The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), utilizing its African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) and the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP), has formally launched a significant new capacity-building program. This initiative is designed to equip both governmental stakeholders and actors in the private sector, notably including women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), with the essential knowledge and tools to effectively utilize digital technologies for expanding intra-African trade. The necessary financial backing for this comprehensive program is provided by the Government of Japan and the implementation is being carried out collaboratively with key partners, including TradeMark Africa (TMA), Google, and several other relevant organizations.
This program arrives at a crucial juncture for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which currently holds the title of the world’s largest free trade area when measured by the number of participating countries. The AfCFTA encompasses a market of over 1.4 billion people with a substantial combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) approaching USD 3 trillion. While digital tools and technologies clearly present immense opportunities for enhancing regional trade and economic integration, their utilization is still limited by persistent structural challenges. These challenges include substantial gaps in digital infrastructure, a lack of harmonization in regulatory frameworks across borders, insufficient digital skills training, and difficulty in accessing necessary finance. These limitations disproportionately restrict opportunities, particularly for women-led businesses that continue to face significant and sustained barriers to digital inclusion.
The entire initiative is meticulously aligned with the goals of the recently adopted AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade. Its core objective is to bolster the institutional and technical capabilities required by member states and businesses for the efficient and effective implementation of this Protocol. By supplying government agencies and private sector stakeholders with highly practical knowledge concerning digital tools and e-commerce platforms, the capacity-building effort seeks to strengthen crucial regional value chains, significantly expand market access for African goods and services, and ultimately translate ambitious policy commitments into measurable, tangible outcomes across the entire continent.
The initial training program is scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa from November 25 to 27 and will be delivered using a hybrid format, incorporating both in-person and online components. The agenda will feature crucial peer-to-peer exchanges, sessions dedicated to sharing best practices, and targeted engagement with various regional and international partners who are actively involved in the digital trade ecosystem. The selected MSMEs participating in this inaugural training were chosen based on their demonstrated potential and expressed willingness to rapidly integrate digital tools and solutions into their business operations to facilitate market expansion beyond their immediate locality.
Officials from the ECA have consistently emphasized the profound strategic importance of this initiative in advancing Africa’s overarching inclusive growth agenda. Strengthening the digital competencies and capabilities of MSMEs, especially those businesses founded and led by women and young people, is considered vital for fully unlocking the economic promise held by the AfCFTA and for fostering equitable and widespread participation in profitable regional trade networks. Participants are expected to gain a much deeper understanding of the relevant policy frameworks, acquire improved practical skills necessary to seamlessly integrate digital solutions into their day-to-day trade processes, and forge stronger collaborative networks essential for future growth.
Furthermore, the launch of this program establishes the essential groundwork for sustained and ongoing capacity development. This support will continue through future online learning offerings, which are scheduled to be hosted on the ECA’s digital platforms. This commitment ensures continuous and sustained support for the dynamic growth of the continent’s digital trade ecosystem well into the future.
