High time to close the gender gap: A call to action for Latin American and Caribbean policymakers

Kati Suominen, Barbara Kotschwar, Erica Libertelli, Maria Luisa Boyce, Erica Vambell

This paper explores how the Covid-19 crisis created greater gender disparities in the Latin American and Caribbean regions through disproportionately affecting women, and proposes ways that governments can support and empower women in the Covid-19 economic recovery.

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Expanding MSME Ecommerce in Developing Countries: State of Policies and Path Forward

Kati Suominen, Erica Vambell, Mariah Furtek

This report maps the adoption of 130 policies conducive to MSME ecommerce in 10 major policy areas in 52 countries, most of them developing and emerging nations of Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Latin America.

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Impacts of Fintech Lending on Online Seller MSMEs:

Early Insights from Mexico

Kati Suominen

This report uses survey data from over 2,000 MSMEs to assess the impacts of Fintech lending on MSMEs online sellers' access to fast-disbursing working capital loans in Mexico, a booming ecommerce market with a vibrant Fintech community.

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Empowering women-led firms in the digital economy: Roadmap 

Kati Suominen

This paper, co-sponsored by eTrade Alliance partner Visa, is a data-driven roadmap for governments, corporations, and the international development community to optimize capacity-building work to enable women-led firms sell online and thrive in the global digital economy. 

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Toward a African Data Transfer Regime to Enable African MSMEs’ Cross-Border Ecommerce

Kati Suominen and Erica Vambell

The purpose of this report is to contribute to the growing discussions on cross-border data transfer policies in Africa, and to discuss regional data transfer policies that are compatible with the aims of free trade and MSME cross-border ecommerce. 

How local governments and rural regions can power ecommerce development

Kati Suominen

This paper explores ways in which developing countries’ rural regions and leading cities can best enable ecommerce as a means of promoting MSMEs’ sales and exports, attracting investment, and creating new jobs. 

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Corporate Digital Identity to Enable Developing Country MSMEs' Use of Ecommerce

Kati Suominen

This white paper discusses the creation and adoption of a self-sovereign corporate digital IDs to enable especially developing country MSMEs to onboard B2B marketplaces, access financial and trade services, and build trust with trading partners.