The project "Pan-African e-Commerce Initiative 3 - Boosting African Digital Trade" (PeCI 3) is a regional technical cooperation project implemented by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The project aims to strengthen an enabling environment for cross-border digital trade in Africa, with a particular focus on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), including women-led businesses. PeCI 3 contributes to the BMZ"s core area "Sustainable Economic Development, Training and Employment" and supports it"s digital policy and Africa Strategy through the promotion of inclusive digital trade ecosystems, and public-private cooperation. The project builds on the achievements and partnerships established under the previous phases (PeCI 1 and PeCI 2). Earlier phases supported MSMEs in adopting e-commerce solutions and digital sales channels, strengthened intermediary organisations providing training and advisory services, facilitated public-private exchange on digital trade issues and contributed to regional approaches related to e-commerce, digital payments, consumer protection and electronic transactions. The project also strengthened cooperation with the East African Community (EAC), the Smart Africa Alliance (SAA) and the AfCFTA Secretariat. PeCI 3 supports implementation of the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol (DTP), adopted by the African Union in 2024, by strengthening structures, processes and cooperation mechanisms required for cross-border digital trade. The project addresses barriers affecting MSME participation in digital trade, including fragmented regulatory frameworks, limited interoperability of digital payment systems, logistics and last-mile delivery challenges, gaps in online consumer protection and limited coordination between public and private actors. Particular attention is given to barriers affecting women"s participation in digital trade ecosystems. The project operates at pan-African, regional and national levels and combines technical advisory services, stakeholder consultations, public-private dialogue formats and capacity development measures. Activities include support for implementation of selected DTP chapters, facilitation of cross-border exchange on best practices, development of cooperation models between private-sector actors and intermediary organisations, and support for gender-sensitive approaches to digital entrepreneurship and MSME support services. Environmental sustainability is integrated as a cross-cutting topic, including approaches related to sustainable packaging and resource-efficient logistics. The project is implemented in cooperation with public, private and regional stakeholders in selected AfCFTA countries, particularly Ghana and Kenya, as well as with the EAC. Lead executing agencies are the Ministry of Finance in Ghana, the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry (MITI) in Kenya and the EAC Secretariat. Additional partners include the AfCFTA Secretariat, the Smart Africa Secretariat, chambers of commerce, business and e-commerce associations, payment service providers, logistics companies, innovation hubs and women"s business networks. PeCI 3 further aims to strengthen cooperation between African, German and European private-sector actors to promote cross-border digital trade and MSME participation. The project cooperates with business associations, e-commerce platforms, logistics and payment providers, chambers of commerce and innovation actors, including bevh, AHKs and African e-commerce associations. Cooperation with UNCTAD, ITC and initiatives supported by the European Union and the World Bank further strengthens synergies and regional outreach. The project is scheduled to run until June 2028.

10035189-Advice on implementation of AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol and technical inputs to related reforms; facilitation and development of partnerships with the private sector on digital trade

The assignment supports the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Trade Protocol (DTP) by providing technical advisory services, capacity building and partnership development to strengthen digital trade ecosystems in Africa. The DTP establishes a continental framework for facilitating digital trade and promoting regulatory cooperation among AfCFTA State Parties. Effective implementation requires strengthened institutional capacities, coordinated implementation mechanisms and practical support to translate the Protocol into national policies, regulatory frameworks and business practices. The objective of this procurement is to provide technical and process advisory services to public and private sector stakeholders in Ghana, Kenya, the East African Community (EAC), and other selected African countries as well as to the AfCFTA Secretariat. The contractor will provide technical expertise to support the implementation of the DTP, strengthen coordination among relevant institutions and facilitate the exchange of international and regional best practices on digital trade. On the public sector side, the assignment includes technical and process advice on the implementation of the AfCFTA DTP and support to national implementation mechanisms in Ghana and Kenya. This comprises the preparation and facilitation of National e-Commerce Steering Committee meetings in Ghana and National e-Commerce Strategy Implementation Committee meetings in Kenya, combined with technical capacity-building sessions on selected digital trade topics. The contractor will further organise regional knowledge-sharing activities for EAC Partner States and provide technical advice to the AfCFTA Secretariat on the implementation of the DTP. The assignment also includes the preparation of technical inputs to strategy documents of transnational African organisations to promote the integration of international best practices into regional digital trade initiatives. The contractor will also provide technical advice on digital trade legislation and regulation, including the conceptualisation and delivery of technical workshops for public stakeholders on digital trade laws, policies and international best practices. Particular emphasis will be placed on consumer protection in digital trade. In Kenya, the assignment includes a legal and regulatory assessment of the consumer protection framework for digital trade, including benchmarking against international approaches and the formulation of legal and regulatory recommendations to strengthen the existing framework. The assignment further includes strengthening capacities for private sector stakeholders, with a particular focus on MSMEs, business associations and intermediary organisations. In collaboration with the Association of e-Commerce Practitioners (AeP) in Ghana, the contractor will design and deliver a workshop on developing cross-border e-commerce business expansion plans for selected MSMEs, complemented by follow-up coaching. The contractor will also develop a practical guidebook on financing opportunities for MSMEs engaged in digital trade, outlining relevant funding sources, eligibility requirements and practical guidance on accessing finance. In addition, the contractor will deliver capacity-building workshops for business associations and intermediary organisations on strengthening business development, organisational management and the operation of e-commerce activities in line with international standards and best practices. To strengthen international private sector cooperation, the assignment includes the preparation and facilitation of a study visit for German and European e-commerce companies to selected African countries to explore market opportunities and establish business linkages. Furthermore, the contractor will compile a mapping of relevant German and European e-commerce actors to identify potential cooperation opportunities with African stakeholders. The contractor will also support the development of strategic partnership concepts between African, German and European private sector actors. This includes preparing partnership concepts under initiatives such as the EU Tech Business Offer or the EU Global Gateway Investment Hub, as well as developing an additional cooperation concept for private sector collaboration in digital trade. Complementary activities include facilitating thematic sessions on digital trade at international events in Germany or Europe and organising matchmaking events in selected African countries to connect public and private stakeholders, identify cooperation opportunities and promote sustainable partnerships in digital trade and e-commerce. Overall, the assignment combines technical and process advisory services on the implementation of the AfCFTA DTP, policy and regulatory support, capacity building and partnership facilitation to strengthen digital trade ecosystems in Africa. It supports public sector stakeholders in Ghana, Kenya and the EAC in translating the DTP into national and regional implementation mechanisms, legislation and policy frameworks, while providing technical inputs to digital trade regulation and consumer protection reforms. The assignment further strengthens the capacities of MSMEs, business associations and intermediary organisations to seize new business opportunities arising from the DTP through business development support, access to finance, capacity building and market-oriented advisory services. In addition, it facilitates strategic partnerships between African, German and European private sector actors, to promote investment, knowledge exchange, innovation and sustainable cross-border digital trade cooperation