SafeBoda, a Uganda-based owner of an app for hailing motorcycle rides in three countries, and the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), a UN agency that supports small businesses in developing countries, recently partnered to launch an e-commerce platform. This is a response to the travel restrictions imposed by the Ugandan government in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Initially, the goal is to connect 800 market vendors to “a projected average of 50,000 customers to be reached daily with food stuffs and goods delivery” via “the preexisting, reliable SafeBoda transport service.”
Chris Lukolyo, the digital lead for UNCDF in Uganda, said, “During this COVID-19 pandemic, many small businesses have not had an opportunity to leverage digital solutions to keep their businesses afloat due to lack of access to the relevant digital products, and sometimes inadequate digital literacy. By partnering with SafeBoda, UNCDF seeks to catalyse enterprise innovation and investment that will spur small businesses and consumers to embrace digital platforms in their daily lives, which will in turn drive growth and sustainability.”
SafeBoda, which operates in Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda, seeks to “empower local communities to thrive facilitated through safe urban transportation to millions of Africans thus improving livelihoods and mobility across the continent.” The firm was founded in the city of Kampala in 2015. In addition to connecting drivers and riders, SafeBoda offers an e-wallet service for paying for rides. The company has approximately 18,000 drivers in Uganda. Additional data on SafeBoda are not available.
UNCDF endeavors to create opportunities for poor people in developing countries and their small businesses by increasing access to microfinance and other forms of investment capital. During 2018, the organization took in donations of USD 69 million, operating in 40 countries in Africa and Asia, with particular commitment to countries emerging from crisis. As part of this work, UNCDF supported financial services providers that serve a total of 32 million customers.
By Simrun Kothari, Research Associate
Sources and Additional Resources
UNCDF press release
https://www.uncdf.org/article/5577/uncdf-and-safeboda-launch-an-e-commerce-platform-for-food-and-grocery-home-delivery-amid-covid-19-and-beyond
UNCDF homepage
https://www.uncdf.org
SafeBoda Uganda homepage
https://safeboda.com/ug
SafeBoda Nigeria homepage
https://safeboda.com/ng
SafeBoda Kenya homepage
https://safeboda.com/ke
UNCDF data
https://www.uncdf.org/uncdf-by-the-numbers
Previous MicroCapital coverage of the work of UNCDF in Uganda
https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-airtel-mtn-uncdf-partner-to-boost-digital-financial-services-ensibuuko-tech-mobipay-agrosys-in-rural-uganda/
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