In 2013, JUMIA launched its corporate social responsibility (CSR) partnerships with organisations all over Africa including 1 Child 1 Book in Nigeria, L’Heure Joyeuse in Morocco and RecycloBekia in Egypt.
CSR is a core element to the business model in JUMIA; the company is involved in several projects and initiatives to support communities within Africa. JUMIA Nigeria commenced its CSR partnership in January 2013 with the charity 1 Child 1 Book. Together JUMIA and the 1 book 1 child established a plan that for every book purchased from the Jumia Nigeria online store; one was donated to the foundation to help aid the community, as well as the aim to achieve the goal of the partnership. So far, the partnership has helped the foundation to reach over 700 children in 5 primary schools in the Lagos community. JUMIA Nigeria also took part in book reading, motivational sessions and extracurricular activities with pupils of each school alongside the foundation.
Tosin Jegede, Founder of 1 Child 1 Book commented, “The partnership between JUMIA and 1 Child 1 Book project has enabled us to reach the international goal to improve literacy. Throughout 2013, we achieved educational and creative goals. The relationship with JUMIA is helping not only to put books in the hands of children, but also expand the children’s minds and encourage their education. Also through initiatives like the Christmas party where we welcomed 700 children from 5 schools, the partnership connects with the need to encourage and expand a child’s creativity to see a world bigger than theirs”
In December last year, JUMIA Morocco signed a partnership agreement with L’Heure Joyeuse, a public utility. L’Heure Joyeuse is a non-profit registered charity and is the leading social organisation in Morocco. The organisation works in three main areas: the health service helping malnourished children meet their medical needs and fight against malnutrition, education to provide academic support for vulnerable children and training to help facilitate the professional integration of young people through the use of appropriate support. JUMIA Morocco has begun to position itself as a communications hub for L’Heure Joyeuse by integrating the display of the association’s logo on Jumia Morocco website and selling the associations greeting cards on its online store. The agreement also provides other forms of support and assistance, especially for the integration of young people trained by the Unit Orientation and Professional Insertion (OPC) for L’Heure Joyeuse. On behalf of the association, it will communicate the partnership and involve JUMIA Morocco in the organisation of events and general meetings.
Leila Benhima Cherif, Vice President of L’Heure Joyeuse commented, “It’s a pleasure to sign this type of partnership with a very young entity (JUMIA two years old). This partnership is a relationship that both parties plan to sustain”.
In February this year, JUMIA Egypt teamed up with RecycloBekia, an electronic waste recycling company based in Egypt and serving the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The partnership’s aims to coordinate a residential e-scrap pick up service in exchange for vouchers to use on the JUMIA Egypt website.
“We are delighted with our successful partnership with one of the leading online retailers in the region, JUMIA. It will motivate many online home users to take green actions and recycle their e-waste properly” Mostafa Hemdan, CEO.
JUMIA will continue to expand its CSR partnerships in the upcoming year partnering with other organisations in Africa such as Kenya and Uganda.
