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

With appropriate policy action, e-commerce has the potential to further gender equality.

What women in developing countries need to thrive in e-commerce

Experts examine the challenges to overcome to level the digital trade playing field for women in developing countries and boost gender equality.

24 May 2023

Group of indian college students busy using mobile phone at campus

UNCTAD calls for balanced global approach to manage digital data

Stronger international cooperation on data governance and capacity-building can help bridge data and digital divides.

10 May 2023

A women shows a young girl how to use a computer in a village in India.

Tackling gender divides can create more e-commerce success

Experts at an UNCTAD event outline how to enable women to benefit more from the digital revolution and enhance their participation in trade.

17 Mar 2023

Digital Economy - African woman working on her laptop computer

How to unlock women’s potential in the digital economy

By Shamika N. Sirimanne, Director of Technology and Logistics, UNCTAD and Ratnakar Adhikari, Executive Director, Enhanced Integrated Framework

8 Mar 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

E-commerce from a gender and development perspective

Measuring the value of e-commerce

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

G20 Members’ Regulations of Cross-Border Data Flows

Digital Economy Report Pacific Edition 2022

Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital Economy

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.