E-solutions eSolutions W1 funded activities develop ITC's capabilities to support SMEs, with local institutions and partners, to successfully develop online business. In 2020 a number of initiatives will come together to increase the reach of the programme, and reinforce ITC’s technical support solutions. A new platform, ecomConnect, will have an increasing number of valuable tools and information – communications work will focus on building a network of ecommerce practitioners within ITC’s priority audiences (institutions and organisations working to build ecommerce in developing and least developed countries). New tools allow self assessment of capabilities and the understanding of costs and profitability of selling in ecommerce channels. A number of publications reinforce ITC’s technical credentials and offer a reference on issues such as business structures, marketplace requirements and VAT and duties. Work in 2018 and 2019 focusses on creating a basis from which to scale the programme. The intermediate outcome for 2019 aims for “TISIs identify gaps and potential solutions to better support SMEs”; This is to be achieved through a shift in strategy toward better understanding and working with marketplaces, while continuing to improve and extend training modules, e-Learning and tools. A priority for investment is to ensure that we have a od basis of teaching materials, and tools to efficiently deliver projects, such as greater use of e-Learning and online tools to help SMEs prepare their offering. We also need to look at new routes to deploying support in partnership with marketplaces in order that we can achieve greater scale and economic sustainability.The 2019 E-Solutions project will focus on: Understanding the e-commerce ecosystem in Africa and beyond. As an input to the design future of projects under the e-Solutions programme we will research local e-Commerce marketplaces in Africa to determine if and how they can be supported to work with SMEs. We will continue to promote ITC solutions at regional and international events. Innovating to deploy the e-Solutions at a larger scale. We will work on the development of 2 online tools: the first to help SMEs more efficiently list and manage their products online and the second a self-assessment tool used to evaluate their readiness for e-Commerce (used in the training and preparation phases of projects). We will also develop a methodology for the design and operation of shared e-Commerce facilities; based on the experience in Rwanda we will write up a proposal for how such centres which share logistics and other services could be set up in other countries. New e-Learning modules will be made in 2019; and the concept of an online learning community on e-Commerce piloted. Work in 2018 focusses on creating a basis from which to scale the programme. The intermediate outcome is “Public and private stakeholders are more aware and better understand practical barriers and opportunities to digital trade available to SMEs”. This is to be achieved through participation in regional and global events, supported by the development of new materials to support deployment, a review of technologies and partnerships to help scale the programme. The potential solutions to support SMEs in developing and least developed countries access e-commerce are promoted. Promotion of ITCs capabilities in forums in Geneva and beyond, and a review paper written and disseminated for how the programme can be scaled. Methodologies for scaling the e-Solutions programme are reviewed and supported by the creation of materials suitable for the deployment of the programme. Methodologies to scale application of the programme are studied and documented. Additional advanced topics are researched and teaching materials developed. A review of technologies and partnerships results in recommendations how to scale up deployment to developing and least developed countries. An assessment will be made of the technical platforms that are used to teach and deploy the programme and appropriate functionality developed, ensure adaptation to the needs of and economically sustainability for beneficiaries, and work will be undertaken with partners to agree how key concepts can be supported through their networks..