The African Development Fund (ADF) and Smart Africa Alliance have joined forces to launch a $1.5 million project aimed at streamlining digital trade and e-commerce policies across ten African countries. The Institutional Support for Digital Payments and e-Commerce Policies for Cross-Border Trade Project (IDECT) will evaluate policy gaps in the digital trade and e-commerce ecosystems of Cote d'Ivoire, Benin, Ghana, Liberia, Uganda, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, the Republic of Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The project seeks to implement regional training and capacity-building programmes focused on cross-border e-payment and e-commerce for governments, private sectors, and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These programmes are expected to reach 600 participants, with 60 per cent being women and youth. In addition, a certified gender-sensitive e-learning training programme addressing the unique challenges faced by women in digital trade and e-commerce will be developed and disseminated to 2,500 participants, of whom 60 per cent will be women, ADF said in a press release.

The agreement for the IDECT project was signed on Tuesday, April 25, a day ahead of the ongoing 2023 Transform Africa Summit in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

“This initiative will bolster the development of harmonised e-payment policies, capacity building, and gender-sensitive frameworks, ultimately fostering a digital trade ecosystem that generates employment opportunities across the continent," said Leila Mokaddem, African Development Bank (AfDB) director general for Southern Africa region.

"The IDECT project demonstrates our commitment to fostering digital transformation and economic growth in Africa. By addressing policy gaps and promoting gender-sensitive training, we are laying the foundation for a thriving digital trade and e-commerce ecosystem," said Lacina Kone, CEO of Smart Africa.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)

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