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UNDP and Jumia transform informal enterprises in Uganda through inclusive e-commerce: Early lessons learned

SDGs Impacted

On 8 May 2020, UNDP Accelerator Lab, in partnership with Jumia Food Uganda, a leading online shopping platform, launched an e-commerce platform to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) remain afloat in the wake of the restrictive measures imposed to control the spread of coronavirus. Since the new integration of informal businesses into the e-commerce platform, the results witnessed have created great optimism for both vendors and consumers. There is no doubt that e-commerce is emerging as a tool with significant roles to play in the prosperity and recovery of businesses in Uganda. Considering that 98% of Uganda’s businesses run informally, e-commerce will offer a critical income stream for those impacted during the lockdown and beyond.

Impact / Outcome
So far, seven markets in Uganda have been onboarded with over 1,200 vendors registered to sell their assorted produce online. Early indicators show that integrating informal businesses into e-commerce can be one of the ways to accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Funding sources
Public/Private
Key Metrics
Help MSMEs join a digital marketplace
Locations
Africa, Uganda
Sector
Financial services
Intervention lever
Policy
Operating model
Public-private partnership
Target populations
Women & girls, Youth, Rural
Year published
29 July 2021

The EDISON Alliance

A World Economic Forum Initiative