UNCTAD: TrainForTrade – Strengthening knowledge and skills through innovative approaches

• Train local tutors to widen the training offer and continue building skills in your country

• Get support implementing capacity development frameworks to help your country position itself in the world economy

• Get customized e-commerce training to address your country’s specific needs
• Use a combination of distance learning, face-to-face training and regional workshops to ensure training flexibility
• Benefit from Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC), a free web-based distance learning programme, to train a wider range of e-commerce stakeholders

• Get support implementing institutional frameworks for e-trade-related issues at national and international level
• Formulate e-trade and investment policies for dynamic, equitable and sustainable development

Between 2003 and 2011, the TrainForTrade programme helped strengthen the international trade capacities of Cambodia and Laos. The project consisted of delivering customized training on a wide range of trade-related themes to local officials, private sector representatives and academics. Among the training modules was a course on the Legal Aspects of Electronic Commerce, as well as courses on Sustainable Tourism and Investment Promotion.

To ensure the programme had the widest possible impact, many courses were translated into the local language (Khmer and Lao). Participants were then educated to be trainers and co-trainers in order to continue developing local knowledge, while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the programme.

Eight countries in West Africa were the focus of the TrainForTrade programme between 2012 and 2015. During this period, the project helped strengthen local e-commerce capacities by assessing each country’s individual needs and providing relevant training.

The two main components of the training focused on helping lawmakers and government officials understand the key aspect of e-commerce legislation; and promoting e-commerce as a means of improving business environments, supporting investment and facilitating start-ups

By using a blended learning approach (a mix of e-learning and face-to-face sessions), the programme reached a larger number of people on a smaller budget. E-learning allowed training to continue during difficult circumstances, including coup d’Etat and outbreaks like Ebola that disrupted economics in the region.

 From 2008, the TrainForTrade programme helped strengthen trade-related human resources and institutional capacities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Over 1200 participants were trained in a variety of subjects, including the Legal Aspects of Electronic Commerce. The project helped support institutional frameworks for trade-related issues at both a national and international level. Its long-term success was ensured by providing local people with the skills to continue the training.

In many developing countries, handheld devices are more accessible than PCs. This means one of the most efficient way to train locals is by providing e-learning that is compatible with cell phones, smartphones and tablets. For this reason, the TrainForTrade programme has developed a range of distance learning tools for mobile devices. Participants can thus learn about e-commerce topics when and where they like, while being able to exchange with trainers all over the world.

For more details, please visit: https://learn.unctad.org/

In Togo, TrainForTrade provided e-learning courses to a group of young web entrepreneurs looking to promote e-commerce in their country. Thanks to the programme’s training sessions, the entrepreneurs were able to organize “Pay Camp”, an event aimed at raising awareness among Togolese of the possibilities of e-commerce.

“Pay Camp” consists of themed workshops, debates and a series of conferences about e-commerce and electronic payment methods in Africa and Togo. The aim of the event is to help locals get a better understanding of e-commerce and promote the establishment of a legal framework for electronic trade in Togo.

• West Africa
• Latin America