Capacity Building

Meta's Small Business Growth Academy aims to enhance digital skills for 1,000 SMEs in Pakistan. This collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce focuses on advancing AI capabilities, especially for women entrepreneurs and businesses in smaller locales, contributing to the national digital transformation agenda.

The USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service is offering $3.675 million for the 2026 Borlaug and Cochran Fellowship Programs. This funding aims to enhance U.S. agricultural exports by fostering collaboration and training with international partners, with applications due by August 14, 2026.

The **Public Procurement Commission** of **Guyana** has launched a national training program to improve procurement practices. This initiative aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and compliance while increasing participation from SMEs and women entrepreneurs, thus aligning with national development goals.

Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) held a pivotal capacity building session in New Delhi focused on improving Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) processes. This initiative intends to boost institutional capabilities and may lead to altered procurement requirements for contractors involved in mining projects.

The Conference of 57 Local Councils in Lagos held a two-day workshop aimed at enhancing procurement practices and internal revenue generation. This initiative underscores the councils' commitment to transparency and accountability, likely resulting in stricter procurement regulations for contractors and vendors.