Pacific Digital Economy Programme (PDEP)

Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Kiribati

About the Program

The Pacific Digital Economy Programme (PDEP) is a five-year programme with a two-year inception phase that aims to foster inclusive digital economies in the Pacific that support rural communities, women, MSMEs and seasonal workers as they increasingly participate in the online market. The programme will apply digital solutions to meet the needs of vulnerable pacific islanders – fostering economic growth, improved livelihoods and narrowing the digital divide.

The initiative will be implemented in Cook Islands, Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, and Vanuatu.

PDEP is jointly administered by the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), UN Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Start and End Date

June

2021

December

2025

Geographical Focus

Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Kiribati

Main Beneficiary

Government and Private Sector

Status

Active

Donors

European Union, New Zealand, Australia

Budget

$3,530,700

Implementing Agency

UNCDF
UNDP
UNCTAD

Contact Person

Maria Perdomo

Deputy Director, Inclusive Digital Economies

maria.perdomo@uncdf.org

Policy Area

PA1. E-commerce Readiness & Strategy Formulation
PA2. ICT Infrastructure & Services
PA3. Trade Logistics and Trade Facilitation
PA4. Legal & Regulatory Framework
PA5. Electronic Payment Solutions
PA6. E-commerce Skills Development
PA7. Access to Finance for E-commerce

Strategic Output

- 1.1. National E-commerce strategies are developed and implemented in FICs, which are built on domestic consensus and inspired by the Regional E-commerce Strategy and Roadmap
- , 1.2. Statistics on E-commerce are available to inform national and regional policymaking of FICs and the formulation of donor-funded programmes
2.2. Supply of general and last-mile domestic connectivity is expanded across the Pacific
3.4. Accessibility of E-commerce platforms has increased
4.1. E-commerce-related laws are made or amended based on UNCITRAL model laws as best international standard, plus other best international practices
- 5.1. Non-bank digital payment solutions for E-commerce are deployed across the Pacific
- , 5.2. Business-friendly digital payment solutions spearheaded by commercial banks and Mobile Network Operators are integrated in E-commerce ecosystem
- 6.1. The regional innovation/start-up ecosystem for E-commerce business ventures is strengthened
- , 6.2. Digital skills are enhanced for all
- 7.1. Availability of risk sharing facilities and blended finance solutions has increased for E-commerce players (marketplace, vendors, merchants)
- , 7.2. Alternative sources of finance for E-commerce ventures have been mainstreamed in access to finance solutions and are promoted regionally

Pacific Digital Economy Programme (PDEP)

About the Program

$3,530,700

Policy Area

Strategic Output

SDGs

Individual Projects Under the Program

eTrade for Women Masterclass (2023)

Fiji National E-commerce Strategy

Digital Economy Report: Pacific Edition (2024)

Retail Payment Ecosystem in Solomon Islands

Chatbox-Digitizing Customer Service

Digital Micro/nano Lending product in the Solomon Islands

Pacific Inter-Island Cross-Border Remittance

Incubator Capacity-Building in the Pacific

Fiji National Financial Inclusion Strategy

E-commerce Aggregation in the Solomon Islands

Mobile Money in the Solomon Islands

SIM Registration Database in Solomon Islands

Digital and Financial Literacy Survey in 7 Pacific Island Countries

Digital Economy Report: Pacific Edition (2022)

eLearning Course on the Production of Digital Economy Statistics

E-commerce Legislation Gap Analysis for the Pacific

National E-commerce Strategy for Solomon Islands

e-Commerce platform by Digicel Tonga

Maua Platform Expansion to Vanuatu – Harnessing the potential of eCommerce to enable MSMEs to trade online

Online Food order and Delivery Service with Payments Solution

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