7000019659 - EU-EAC DEEP - E-Commerce Business Development Consultancy

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, in collaboration with Expertise France (EF) and the Estonian Centre for International Development (EstDev), is implementing the EU-EAC DEEP programme, which focuses on Digital Economy, E-Commerce, E-Payment, and Public E-Services. A key area of the programme is designed to enable, expand, improve and make more inclusive cross-border digital trade in East Africa, as well as between East Africa and Europe.

On the other hand, the East African Community (EAC) is advancing toward deeper regional economic integration, including the development of a unified digital market. Digital trade, particularly e-commerce, is a key driver of this transformation. However, trust remains a critical barrier to the adoption and growth of digital trade across the region. Challenges that undermine trust in digital transactions include low confidence in digital channels among consumers, retailers, and service providers due to limited cultural adaptation and unfamiliarity with digital processes; reduced trust in e-commerce due to inadequate legal frameworks and limited consumer protection; and, limited awareness and understanding of cross-border e-commerce, particularly among SMEs, who lack the digital capacity and resources to fully benefit from digital trade.

Against this background, GIZ Tanzania & EAC is seeking a qualified and experienced consultancy firm to conduct a study on best practices in consumer protection in digital trade and to develop a regional digital trade trust mechanism framework for the East African Community. The mechanism will aim to enhance transparency, accountability, digital safety, and dispute resolution, ultimately fostering greater consumer and SME confidence in regional digital trade.