The Ajira Digital Program at KEPSA decided to wind up International Women’s Day at a notch higher by signing a partnership agreement with Bookings Africa. The partnership, which was signed at KEPSA offices on 9^th March 2022, aims at boosting work opportunities by creating a linkage between employers and young people. 

The agreement was signed by Dr Ehud Gachugu – Project Director, Ajira Digital Program and Youth Employment at KEPSA and Ms Fade Ogunro – Founder Bookings Africa. Presenting during the signing ceremony included Ms Anne Maingi – Bookings Africa, Ms Rachel Gathu – Private Sector Engagement Officer at Ajira Digital Program and Mr James Kuria – Private Sector Engagement Officer at Ajira Digital Program.

Bookings Africa is one of Africa’s largest gig markets place, founded by Ms Fadê Ogunro. Ms Ogunro who is also the chairperson Africa-Cherie Blair Foundation explained that businesses in Africa and especially in Kenya are embracing the gig economy, a situation that was accelerated by the 2020 pandemic, and which businesses are benefitting enormously.

This partnership will help increase work opportunities for the young people registered in the Ajira Digital Program by linking them to employers seeking to outsource the different digital talents through Bookings Africa. On the other hand, through KEPSA, Bookings Africa will have a chance to reach the private sector in Kenya and create awareness of the digital services available that these businesses can tap into. Such services and talents available through the platform include accountants, business consultants, models, photographers, graphic designers, video editors, social influencers just to mention a few.

In Kenya only, Bookings Africa has managed to link over 3,500 young people to digital work and expects to grow this number to 10,000 by the end of this year. Ms Ogunro also highlighted some of the plans the platform has which include engaging carefully selected partners to avail training, access to devices and micro-lending for these online workers and especially the blue-collar workers to ensure that they are well equipped with the necessary tools, hence efficiency in executing their services.

Gig economy involves the exchange of labour for money between individuals or companies via digital platforms that actively facilitate matching between providers and customers on a short-term and payment-by-task basis.

This is one of the many partnerships that Ajira Digital Program has engaged to ensure the involvement of all stakeholders in the ecosystem and expand the possible digital solutions for businesses.