UNCTAD´s Development Solution

eT Readies

eTrade Readiness Assessments

Program in a Nutshell

Created in 2017

27 activities carried out

Services

  • Policy Advice, Support and Formulation
  • Technical Assistance and Support
  • Capacity Building and Development

Donors

  • Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit (BMZ) – Germany
  • EIF
  • GIZ (Germany)
  • ITFC
  • Sweden
  • UK

Geographical scope

Regional Economic Status

Partner : UNCTAD

Contact us

Yes! I want to learn more about how this program could help my business, organization, country or region.

About

eTrade Readiness Assessments (eT Readies) provide a snapshot of the e-commerce ecosystem in developing countries and regions for each of the seven pillars of the eTrade for all initiative, which are key to embrace their digital transformation: e-commerce assessments and strategy formulation, ICT infrastructure, trade facilitation and logistics, payment solutions, legal and regulatory frameworks, skills development, and access to financing. They also address challenges related to gender equality and measuring e-commerce and the digital economy.

The objectives of the Assessments are to:

  • Enhance knowledge on the evolution of the digital economy and its implications for national and regional development strategies.
  • Strengthen stakeholders’ overall perception of e-commerce and foster public-private dialogue among e-commerce players.
  • Identify the challenges and opportunities of e-commerce growth through a mix of quantitative and qualitative approaches (primary and secondary data collection/analysis, focus groups and multi-stakeholders’ consultations, dedicated online surveys, targeted interviews, etc.).
  • Set up an institutional body (national committee or task-force) to support the implementation of the project.
  • Identify priority actions with key stakeholders, in the seven relevant policy areas (integrated in the final eT Ready Action Plan or Matrix); and
  • Develop synergies and programmes between beneficiary countries and development partners to implement the eT Readies’ policy recommendations.

To assist eT Ready beneficiary countries in implementing the recommendations of the assessments, UNCTAD has developed an eT Ready monitoring and follow-up strategy to keep track of eT Ready implementation progress. Outputs in the form of “implementation review reports” will serve as tools to guide the engagement of stakeholders at the country level to accelerate e-commerce enabling reforms and mobilize resources for priority projects. The first comprehensive review was launched in 2020 and will continue on an annual basis.

Services

  • Policy Advice, Support and Formulation

      • Assess current e-commerce situation through an appropriate mix of quantitative and qualitative approaches (secondary data collection, focus group discussions, dedicated public and private-sector surveys, targeted interviews).
      • Identify opportunities and barriers within the seven key policy areas of eTrade for all.
      • Encourage public-private dialogue and inter-ministerial cooperation for advancing digital transformation in your country.
      • Develop an Action Matrix in line with the findings of your assessment, to support and accelerate the digital development agenda.
  • Technical Assistance and Support

      1. Increase access to technical support from eTrade for all partners.
      2. ‘Connect the dots’ between beneficiary countries and development partners’ priorities.
      3. In line with the findings of the assessment, development and eTrade for all partners may develop their own technical assistance package.
  • Capacity Building and Development

      • Empower local stakeholders, increasing their ability to master their own e-commerce development process.
      • Increase peer-learning among actors engaged in e-commerce development, building on international and eT Readies good practices.

Highlights

  • Implementation support

      • Implementation reviews, which identify gaps based on a scored performance assessment.
      • Advisory support to eT Ready Focal Points to help build momentum for implementation.
      • Stakeholders’ engagement and coordination workshops to identify implementation priorities.
      • Capacity building workshops to foster a whole-government approach in steering eT Ready implementation.
      • Development partners roundtables and partnership development activities to mobilize eTrade for all development solutions, as well as technical and financial resources from other sources for the implementation of identified priorities.

Publications

For Whom

Policy makersCorporationsMSMEsSMEs

Partners

  • National agencies or bodies

UN SDGs

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