Empowering Africa’s Entrepreneurs: UNIDEP and ATPC Launch Free Course on Digital Trade under the AfCFTA

life-coaching-self-discovery| life-coach-career-transitions| Personal Development

November 21, 2025•3 min read

As someone who has had the honor of serving as a Senior International Consultant through The VGC Group for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), I’ve seen firsthand how access to knowledge and collaboration can unlock economic transformation across the continent.

Whenever I’m informed of initiatives that can directly benefit entrepreneurs, policymakers, and professionals in my network, I make it a point to share them. This is one of those opportunities, and it’s one you don’t want to miss.

About the Course

The United Nations Institute for Economic Development and Planning (UNIDEP), in partnership with the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), is offering a free, three-day capacity-building course titled:
“Capacity Building on the Use of Digital Technologies under the AfCFTA to Foster Intra-African Trade and Regional Value Chains.”

The program will be held from November 25–27, 2025, in a hybrid format (in-person & virtual) and conducted in both English and French.

Why This Course Matters

Digital technologies are reshaping trade and accelerating regional integration. They lower barriers to new markets, streamline logistics and payments, and empower African businesses, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and women-led ventures, to expand across borders.

Yet, despite the potential, challenges in digital infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, digital skills, and financing continue to slow adoption. This training directly addresses these gaps and provides a practical roadmap for SMEs to thrive in the digital economy.

What You’ll Learn

Participants will gain hands-on exposure to tools and frameworks that make digital trade work for real businesses. Specifically, you will:

Develop practical skills in online payments, e-documents, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies such as AI, FinTech, and blockchain.
Learn how to integrate digital solutions to improve efficiency, visibility, and competitiveness in regional value chains.
Understand the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade and explore data governance, privacy, and regulatory best practices.
Connect with policymakers, entrepreneurs, and peers to identify cross-border collaboration and market opportunities.

Who Should Apply

This course is designed for:

Founders, co-founders, and senior managers of SMEs and MSMEs
Policy professionals and researchers working in trade, innovation, and development
Members of regional and international organizations
Entrepreneurs and innovators passionate about shaping Africa’s digital economy

Course Details

Date: November 25–27, 2025
Mode: Hybrid (In-person & Virtual)
Languages: English & French
Fee: Free
Application Deadline: October 26, 2025

How to Apply

Interested participants are encouraged to complete the application form here:
https://forms.gle/BUa4gdC8CxAwj5JZ7

Don’t miss this opportunity to build your digital capacity, connect with leading voices in trade policy, and contribute to shaping Africa’s economic future under the AfCFTA.

A Final Word

At The VGC Group, we believe in building digital bridges that connect people, policies, and processes across borders. This course is a perfect example of how international collaboration can open doors for African entrepreneurs and professionals ready to lead in a tech-driven trade era.

If you know someone who could benefit from this program, please share this post and help spread the opportunity.

Together, let’s continue to impact locally and build globally.

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Wendy Ekua (W.E.) Da'Cruz

W.E. Da’Cruz, widely known as The Digital Diplomat™, is a visionary global strategist, speaker, tech entrepreneur, and modern-day citizen diplomat whose work bridges commerce, culture, and consciousness. She equips entrepreneurs, policymakers, and mission-driven leaders to confidently operate across international markets with principled leadership, digital innovation, and global diplomacy. She is also the cofounder of The Virtual Global Consultant (VGC) Group, an award-winning IT firm recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce for its leadership in digital transformation. Through her consultancy, she has helped generate millions in revenue and donations for U.S. and African organizations using smart digital infrastructure. As a U.S. Embassy Speaker, her international influence has led her to speak and lead trainings around the world from Ethiopia to Ghana to South Africa to Mozambique, to Kuwait and beyond for high-level institutions, including the U.S. Department of State, U.S.-Africa Business Summit, and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Appointed to multiple U.S. trade and diplomatic advisory committees, W.E. is also a 2023 U.S. Global Leadership Coalition Next Gen Leader and a tireless advocate for global entrepreneurship, food innovation, and inclusive economic development. She and her husband are cofounders of The Mushroom Angel Company, a Detroit-based mushroom-first food manufacturer with 120+ retail placements across the Midwest. She's currently completing his doctoral dissertation on non-market business strategy at the University of Michigan - Flint and is scheduled to graduate in Spring 2026. Rooted in faith, legacy, and the power of identity, W.E.'s life is a living movement—calling people to rise in authority, move with intention, and scale with strategy for lasting impact across generations.

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