Alliance for eTrade Development Quarterly Report 4th Quarter – September 20-December 20, 2017

The project aims to ideate pilot project strategies for USAID to boost SMEs' use of online platforms in developing countries. Key areas of focus include digital and ecommerce regulations and policies in approximately 40 countries across five key areas. Deliverables for the first quarter of the project include a workplan, monitoring and evaluation plan, communications strategy, and a draft framework for analyzing digital and ecommerce regulations and policies. Work is underway to populate the framework with policy information, develop a scoring method based on this information, and create case studies of best practices and model regulatory frameworks for platform-enabled trade. These efforts are expected to enhance the project's outputs and facilitate the achievement of its outcomes. The project's outcomes include exposing a meaningful number of developing country policymakers and stakeholders to the project's outputs online and offline via presentations, and significantly increasing awareness among developing country policymakers and other stakeholders of the benefits of platform-enabled trade and of policies and practices conducive to platform-enabled trade across different segments of the population, including women-led and rural enterprises. Data on these outcomes is expected to be available after the deliverables are completed and published. Financial reporting indicates that the first tranche of $30,000 has been requested upon meeting milestone 1 on November 20, 2017. However, the payment has yet to be transferred, and once it is, it will be applied to staff salaries. The project's financial reporting will continue to track the allocation and utilization of funds as the project progresses. The project's focus on digital and ecommerce regulations and policies in developing countries is critical to promoting platform-enabled trade and enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs in these markets. By analyzing model policies and practices, the project aims to inform the development of effective regulatory frameworks that support the growth of online trade and ecommerce in developing countries.