General objective 

The overall objective is to provide technical assistance that will ensure the active implementation of activities for the related Strategic Objective (SO5) of the Project.

Specific objectives 

1. Legal and policy frameworks aligned with the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol 

• Digital Trade Policy analysis
• Develop a legislative harmonisation roadmap
• Implement a national (legal) awareness campaign on the DTP

      2. Streamlining operational digital system support for cross-border trade  

• System readiness assessment of existing national and regional platforms 
• Design one targeted cross-border pilot trade corridor that incorporates digital services and logistics
• Deploy one pilot project with limited functional scope for priority systems
• Support the maintenance of a trade information portal that provides information relevant to traders

      3. Strengthening institutional capacity and coordination 

• Facilitate regular technical workshops and dialogues at federal and regional levels to strengthen coordination
• Train and institutionalise DT focal points

      4. Increasing inclusive participation in digital trade ecosystems

•  Develop practical onboarding toolkits to guide SMEs and women-led businesses in engaging with DTP
• Monitor uptake of DT by SMEs

       5. Broader societal awareness and inclusion in digital trade increased

• Commission a mid-term evaluation to (i) assess progress, (ii) identify learning, and (iii) guide adaptive implementation
• Undertake a final, external summative evaluation to capture (i) results, (ii) document lessons learned, and (iii) produce policy recommendations for sustaining DT reforms
• Participation in trade conference to enhance trade DTP 

Description of the assignment

The service provider must provide this service in line with the agreed procedure and timelines of Expertise France:

Methodology and Tasks

• Review relevant project documents (to be shared once contracted)
• Participate in an Inception Meeting with the ECOTRADE team and other stakeholders to define expectations
• Ensure consistency with Expertise France and EU implementation guidelines.
• Hold intermittent meetings with ECOTRADE, where required, to track progress of work

Anticipated deliverables (not exhaustive) 

1. A legal and policy gap analysis of Ethiopia’s DT-related laws
2. A systems readiness assessment of existing national and regional platforms, incl. MESOB, PAPSS, EthSwitch, e-commerce systems, and customs platforms
3. Training and institutionalisation of digital trade focal points, embedding capacity within the civil service 
4. A practical onboarding toolkits developed to guide SMEs and women-led businesses in engaging with digital trade platforms and complying with the AfCFTA digital trade protocol
5. A monitoring report of digital trade uptake by SMEs, disaggregated by gender, region, and age, to inform inclusive policy and programme adjustments 
6. A comprehensive report of implemented activities contributing to the monitoring and evaluation functions, knowledge management and reporting of the Project 

Notes:

1.    The above Deliverables are indicative and not exhaustive 

2.    Specific Deliverables with actual deadlines will be indicated in respective Purchase Orders that will be issued for each assignment under this Framework Agreement. 

3.    All deliverables must be submitted in English and follow the EU’s standard format for project documents (templates will be shared).

Coordination 

The expert will work under the direct supervision of an assigned official from the ECOTRADE Project. Coordination with specific stakeholders may be required.

Place, duration and terms of performance

• Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (with possible remote options)
• Implementation period: Indicative start date for February 2026. Specific work periods will be indicated in respective Purchase Orders to be issued