The Jobtech Alliance steered by Mercy Corps and BFA Global has announced its second cohort of platforms dedicated to connecting Africans with quality and decent job opportunities across the continent.
Disrupt Africa reported in October 2022 on the launch of the Jobtech Alliance, an ecosystem-building initiative around inclusive jobtech in Africa steered by Mercy Corps and BFA Global, which aims to create an enabling environment for entrepreneurs to build platforms that deliver quality livelihoods, are inclusive, and enable users to engage in decent work.
The first cohort was selected last April, and the eight startups have now been selected for the second edition. Two of those are Nigerian – Selar, an e-commerce tool enabling African creatives and entrepreneurs to sell digital content, products, and services across borders; and Instollar, a green energy marketplace that uses location and skill algorithms to connect renewable energy companies with freelance green-collar workers across Africa.
Another two are Kenyan, namely Mwingi, a tech-enabled trading network revolutionising the supply of essential goods to remote, rural areas of Africa through franchised retail outlets; and Gwiji, a mobile platform that connects underprivileged women with urban households in need of cleaning services.
The remaining ventures are Uganda’s Opareta, which digitises mobile money agent businesses, supporting activities like float management, performance analytics and channel oversight; South Africa’s CatalyzU, an end-to-end solution that vets, trains, and places non-technical talent at global startups and VC funds via a matchmaking talent marketplace; Ethiopia’s Goodayon, a location-based gig platform that connects customers with reliable domestic help, home repair, and maintenance services; and Ethiopia’s Afriwork, a job-matching platform leveraging Telegram to offer fully automated and self-catered recruitment services to SMEs and beyond.
“We’re thrilled to double down on our efforts with another cohort of jobtech innovators improving access to decent employment across Africa,” said Michelle Hassan, Co-director at Jobtech Alliance. “By building an enabling ecosystem, we can improve livelihoods across the continent.”
Each platform will receive investment capital, bespoke venture-building support, advisory services from leading experts, and opportunities to scale their innovative platforms through the Alliance’s growing cross-sector partnerships. This initiative is part of Jobtech Alliance’s broader effort, which engages hundreds of jobtech platforms across Africa and stakeholders, including investors and policymakers, in learning and community-building activities.
