Jumia to Launch Its Own Mobile Money Wallet Jumia Pay

Leading pan African e­-commerce Jumia announced yesterday the launch of JumiaPay, a third party online payment solution aimed at providing a safer, faster and more convenient online payment experience.

The online payment solution JumiaPay is a first for e­-commerce Jumia and will most certainly be decisive in facilitating online payments across the 23 African countries where it operates, encouraging the progressive change to cashless societies. If the majority of payments performed on Jumia’s platforms is cash on delivery (between 70 to 90%), JumiaPay comes as a major milestone for improving customers’ online experience for the coming months and years, following in the footsteps of Chinese e­-commerce Alibaba and its online payment platform AliPay.
Jeremy Hodara, co­CEO of Jumia, emphasized the value added of the new payment platform for the online customer: ​ “Jumia Pay has a very simple yet crucial objective: go even further in providing a safe, a secure and a convenient shopping experience to our customers, building trust along the way between us, our thousands of sellers and our millions of customers. We are very proud to be able to offer this new service to our customers and participate in building financial inclusion in Africa to unbanked or underbanked populations”. JumiaPay will first  be implemented in Jumia’s biggest market, Nigeria, with more innovations to come before the end of the year.

The advantages of mobile money are central for e­commerce in African countries where mobile penetration is soaring and where the main challenges are to build trust for the customers and provide adequate payment systems. Indeed, already 50% of Jumia customers access the different platforms via their mobile phone, that figure reaching 70% in Nigeria. With its very secure payment system using a confidential code, mobile money payment is among the most trusted forms of payment across Africa. Mobile money also offers many perks for the customer.
First, the transfer is instantaneous and cheaper than any bank transactions. Second, payments via mobile money do not require the user to have a bank account, something decisive in 19 African countries where the population has less bank accounts than it has mobile money accounts.

Jumia has also collaborated with leading telecom companies MTN, Orange and Tigo to launch their own mobile money solutions on 20 of its platforms, spread across 8 African countries (Senegal, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, Nigeria).
Orange Money solutions are expected to launch in Ivory Coast and Cameroon at the beginning of Autumn on Jumia’s two biggest platforms there, Jumia Mall and Jumia Market (formerly Kaymu). MTN Mobile money and Tigo Cash are already live on more than 20 Jumia platforms (Jumia Mall, Jumia Market, Jumia Food, Jumia Travel and Jumia Deals) across 7 crucial countries in Africa, including 2 (Ivory Coast and Uganda) where the portion of the population with a mobile money account is higher than the portion of the population with a bank account. ​ JumiaPay will undoubtedly be a stepping stone in ensuring safer transactions between customers and Jumia benefit greatly the thousands of local businesses and vendors who sell daily on the many platforms of the company, helping them connect in a more secure and convenient way with their customers.

Jumia to provide E-commerce Training to over 3,000 Women in Kenya

In an effort to support Kenyan women entrepreneurs in business, over 3,000 women from Kenya will be given an opportunity to undergo E-commerce training, facilitated by Jumia in collaboration with SheCares International.
These women were selected by SheCares International from the Global Women Summit, launched yesterday by Cabinet secretary for public service,youth and Gender affairs Sicily Kariuki.The ecommerce training will empower women to navigate the digital world to and access broader markets

Speaking at the launch of the inaugural Global Women's Summit, hosted by shecares International in partnership with Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Sam Chappatte MD of Jumia Kenya said the training will empower women to exploit opportunities in the virtual space and break technological barriers.
“In a world that is going virtual, it is crucial that all actors in society have the training & tools they need to exploit the marketplace of tomorrow. This program is tailored to train these ambitious, enterprising women on technological tools they will need to succeed, and simple means to start generating new income streams, without investing more capital”

“Through our sister services at Jumia, we can offer additional opportunities to restaurant owners who wish to list on Jumia Food, property dealers who want to work with Jumia House, Hotel owners on Jumia Travel, and product owners with Jumia & Jumia Market,” added Chappatte.
  Cs.Kariuki emphasized the importance of empowering women to fully exploit their potential and pledged to work together with all stakeholders to ensure that the business environment is favorable for women to be empowered economically.
“Women are key agents for achieving transformational economic, environmental and social changes required for sustainable development in Kenya and globally”, said KEPSA CEO Ms.Carole Kariuki.
The Global Women’s Summit is a Women's Information Network (WIN) initiative which was founded by Dr. Paula Fellingham in the United States in 2009. The GWS has been launched in over 40 countries worldwide and its mission is to strengthen women and families worldwide, through education, empowerment and entrepreneurship. WIN provides women with online and on land education to empower businesses and personal lives.

