The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa ECA, through its African Trade Policy Centre ATPC and the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning IDEP, has launched a new capacity-building initiative to empower government stakeholders and private sector actors, including women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises MSMEs, to leverage digital technologies for intra-African trade. The initiative is financially supported by the Government of Japan and implemented in collaboration with TradeMark Africa TMA, Google, and other partners.
The programme comes at a critical moment for the African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA, the world's largest free trade area in terms of membership, covering over 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP approaching USD 3 trillion. While digital technologies offer significant potential to enhance trade, structural challenges such as gaps in digital infrastructure, regulatory harmonization, digital skills, and access to finance continue to limit opportunities, particularly for women-led businesses that face persistent barriers to digital inclusion.
Aligned with the recently adopted AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade, the initiative aims to strengthen institutional and technical capacities necessary for effective implementation of the Protocol. By equipping government and private sector stakeholders with practical knowledge of digital tools and platforms, the programme seeks to enhance regional value chains, expand market access, and translate policy commitments into tangible outcomes across the continent.
