The Pan African e-Commerce Initiative (PeCI) is a project that aims to improve the framework conditions for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to participate in cross-border digital trade in selected African countries. In addition to strengthening the framework conditions to support the growth of e-Commerce in the East African Community, the initiative aims to build capacities of SMEs to engage in e-Commerce, thus boosting their overall revenues and widening their networks in Africa and around the world. PeCI’s approach to achieving this is to work directly with SMEs to enable them to effectively utilize e-Commerce solutions and increase their e-Commerce turnover and access new markets. Through working with local businesses, digital platforms and e-Commerce service providers, growth in digital trade will become self-sustaining on the continent. The project is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development).
DHL Express is a division of the DPDHL Group and specializes in international air express services globally. Since establishing its first operations in Nigeria and South Africa in 1978, it has continued to invest throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and competently services all Countries on the continent. Under its Deutsche Post and DHL brands, Deutsche Post DHL Group provides an international service portfolio consisting of letter and parcel dispatch, express delivery, freight transport, supply chain management and e-commerce solutions. DHL through an Integrated Development Partnership with GIZ aims to increase the capacities of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), such as vendors and platform providers, in digital trade, and to increase their business activities in national and cross-border digital trade. DHL’s approach to this is by the provision of private sector expertise and e-Commerce specialists and trainers to deliver training and provide e-Commerce certification.
PeCI and DHL seek to identify SMEs that have an interest in e-Commerce to provide training on various aspects of eCommerce including online marketing, last-mile fulfilment, logistics & distribution, cross border trade, among others.
Benefits of the training
Enterprises selected for the program will have access to:
- Demand-driven trainings facilitated by training experts with a wealth of knowledge and experience on e-Commerce as well as
- Insight from DHL – an accomplished market player in eCommerce and cross-border trade
- Opportunities to network with other East African and German businesses.
- Access to other GIZ programmes and opportunities
Eligibility Criteria
SMEs eligible for the training should possess the following criteria:
- Should already be engaged in cross border e-Commerce with a vision to expand networks within the EAC and/or globally
- Should have clear updated financial records of sales and revenues
- Ideally, be dealing in production of manufactured goods/products
- The business should not be less than 2 years old
- Should be privately owned with formal registration in Kenya
Qualified SMEs interested in this training opportunity should send their application to Info@assek.ke. The application should contain but not be limited to:
- Company profile and contact information
- Legal registration status of the enterprise (private ltd., partnership, LLC, sole proprietorship etc.)
- The sector you operate in
- A strong pitch of why your enterprise needs this training.
The deadline for sending in applications has been extended to April 30th, 2021. Any attachments should be sent in as a singular document as part of the main company profile document. Women-owned enterprises are strongly encouraged to apply.