Jumia will be working closely with Shecares international to drive their agenda for women empowerment in Kenya through trainings

Content Courtesy Of Jumia Kenya

We are witnessing the birth of a unique energy drink that’s about to revolutionize the African market.

Two former managers from Jumia Africa founded a production company that aims to transform the energy drink market in Africa. Their venture, Mutalo Group, produces one of the most astonishing drinks that popped up in the African market in the last years – KABISA Energy Drink. How come that within the last two years, in the times of a vast range of energy drink offerings, they managed to familiarize people with their own product and conquer new markets? It all started two years ago.

Tomasz Nowowiejski

CEO at Mutalo Group, fmr Managing Director Jumia Africa at Rocket Internet (fmr Kaymu.com)           

Two young and ambitious ex-managers came back to Poland after spending more than three years in Africa, where they were placing the foundations for the local e-commerce industry with Jumia Africa. Deeply familiar with the realities of the African economy and equipped with business connections throughout the continent, they decided to start on their own. It took them almost a year to design something completely different than a usual energy drink. They spent that time ringing up to the potential distributors, creating the best possible product, finding the right distribution channels, and coming up with an extraordinary marketing vision. Put that all together and you will get KABISA Energy Drink. It is enough to look at the design of the can to see that there is something totally new and puzzling about it.
But is it good? And how can it be so different from all the others? The first thing that differs KABISA from its competitors is the proper value for money. It’s based on high quality ingredients, which is why people are eager to pay more, however, it’s not one of the most expensive energy drinks on the market. African beverage markets have a tendency to be bi-polarized – there are cheap, low quality drinks and, on the other hand, high quality ones, which are heavily overpriced. There was hardly anything in between before KABISA appeared on the display shelves; to put it simply, KABISA has filled the gap in the energy drink sector. As a result, the customers who are looking for something of good quality don’t have to spend twice as much because expensive, premium products are no longer the only ones that are offered. What more, international giants offer their branded products in Africa, but they use the same packaging, pricing and marketing strategies that they use all over the world. It is Mutalo Group that seems to be one of the first international companies from outside the continent to understand that Africa is different and has different needs.

 Once you find KABISA in a store you know that it is in the right place. African design, tropical taste, branded fridges – it seems like nothing special, but altogether it creates something unique yet familiar. This is exactly what makes people want to buy it, not commercials with sportsmen jumping from the roofs and monster trucks, which are not commonplace or embedded in the local culture. All things considered, we are witnessing the expansion of the African market and KABISA Energy Drink is a perfect example-- it shows that there is a place and a growing demand for good quality products. Who knows, maybe it’s the beginning of another beverage giant?

