1. Africa Union Ecommerce Conference
Nairobi July 2018
Skills Development for the Promotion of Ecommerce
How can SMEs best be prepared and coached to build skills needed to flourish?
How do we build and nurture partnerships to achieve economies of scale in skills development?
Drs Alastair Tempest, CEO, Ecommerce Forum Africa

2. The Holistic Approach Essential
We need to include in our planning on skills development:-
Business to business (B2B) which is the largest element of ecommerce;
Business to Consumer (B2C) for goods and services
Business to Government (B2G), especially with the increase in e-government
Consumer to Consumer (C2C).
Understanding by relevant government departments (national, regional, local) of what ecommerce is, benefits, etc
Ensure University Business Depts and Business Schools are aware, encourage young lecturers in ecommerce. A Chair (professorship) of Africa Ecommerce?
Understanding by Innovation hubs
Finally, include in Business courses for High Schools.

3. Building Skills for E-shops
1st challenge to ensure that all aspects of ecommerce are understood - leaving out steps leads to disaster!
Introduction to ecommerce
Modules on specific issues
Mentoring, training (inclusive of distance learning of course!)
Teach-the-teacher (including for innovation hubs, trainers, etc
Build research and case histories.

4. Building skills for the rest of the ecommerce chain
Institutions providing funding (govt. national/regional), banks, etc.
Mobile/cell phone operators
Postal/courier operators (NB. Many state postal operators in Europe provided tutorials, training, assistance to potential e-shops)
Marketers (agencies and advertisers)
Web-designers
Warehousing logistics
Etc

5. Nurturing Partnerships
This is a national issue, requires national knowledge and relationships
There is an important role for government (national, regional, local)
Together with associations (like the Ecommerce Forum), chambers of commerce, ecommerce clubs.
Key – cooperation between government entities and the sector

6. Final Thought
We are in a business dominated by a few large providers. There is nothing specifically wrong with that. Ecommerce is a very young sector! But we, the ecommerce sector, need to be cognizant of the benefits of competition to sell our goods and services online, whether our market is only local, national or cross border.