Pacific Digital Economy Programme (PDEP)

Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Pacific Regional

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 Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, 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

June

2025

Geographical Focus

Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Pacific Regional

Main Beneficiary

Government and Private Sector

Status

Active

Budget

3000000

Donors

Australia

Implementing Agency

UNCDF

UNDP

UNCTAD

Contact Person

Neha Mehta

UNCDF Pacific Regional Lead

neha.mehta@uncdf.org

KPIs

1.1 Number of countries that measure the development of their digital economy [baseline; to-date; closure]: 0; 1; 5
1.2 Number of countries with an established forum for regular public-private dialogue on the Digital Economy [baseline; to-date; closure]: 0; 1; 5
1.3 Number of countries with a strategy on the Digital Economy [baseline; to-date; closure]: 0; 0; 5
2.1 Number of eGovernment service piloted and/or scaled [baseline; to-date; closure]: 0; 0; 7
2.2 Number of registered users of eGovernment services supported by the Programme [baseline; to-date; closure]: 0; 0; 300,000
2.3 Number of active users of eGovernment services supported by the Programme [baseline; to-date; closure]: 0; 0; 100,000
2.4 Number of services piloted and/or scaled that focus on open banking, shared digital payment networks and/or e-commerce platforms [baseline; to-date; closure]: 0; 0; 10
2.5 Number of registered users for services supported by the Programme that focus on open banking, shared digital payment networks and/or e-commerce platforms [baseline; to-date; closure]: 0; 0; 300,000
2.6 Number of active users for services supported by the Programme that focus on open banking, shared digital payment networks and/or e-commerce platforms [baseline; to-date; closure]: 0; 0; 100,000
2.7 Number of last mile digital micro and/or meso infrastructure services piloted and/or scaled [baseline; to-date; closure]: 0; 0; 10
3.1 Number of partnerships established with co-working spaces, innovation hubs and acceleration programs to develop the digital economy [baseline; to-date; closure]: 0; 1; 10
4.1 Countries where a survey is conducted on digital and financial literacy skills of Pacific Islanders [baseline; to-date; closure]: 0; 0; 5
4.2 Number of national school curricula with ICT / STEM education and financial literacy skills integrated [baseline; to-date; closure]: 0; 0; 3
4.3 Number of tertiary educational institutions with digital economy and financial literacy related subjects integrated into their curriculum [baseline; to-date; closure]: 0; 0; 5
4.4 Number of initiatives piloted and/or scaled to support rural communities, women, MSME and seasonal workers acquiring the skills and knowledge to access and use digital and financial services [baseline; to-date; closure]: 0; 0; 5
4.5 Number of clients that participated in digital and financial literacy trainings [baseline; to-date; closure]: 0; 0; no target

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