In 2025, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) strengthened its support to developing countries navigating rapid digital transformation. The year confirmed both the growing importance of the digital economy and the urgency of ensuring that its benefits are shared more widely.
Against a backdrop of accelerating digitalization and widening gaps, the organization’s e-commerce and digital economy programme focused on turning analysis into action – helping countries build readiness, implement reforms and engage in global digital policymaking.
A reinforced mandate
Major international processes reaffirmed the central role of the digital economy in development. The WSIS+20 review recognized digitalization as a growing pillar of the global economy.
The Geneva Consensus adopted by member states at the organization’s 16th ministerial conference (UNCTAD16) expanded its mandate in the area of e-commerce and the digital economy.
Strengthening country digital readiness
A core focus in 2025 was helping countries to improve their digital economy readiness.
The Programme completed its 41st eTrade Readiness Assessment while expanding support for the implementation of reforms.
Key achievements include:
- 3 new eTrade Readiness Assessments: Algeria, Indonesia (the first G20 country supported) and Zimbabwe.
- National E-commerce Strategy support to 5 countries: Ghana, Mauritania, Samoa, Timor-Leste, and Trinidad and Tobago.
- Expansion of the eTrade Reform Tracker, with 6 countries signing agreements (Fiji, Kenya, Mauritania, Peru, Samoa, and Solomon Islands) and 7 new expressions of interest.
- The 4th eTrade Implementation Review, covering 23 countries and 3 regional organizations, showed progress in governance frameworks, coordination and monitoring.
Building knowledge and closing data gaps
Producing better data and analysis remained a priority in 2025. UNCTAD advanced its work on measuring the digital economy, including:
- A new global database on e-commerce sales and digitally ordered exports
- Updated insights from the Cyberlaw Tracker, covering five key policy areas
- Progress toward international guidelines on measuring e-commerce value
Training and technical cooperation also continued. A total of 131 participants (including 76 women) from 56 countries were trained in measuring digital trade.
Empowering women in the digital economy
Supporting women digital entrepreneurs remained a central pillar of work. In 2025, the eTrade for women initiative expanded its reach and impact:
- 46 women entrepreneurs from 16 countries benefited from participation in regional masterclasses.
- 100 new members joined the initiative’s communities, bringing the network to over 400 women across 65 countries.
- 20 regional online sessions fostered peer learning and exchange
In addition, a study tour brought together 31 entrepreneurs from 12 countries, providing direct exposure to China’s leading digital ecosystems.
Participants also contributed to global policy discussions, ensuring that women’s perspectives shape digital policymaking.
Driving consensus and partnerships
UNCTAD continued to play a key role in shaping global dialogue and cooperation on e-commerce and the digital economy.
- The organization’s intergovernmental group of experts agreed on policy recommendations addressing digitalization’s uneven environmental impacts and inequalities
- Under UNCTAD’s leadership, the United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS) played an active role in the 20-year review of outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
The eTrade for all initiative expanded to 36 partners and enhanced its platform with country profiles covering 193 economies.
Stronger partnerships are helping scale impact and align global efforts.