E-commerce and the digital economy

We enhance the capacities of developing countries to harness the evolving digital economy for more inclusive development.

eTrade Readiness Assessments

E-commerce Strategies

E-commerce and Law Reform

Measuring e-commerce and the digital economy

Digital Economy Report

The Report, formerly known as the Information Economy Report, monitors trends and policies related to access, use and impact of digital technologies from a development perspective.

Published every other year, the Report is prepared in close collaboration with external experts and organizations, including e-commerce associations, the ITC, ITU, UNCITRAL, UN regional commissions, UPU, World Information Technology and Services Alliance, WTO and World Bank.

Year in Review 2022

In accordance with the strengthened mandate that member States gave UNCTAD in the Bridgetown Covenant, in 2022 the E-Commerce and Digital Economy Programme supported developing countries and the international community to provide the evidence, develop the capacities and channel the assistance needed to better manage digital transformation and ensure that the benefits of e-commerce and the digital economy reach all people, everywhere.

This Year in Review provides an overview of the Programme's main activities and accomplishments in 2022.

News

The ECOWAS strategy aims to include digitally vulnerable groups such as women, youth, people with disabilities and informal cross-border traders in e-commerce.

New strategy set to boost e-commerce in West Africa

With support from UNCTAD, the Economic Community of West African States has developed a regional e-commerce strategy to diversify economies and create jobs.

11 Jul 2023

UNCTAD is committed to promoting an enabling policy environment to support women entrepreneurs in the digital economy.

UNCTAD announces new advocates for women in e-commerce

The two women entrepreneurs will add to UNCTAD’s efforts to raise visibility for women e-traders at the policy table and shape a more gender-inclusive digital space.

7 Jul 2023

Mongolia eyes e-commerce to diversify its economy

An UNCTAD assessment shows the country has made progress in laying the foundations of a solid digital ecosystem and charts a path to overcome the challenges ahead.

8 Jun 2023

Efforts are underway in Rwanda to ease e-commerce through mobile payment services.

Rwanda steps up policy efforts to spur e-commerce growth

UNCTAD supports Rwanda to develop a strategy to ease digital trade and make progress towards leaving the group of least developed countries.

29 May 2023

More news

Featured Podcast

All things being equal: Changing the rules around big data 

This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at the pros and cons of big data with Shamika N. Sirimanne, director of UNCTAD’s technology and logistics division. 

View all podcasts

Special initiatives

eTrade for all initiative

eTrade for Women

UNCTAD eWeek

Pacific Digital Economy Programme

Featured event

Working group on measuring e-commerce and the digital economy, third meeting

28 - 29 Nov 2022

Video

Recent publications

Twin transition for global value chains: Green and digital

Mongolia: eTrade Readiness Assessment

Towards an E-commerce Strategy for Rwanda

E-commerce from a gender and development perspective

Measuring the value of e-commerce

E-Commerce and Digital Economy Programme: Year in Review 2022

More publications

Technical notes on ICT for development

This series presents work in progress on UNCTAD's latest research and analysis in the field of information and communications technologies (ICT) for development (ICT4D).

It consists of unedited, focused and succinct research contributions on topics closely related to measuring ICT, ICT policy reviews, e-commerce legislation, and ICT and women's entrepreneurship.