This policy brief examines how West Africa can move beyond basic digital connectivity toward a regional digital market in which small and medium-sized enterprises can sell, receive payments, deliver goods and build trust across borders. It argues that the digital divide is increasingly a transaction divide shaped by payment interoperability, digital identity, consumer protection, logistics, compliance, skills and access to finance.

The brief sets out six connected policy priorities and a practical 24-month delivery agenda for ECOWAS and national governments, aligned with the AfCFTA digital-trade framework, to turn connectivity into inclusive cross-border commerce for West African SMEs.

AUTHOR

Ugwu Brendan Chukwuebuka  •  June 2026