Zambia rapid e-trade readiness assessment

Summary

Zambia has significant potential for e-commerce development, with Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) playing a crucial role in the economy. A large portion (57%) of these business owners are women. Expanding their access to domestic and international markets via e-commerce can drive inclusive economic growth.

Despite the strong ICT policy framework, national policies lack focus on e-commerce. Government efforts to enhance e-government infrastructure indirectly support e-commerce, but coordination across initiatives is weak. Zambia’s Ease of Doing Business rank improved from 98 in 2016 to 85 in 2017, but challenges remain, such as limited public-private dialogue and weak coordination across sectors.

Skills development in e-commerce-related fields is limited, with under-resourced hubs and universities. Financial inclusion policies exist, but specific financing solutions for e-commerce start-ups are lacking.

To address these issues, Zambia needs inter-ministerial coordination and strong public-private dialogue on e-commerce. Developing a national e-commerce strategy would enhance trust, improve the business environment, support e-commerce’s contribution to national development etc.