Digital Trade in Africa: A Research Agenda
Martina F. Ferracane and
Hildegunn Kyvik Nordås | 20 April 2026
Trade,
Books | Tags:
Africa,
Digital Economy,
Digital Trade,
Services Trade Africa’s digital economy is poised for significant growth, driven by initiatives like the recently adopted Digital Trade Protocol under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to reduce trade barriers and enhance regional integration.
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International Trade Law and Global Data Governance: the Digital Single Market in Africa
25 April 2025 |14.00-15.00 CET | Online Trade,
Webinar | Tags:
Africa,
Data Governance,
Digital Economy,
Services Trade In a fireside-style conversation Rutendo Tavengerwei and Neha Mishra explore the interface between data governance in the African digital single market, national law, and global data governance frameworks.
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Africa’s Digital Transformation and the Integration of Services Markets
27 March 2025 |14.00-15.00 CET | Online Trade,
Webinar | Tags:
Africa,
Digital Economy,
Services Trade Africa's early leapfrog into mobile telecommunications spurred rapid adoption of smartphones and related services but delayed the deployment of the high-speed fixed broadband needed for services market integration at scale.
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Creative Industries in the AfCFTA: Shaping the Digital Transformation
20 February 2025 |14.00-15.00 CET | Online Trade,
Webinar | Tags:
Africa,
Digital Economy,
Services Trade The African continent hosts a multitude of vibrant creative industries. African music, film and arts are well-known examples. How does the African cultural sector benefit from the digital transformation of the society – and what are the prospects for further development?
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Ensuring Coherence Between Services, Digital, Competition, and IP Protocols in the AfCFTA
17 January 2025 | 14.00-15.00 CET | Online Trade,
Webinar | Tags:
Africa,
Digital Economy,
Services Trade,
Trade Governance The AfCFTA digital protocol emphasizes the importance of promoting local digital content and services. How could the services; competition; and intellectual property protocols support this objective?
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The Digital Protocol in the AfCFTA and the JSI on E-Commerce
15 November 2024 |14.00-15.00 CET | Online Trade,
Webinar | Tags:
Africa,
Digital Economy,
Services Trade,
Trade Governance This webinar series will bring together experts on digital trade and development, trade law, digital infrastructure and stakeholders from business and trade policy makers to explore how developing countries, particularly in Africa, can benefit from open and well-regulated digital services markets.
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The Importance of Bringing the WTO Joint Initiative on E-commerce Over the Finishing Line
17 July 2024 | Online | 10.00-11.00 am (CET) Trade,
Webinar | Tags:
Digital Economy,
Services Trade,
WTO There is no doubt that global e-commerce and related cross-border data flows require governance to ensure cyber security and privacy. Interoperable rules and regulations across the globe would substantially ease the cost of trade in digitally enabled services for everyone.
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Technical Standards in Services and Trade Governance
Hildegunn Kyvik Nordås | 8 May 2024
Trade,
Blog | Tags:
Artificial Intelligence,
Digital Economy,
International Standards,
Services Trade,
Trade Governance Standards can potentially resolve the trade-off between regulatory certainty and space for innovation, provided they are recognized and accepted by law enforcement bodies.
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Why a Deal in the WTO Negotiations on E-Commerce is a “Must-Have” for MC13
Hildegunn Kyvik Nordås and
Jane Drake-Brockman | 13 February 2024
Trade,
Blog | Tags:
Artificial Intelligence,
Digital Economy,
WTO The internet is fundamentally dependent on openness to cross-border data flows. But many governments are regulating to constrain international data transfers - including under a banner of data sovereignty.
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The Case for International Digital Standards for Interoperability of Trade in Digital Services
Jane Drake-Brockman,
Manjeet Kripalani,
Hildegunn Kyvik Nordås,
Hosuk Lee-Makiyama and
Badri Narayanan Gopalakrishnan | 4 August 2023
Trade,
Policy Briefs | Tags:
Data Governance,
Digital Economy,
International Standards,
Services Trade Divergences in standards add compliance costs and limit the ability of businesses, especially micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, to connect across borders and reap the benefits from scale and access to technology.
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