www.mutalogroup.com/kabisa

Content Coutersy Of Mutalo Group

Mokotowska100-640 Warsaw

Poland

sales@muttalogroup

Adam Thomas joins EJC as New Director

The European Journalism Centre is pleased to announce Adam Thomas as its new Director. Thomas will fill the role vacated by departing Director Wilfried Ruetten, who has held the position since 2006. Adam Thomas brings experience of start-ups, traditional media industry and media development from both the private and non-profit sectors from his previous roles at Storyful and Sourcefabric.
“By choosing Adam Thomas as the new Director, the EJC wants to send a message,” said Vicent Partal, EJC Board Chair. “In the coming years we will dig deeper still into the most important questions journalism faces today. Adam has experience in developing some of the most successful projects in new journalism that we have seen in Europe. He is an asset that will help our organization to become a lighthouse for all those interested in innovation, in ethics, and in technology. The EJC plays a major role in helping our colleagues throughout the world to understand the changing scenario of the news business. We must preserve the best traditions of journalism in order to serve our communities and fulfill the role media must play in a complex world. Adam’s leadership will be crucial to achieving these objectives.”
"The Board wishes to express its sincere and profound appreciation of Mr. Ruetten’s achievements since he took office in 2006. It is thanks to him that the EJC has successfully tackled the last decade's changes in the journalism ecosystem and innovated its approaches, offers, and initiatives in response to the online environment. The foundation has weathered this transition with flying colours and proactively adapted new tools, developed new partnerships, and acquired new audiences in the process. Under Mr. Ruetten’s guidance, the EJC has become one of the most important supporters of quality journalism in Europe through up-to-date training, grant programmes, and accompanying activities."
Mr. Thomas will start as Director effective January 1st 2017. He will move to Maastricht in November 2016 to work with Mr Rütten on the transition.
“I’m delighted to join the EJC,” Thomas said. “Technology is transforming media consumption, delivery, partnerships, ethics and experimentation. Through projects like the News Impact Summits, the Innovation in Development Reporting Grant Programme, Data Driven Journalism, and the Verification Handbook, the EJC has changed the way journalists work. I believe the EJC is now perfectly positioned to ensure the independence and importance of journalism with a new era of invention and profitability. The Board and I share a vision that places the EJC at the heart of the innovation and debate around journalism, ethics, and technology globally.”
About Adam Thomas
Adam Thomas is an award-winning journalism and technology leader. In his previous role as Chief Product Officer at Storyful, he was responsible for the vision and delivery of over 20 innovativejournalism products to 150 of the world’s biggest media organisations. Adam joined Storyful in July 2013 as director of Business Development. The company was acquired by News Corp in December 2013, and has grown from 27 people to over 120 in New York, Hong Kong, London, Sydney and Dublin.
Previously, he was Head of Communications at the international nonprofit Sourcefabric, where he managed communications strategy and community growth. Adam has worked on media development projects in over 50 countries worldwide. His teams and projects have won an INMA Global Innovation Award, the African News Innovation Challenge, a Guardian Digital Innovation Award (Best Technology for Social Change) and a Knight-Batten Innovations in Journalism Award. He tweets at @datatheism.

About The European Journalism Centre (EJC)
The European Journalism Centre (EJC), established in 1992, is a non-profit international foundation with the remit to improve, strengthen, and underpin journalism and the news media. This mission has two main aspects: on the one hand, it is about safeguarding, enhancing, and future-proofing quality journalism in Europe and on the other hand, it is about supporting initiatives towards press freedom in emerging and developing countries. This often includes creating the framework conditions for independent and self-determined journalism in the first place. To these ends, the EJC provides thematic training, professional capacity development, and a wide range of support activities for journalists.

 The European Journalism Centre
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 2016

Content Courtesy Of European Journalism Centre

Jumia becomes the one stop online destination in Africa

Africa Internet Group is today connecting its companies into Jumia’s ecosystem with a new vision, "Expand your horizons". The new Jumia ecosystem will give access to products and services from its leading platforms.
After 4 years of successfully establishing and growing its online services as leaders in their markets, Africa Internet Group, now Jumia, has become the N°1 E-commerce platform in Africa.

“We founded our companies with a very strong belief: Internet can improve people’s lives across the globe. Uniting all services allows us to better help our customers fulfill their daily aspirations. This is all possible because people connect to our platform to access those services and products in an environment that we have designed for them, addressing their needs and expectations on quality, choice, price, trust and convenience.” said Sacha Poignonnec and Jeremy Hodara, founders and co-CEOs of Jumia.

Customers can now access respective products and services on JUMIA; Jovago – Africa’s leading online hotel booking platform now rebrands to Jumia Travel, while food delivery company, HelloFood will now be Jumia Food. Kaymu which serves as a community market place has rebranded to Jumia Market. Real estate Lamudi becomes Jumia House, while the company’s logistics services AIG X takes new identity as Jumia Services.

Furthermore, sellers will also benefit from this move, by getting access to more traffic and to a greater world of opportunities. Every day, Jumia helps and encourages restaurants, hotels, local sellers, brands, real estate agents, car dealers, large companies and logistic companies to become better, bigger, more performant, thus creating positive impact for Africa.
The founders reiterated that, “Operating under the same brand name reinforces the legitimacy of proposing other services to our customers and to our sellers. We want to have one strong brand that is trusted and loved by our customers across Africa”.

Jumia’s new vision, “Expand your horizons”, expresses the group’s ambition to transform people’s lives through internet, overcoming the ground market challenges of the continent and giving all Africans the opportunity to access high quality services and products everywhere.

