December Update
South Asia Takes Center Stage in Empowering Women Digital Entrepreneurs
UNCTAD Hosts Masterclass to Transform Female-Led Businesses
From December 2–5, 2024, New Delhi will host a groundbreaking event designed to revolutionize women-led digital businesses in South Asia. UNCTAD’s eTrade for Women Masterclass will bring together 25 visionary female entrepreneurs from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Under the theme “Growth and Impact: Unlocking Opportunities for Women-led Digital Businesses,” participants will tackle pressing challenges like securing capital, navigating regulations, and dismantling gender bias.
This initiative, launched in 2019, merges economic empowerment with digital innovation, offering a unique platform for policy dialogues that promote a more inclusive digital economy. Adding to the excitement, UNCTAD will unveil the eTrade for Women Community, fostering regional collaboration and knowledge-sharing among entrepreneurs.
MSMEs in Ghana Get a Digital Boost
UNDP Nimdie Series Equips Entrepreneurs with Game-Changing Marketing Skills
The UNDP Ghana’s Nimdie Series is transforming how micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) do business. In its third edition, themed “Digital Marketing: A Transformative Strategy for MSMEs,” the series provided practical tools to enhance brand visibility and customer engagement.
Participants learned from success stories, gaining actionable strategies to leverage digital platforms for growth. Dr. Edward Ampratwum, UNDP Governance and Growth Lead, highlighted the pivotal role of digital transformation in fostering resilience among MSMEs. This initiative extends beyond workshops, creating avenues for branding, cross-border trade, and digital innovation—particularly for women entrepreneurs across Africa.
Bridging the Digital Divide: EU Partners with Smart Africa
New Agreement to Accelerate Africa’s Digital Future
The European Union (EU) and the Smart Africa Alliance have joined forces under the Global Gateway strategy to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation. Through a newly signed agreement, the partnership will deploy secure, affordable digital networks and advance cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence.
With a focus on e-governance and robust digital infrastructure, the collaboration aims to support Africa’s Digital Transformation Strategy. Leaders such as Henna Virkkunen and Lacina Koné stress that digital inclusion is the cornerstone of economic growth. A new data governance framework funded by the EU promises to pave the way for a sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven future across the continent.
EU Faces Uphill Battle to Meet Digital Decade Goals
WEF Report Highlights Critical Gaps in Europe’s Digital Transformation
The EU’s ambitious Digital Decade initiative, aimed at transforming its digital landscape by 2030, is facing significant hurdles, according to a recent World Economic Forum report. While promising strides have been made, the numbers tell a different story:
- Only 55.6% of EU citizens possess basic digital skills.
- High-quality 5G networks cover just 50% of EU territories.
- AI adoption, projected at 17% by 2030, lags far behind the target of 75%.
Experts warn that unless member states ramp up investments and synchronize their strategies, the EU risks missing out on trillions of dollars in global economic value. The report calls for urgent action to close the gaps and position Europe as a leader in digital innovation.