Writes Hopewell Chibvongodze
Harare, March 21, 2024 – A local online company has offered scholarships to 50 women and youth entrepreneurs to train in e-commerce.
“This program aims to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the digital economy. Additionally, upon completion of the training program, Tofara Online is committed to ensuring that 70 percent of the participants are gainfully employed, providing them with access to job opportunities and mentorship,” said Tofara Online’s Sharon Tanganyika during an e-trade consultation assessment workshop in Harare this week.
Tofara Online, a digital skills and innovation consulting trust is working in partnership with French company, Digital Africa, with the local company providing project management. The e-trade consultation assessment workshop focused on mapping a way forward to promote online trade in Zimbabwe.
Tanganyika called on the government and private sector to consider allocating resources to her trust to offer e-commerce training to other provinces as it empowers MSMEs, women, and youth to embrace digital skills and emerging technologies for business and career development.
Tofara Online is a member of ecomConnect Zimbabwe, an initiative of the International Trade Centre which engages with micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and offers comprehensive training on e-commerce strategies and insights into various industries.
It is also a member of the Education Coalition of Zimbabwe dedicated to education and skills development and has endorsements from organizations such as the International Trade Centre, World Trade Organization, and International Chamber of Commerce.
On the e-trade consultation workshop, Tanganyika said the e-trade consultation workshop provides a platform to illuminate on the challenges hindering e-commerce in the country such as limited digital infrastructure, lack of trust and confidence in online transactions, and restricted access to financing and digital skills.
“We are driven by solving Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 4 – Quality Education in Tech, SDG 5 – Gender Equality in Technology, and SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth.”
The e-trade readiness assessment was organized by the ministries of Industry and Commerce and ICT, Postal and Courier Services with the support of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
She commended the government for its commitment to the development of the digital economy which was evidenced by the allocation of $9.7 billion toward information and communication technology (ICT).