Digital Trade Illustration./ PHOTO ; Pexel
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and partners are set to launch a capacity-building initiative to strengthen digital trade skills for governments and the private sector, including women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The programme is implemented through the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) and the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP), with financial support from the Government of Japan.
TradeMark Africa (TMA), Google, and other partners are collaborating to ensure wide participation across the continent.
The initiative comes at a critical moment for AfCFTA, the world’s largest free trade area by membership, covering over 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP of nearly USD 3 trillion.
AfCFTA aims to boost intra-African trade by reducing tariffs, harmonizing trade rules, and expanding market access.
However, many businesses face structural barriers such as gaps in digital infrastructure, inconsistent regulations, limited digital skills, and restricted access to finance.
Women-led enterprises, in particular, often struggle to benefit from emerging digital trade opportunities.
Erick Sirali, TradeMark Africa’s Director of Digital Trade, added:
“We are proud to co-host this workshop with UNECA as part of TradeMark Africa’s efforts to provide solutions that drive greater embrace of digitilisation by SMEs across Africa.”
Bridging Digital Gaps for SMEs
Digital technologies can help businesses overcome these challenges by expanding market reach, reducing costs, and integrating more efficiently into regional and global value chains.
The recently adopted AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade provides a continental framework to promote inclusive digital transformation, encourage innovation, reduce trade costs, and facilitate cross-border e-commerce.
The ECA initiative aligns directly with these objectives by strengthening institutional and technical capacities for both governments and private sector actors.
A diverse group of SMEs, carefully selected for their interest and potential in digital tools, will participate in the programme.
Training will be delivered in a hybrid format in Addis Ababa from 25–27 November, allowing participants to join in person or virtually.
Sessions will include peer-to-peer exchanges, best practice sharing, and engagement with regional and international partners.
Importance of Digital Inclusion
Speaking on the initiative, Melaku Desta, Coordinator of ATPC and Acting Director of the Regional Integration and Trade Division (RITD) at ECA, emphasized:
“Women- and youth-led enterprises are central to Africa’s growth; as such, enabling them to operate digitally and scale up under the AfCFTA is a policy priority and a development imperative.”
Participants will gain practical insights into integrating digital solutions into supply chain management, e-commerce, cross-border payments, and logistics.
They will also develop a better understanding of digital trade policy frameworks and strengthen collaboration networks across Africa.
Advancing Inclusive Growth Through Digital Trade
The programme is designed to deliver lasting benefits by laying the foundation for continued capacity development through future online learning offerings hosted on ECA’s digital platforms.
This ensures that knowledge and skills acquired during the training can be reinforced and expanded over time.
By equipping both governments and businesses with practical digital trade skills, the initiative supports AfCFTA’s broader goal of regional economic integration and inclusive growth.
It promotes trade-led development while providing equitable opportunities for women and youth entrepreneurs.
The programme combines hands-on exercises with policy sessions, enabling participants to exchange experiences, discuss challenges, and explore innovative solutions with experts from across the continent.
In conclusion, the ECA-led initiative addresses a critical need for digital trade capacity in Africa, particularly among women-led MSMEs.
By fostering collaboration, building networks, and providing practical training, it equips participants to succeed in a digital economy and fully leverage AfCFTA opportunities.
The programme demonstrates how targeted capacity-building initiatives can drive inclusive growth, digital integration, and sustainable trade development across the continent development across Africa.
