Public procurement notice: Contract Award Notice
Published: 2021-12-06
Buyer: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Country: DE
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Open procedure
CPV classification: 72000000 | 72130000 | 72200000 | 72226000: System software acceptance testing services | 72227000: Software integration consultancy services
Estimated value: 375156 EUR
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: Υπηρεσίες τεχνολογίας των πληροφοριών: παροχή συμβουλών, ανάπτυξη λογισμικού, Διαδίκτυο και υποστήριξη
81273921-Pan-African e-Commerce Initiative - Boosting African Digital Trade in Africa  - Providing technical advice on e-Commerce
The project "Pan-African e-Commerce Initiative - Boosting African Digital Trade in Africa N.A." (PeCI) aims to improve the framework conditions for companies in selected African countries, with an initial focus on Kenya and Rwanda, to participate in cross-border e-Commerce. At the strategic level, it contributes to deepening the economic integration of Africa, increasing exports from Least Developed Countries (LDC), implementing the Marshall Plan with Africa, the BMZ Aid for Trade Strategy, the BMZ Sector Strategy for Private Sector Development, the BMZ Digitalisation Strategy, and the BMZ "Digital Africa" Initiative.
The core problem is that the essential prerequisites for African companies to participate in cross-border electronic trade have not been met, for example the availability of electronic payment systems, the trust of consumers and companies in e-Commerce, as well as beneficial regulatory frameworks.
The target groups of the project are owners and employees of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), including SMEs run by women, as well as users of e-Commerce platforms in selected African countries, initially in the East African Community (EAC). Industry associations and technology companies act as intermediaries in the EAC.
The methodological approach consists in the implementation of measures at pan-African, regional and country levels to improve the conditions for companies from the selected African countries to participate in cross-border e-Commerce. Close cooperation with the international and African economy as well as technical cooperation measures in East Africa in the creation and use of outputs is planned.
The main outputs are: (1) The capacities of the private sector for customer-oriented use of e-Commerce have been strengthened in Kenya and Rwanda; (2) Private and public actors are increasingly contributing to the development of regional approaches for cross-border e-Commerce within the EAC; (3) Public and private actors are increasingly contributing to improving the Pan-African framework conditions for e-Commerce.
Ghana is a middle-income country that has performed well in the past two decades, although economic growth has been slowing in recent years. Although e-Commerce has been growing and has a lot of potential, Ghana does not have a national e-Commerce strategy yet. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is planning to start the process of developing a regional e-Commerce strategy. It is envisaged that political, economic and regulatory aspects of e-Commerce will be high on the agenda in Ghana. National stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, as well as private sector associations will need advise on the core topics of (cross-border) e-Commerce, such as e-Payments, logistics, trade facilitation, data security etc. The links between the national level and the regional ECOWAS as well as Pan-African (e.g. the African Continental Free Trade Agreement - AfCFTA) levels will also play a role.
- Facilitate consultative workshops in Accra on selected e-Commerce topics with relevant public and private stakeholders
- Advise relevant public and private stakeholders on e-Commerce topics, as needed; including on regional and Pan-African aspects
Work package 2: Developing concepts for pilot projects in the EAC, ECOWAS and COMESA regions for the cross-border e-Payments Blueprint for the facilitation of digital trade under the Smart Africa Alliance (SAA).
The Smart Africa Alliance (SAA) is a bold and innovative commitment from African Heads of State and Government to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development through more inclusive access to broadband, information and communication technologies, and digitalizing African economies and societies. Against this background, Smart Africa developed an e-Payments Blueprint for the facilitation of digital trade across Africa. The Republic of Ghana, one of the Smart Africa member states, has committed to champion the development of this Blueprint within the Alliance. As part of this process, a regional e-Payments Working Group (WG) led by Ghana, with experts from member states, the private sector, international organisations, academia, and entrepreneurs was established to provide input and guidance and create ownership among the members of the Alliance. It is envisaged to implement the cross-border e-Payments Blueprint in countries within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and ECOWAS regions with pilot activities. The Blueprint outlines (1) the most relevant opportunities and challenges of the development and use of e-Payments for the facilitation of digital trade across Africa and how to address them, and (2) makes concrete policy recommendations to harness the potential and mitigate potential risks associated with the adoption of e-Payments in African countries.
- Organise a kick-off workshop with the SAS and members of the SAS Working Group to get a better understanding of the assignment and their expectations.
- Based on a desk review of relevant literature and interviews with the SAS and members of the SAS Working Group, review the shortlist and recommend three pilot projects to be further developed, including which countries should be selected to participate in each of the pilots.
- For each pilot project, conduct an in-country mission to develop a detailed project concept and implementation plan, including interviews with key stakeholders.


Winner: GOPA Consultants
Award value: 375156
Number of bids: 2