Government Digital Platform and SME Export Performance in Developing Countries: Evidence From Kenya

project details

Government Digital Platform and SME Export Performance in Developing Countries: Evidence From Kenya

Research Area

Agri-Food Systems

Project Status

Ongoing

Start Date

Jan, 2026

Project Overview

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in Kenya’s economic growth, yet many face barriers to exporting, such as limited market information, inadequate export skills, and complex trade procedures. Government-led digital platforms offer opportunities to address these challenges, but evidence of their impact on export performance remains limited.

This project examines how the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA)’s digital platforms help SMEs access export opportunities, build digital capabilities, and improve export performance. It also investigates the institutional and operational barriers that affect their effectiveness.

Mobile Phone has brought changes in how digital services work.

Objectives of the Study

Assess the impact of government-led digital platforms on SME export performance.
Examine how platform adoption, export training, and digital capabilities influence firms’ participation in international trade.
Identify institutional and operational barriers affecting digital trade facilitation.
Generate evidence to inform the design and scaling of government digital export services.

Research Approach / Methodology

The project uses a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative research, firm surveys and experimental evaluation:

Institutional interviews: Engage KEPROBA and other trade institutions to examine coordination, digital governance and delivery of digital trade services.
Firm surveys and interviews: Study approximately 1,000 firms registered on the Make It Kenya buyer–seller platform to assess platform use, benefits and challenges.
Experimental evaluation: Use a randomized encouragement design with approximately 7,000 firms to assess whether online export training improves export knowledge, digital capabilities, platform engagement, and export performance.