The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission is developing an action plan to address barriers limiting the participation of women, young people, persons with disabilities and small-scale cross-border traders in digital commerce across the region.

The initiative formed part of discussions at the E-Commerce Community Forum convened by the ECOWAS Commission, in collaboration with the West African Regional Digital Integration Project, in Abuja from October 27 to 28, 2026.

The forum brought together representatives of member states, development partners, women’s groups, persons with disabilities and small-scale cross-border traders to examine ways of accelerating the implementation of the ECOWAS E-Commerce Strategy 2023–2027 and expanding access to digital markets.

Participants identified poor internet connectivity, high costs, inadequate digital skills and limited access to finance as some of the barriers constraining the growth of e-commerce and preventing disadvantaged groups from benefiting fully from the digital economy.

Representing the Senegalese Ministry of Industry and Trade, Fatou Diop said e-commerce could contribute to structural transformation and social inclusion but required investment in digital skills, cybersecurity, secure payment systems, infrastructure, financing and appropriate regulatory frameworks.

The ECOWAS Director of Trade, Kolawole Sofola, speaking on behalf of the Commission President, General Birame Diop, and the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Dehpue Yenpea Zuo, said digitalisation presented opportunities for economic growth but stressed the need to ensure that women, young people, persons with disabilities and small-scale traders were not excluded.

He said the forum provided an opportunity to examine barriers affecting their participation and develop interventions that would make digital commerce more accessible.

Also speaking, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) representative, Alessandro Vitale, said e-commerce could support economic diversification and employment, but called for investment in digital skills, affordable technology, access to finance and markets, as well as stronger institutional capacity.

A representative of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Chukwuemeka Okafor, called for coordinated efforts to translate the regional strategy into practical outcomes and promote inclusive digital commerce.

The study and draft action plan considered at the forum focused on improving the participation of women, young people, persons with disabilities and small-scale cross-border traders in e-commerce.

The outcomes of the discussions are expected to feed into the second meeting of the ECOWAS Regional E-Commerce Committee.