deschamps, Denis
• Position: SPECIAL REPORT

Chambers are agile and reliable intermediaries between small businesses and public authorities. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted their central role of providing immediate support to businesses and advising administrations and public authorities.

Given their place at the centre of their national or local business ecosystem, and their role as private-sector representatives, chambers offer solutions and follow-up adapted to the needs of companies. As such, they are ideal counterparts for small businesses when mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A study by the Permanent Conference of the Consular Chambers in Francophone Africa (CPCCAF) on the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on small businesses reveals the immense difficulties they face, and reports on the actions chambers are taking to remedy these.

Covering 31 chambers and organizations within its network of 17 countries, the CPCCAF survey shows a drop in sales for nine out of ten companies across French-speaking African countries, while eight out of ten companies experienced temporary closures and export difficulties. Companies in the Sahel region (Mali, Niger, Chad and Senegal) suffered the greatest impacts. Forecasts from the African Union show that imports and exports from the continent could drop by 35%, which would account for around 250 billion. In addition, the consequences of COVID-19 induced lockdowns threaten more than 20 million jobs in Africa.

Businesses call out for support

The survey results show that companies are in need of support in logistics and input supply as well as cash management. The results also indicated a need for support with relations with external operators and suppliers, as well as with training of staff. To this end, one in three responding...