About Jumia
Jumia aims at creating a connected digital Africa to improve people’s lives on the continent, thanks to the Internet. Therefore, Jumia’s mission is to connect African consumers and entrepreneurs to do better business together. Founded in 2012, with a presence all over Africa, the group has MTN, Rocket Internet, Millicom, Orange & Axa as investors. Jumia has been creating a sustainable ecosystem of digital services and infrastructures through online and mobile marketplaces and classifieds to expand your horizons.

Dan Karua MD Jumia House talk to memebers of press about the E- commerce platform in africa

Joe Falter Ceo Jumia Food adressing question being raised by media in regards  to the e commerce platform

 

Joe Falter Ceo Jumia Food EstelleVerdier MD Jumia Travel Cyrus Onyego CM jumia Travel 

Juan Seco Head of Fiance Jumia Group Kenya  and Kuria MD Jumia House

Joe Falter Ceo Jumia Food and Robinson Murage PR Jumia Kenya

JJ Maikere MD Jumia Market and  EstelleVerdier MD Jumia Travel talk to members of press about E-commerece Platform in Africa

Barbra Muthoni Head of social media Jumia Kenya and Terry Mwangi Pr Jumia Market

Cyrus Onyego CM jumia Travel and JJ Maikere MD Jumia Market

EstelleVerdier MD Jumia Travel

Nairobi, 23rd June 2016  

Content Courtesy Of Jumia Kenya

JUMIA DONATES TO MAMA FAUZIA CHILDREN’S HOME – NAIROBI

Jumia has donated clothing and foodstuffs worth Ksh. 1 Million to Mama Fauzia children’s home as part of its social corporate responsibility.
It was all smiles as representatives from the home received the goods at a colourful handover ceremony held at the home in Kasarani on Friday. Jumia communications Manager, Robinson Murage said the company will continue to support the communities in which it operates.
“We are committed to help improve the livelihoods of the less fortunate members of the community in which we operate. We hope this donation will go a long way to the cause.”
The Jumia team also took the day to celebrate their Muslim customers across the country by donning Muslim attires before handing over the boxes of new clothes, shoes and foodstuffs to the home. Mama Zainab from the home thanked the company for the donation.
“I want to say thank you so much on behalf of the entire Mama Fauzia Family, I lack words to say how handy this donation comes in for this home. Thank you so much. “Said mama Zainab.


About Mama Fauzia Children’s Home
Mama Fauzia is a children’s’ home started by Maalim Hassan and his wife Fauzia, hence the name. The husband died in 1997 and the home continued under the watch and care of Mama Fauzia and her committee that consists of six professional women.
The home was first based in the slums of Majengo in 2006, with financial contributions from the committee and well-wishers, the kids were able to move to a bigger and safer environment at Kasarani. The centre is home to over 100 kids aged 1yr. to 20 years.
Mama Fauzia children’s’ home is a registered institution and thus does not receive help from the Kenyan government. The home mostly depends on well-wishers or small organizations that happen to hear of it.

 Content Coutersy Of Jumia Communication Team

Jumia Kenya names new Managing Director

Nairobi, Kenya 16 July 2016, Jumia has named Sam Chappatte as Managing Director for its Kenyan operations.

Prior to his appointment, Sam was managing Jumia's New Countries, overseeing operations in six countries; Ghana, Uganda, Cameroon, Tanzania, Senegal and Algeria. He replaces Parinaz Firozi who is leaving the company after two years of service.

Outgoing MD Parinaz Firozi said, “It has been a hugely rewarding and exciting part of my life. It has taken a lot of energy, learning and enthusiasm to grow Jumia to where it is today, with incredible support from our customers and employees. I feel it’s a good time to handover to Sam, who will lead the company to its bright future.”

Chappatte’s new role will focus on building the company’s customer base, improving customer experience, and developing & recruiting Kenya's top talent.

“We strongly believe that this is the beginning for e-commerce in Kenya. Kenyan consumers are increasingly connected. Increasingly want peace of mind on the quality of products they purchase. And therefore increasingly embracing e-commerce. Jumia has as a strong base in Kenya, but we have work to do in bringing new products to our customers & significantly improving their experience. I'm very lucky to have a great team to work alongside in the coming years to make this happen!”


The management change comes several months after Jumia secured an investment valuing it's parent company Africa Internet Group at more than $1 billion, joining the exclusive list of global "Unicorns" (private start-ups valued at $1bn), and becoming Africa's first (according to CBInsights).

Content Courtesy Of Jumia Kenya