M4Jam

M4Jam is a Gig technology company aimed at passing economic opportunities from big to small. We strive not only to alleviate unemployment by providing micro-jobs to Jobbers (gig workers), who are registered on the platform but also to allow those Jobbers the opportunity to develop themselves and their earning potential. Jobbers start off by jobbing as regular Jobbers, and by ensuring that they consistently submit high-quality jobs on a regular basis, they are able to work their way towards becoming a Master Jobber.

To understand what the problem is, let's first explain how the South African economy is characterised:

• a relatively highly developed internet infrastructure
• regulatory conditions supporting innovation
• high levels of unemployment
• a substantial informal sector
• and extreme inequality

In addition, South Africa faces key challenges such as poverty, low levels of education and employment, as well as an urgent need for economic growth. We still have more than seven million people in this country that go to bed without food. We have kids today that are not in the education system. We have adults and youth with no opportunity for employment. 

The Challenge: Inequality, poverty and unemployment remain the main interdependent socio-economic triple challenges South Africa has to resolve. The Centre for Development and Enterprise has said the official unemployment rate of 42% is the world’s most severe unemployment crisis. In a country like South Africa, the gig economy can play a vital role in supplementing income and providing much-needed temporary employment. 

Our solution is a gig technology platform that offers impoverished communities in South Africa economic opportunities. We do this by connecting brands, government, or organisations to people and small businesses in communities via their mobile device and leveraging the gig economy. The gig economy can play a vital role in supplementing income and providing much-needed temporary employment and we have positioned ourselves to bridge the gap between unemployment and employment in South Africa

Everything on the M4Jam platform is a micro-task. Every micro-task is paid for/incentivised. Our M-Commerce facilitates payment immediately (or on validation of the micro-task moving margin from ‘big to small’

Micro-tasks can be allocated to our gig workers (Jobbers) in a specific area/s; to specific Jobber/s; or to Jobbers with a certain rating or profile. Jobbers can also earn while building Jobber Armies (refer-to-earn).

The M4Jam platform is agile: it can train, communicate or empower in real-time. Simultaneously generating rich data sets; in rural and urban areas

Our objective is to serve the impoverished people of South Africa. South Africa’s unemployment rate (Stats SA) has been on the increase for some time, trending consistently upward from around 22-23% in 2008/9 to over 30% in Q1 2020. Since the pandemic, these numbers are even worse. According to the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, three million South Africans have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic and subsequent lockdown.

Furthermore, the World Bank Group’s Poverty and Equity Brief, estimates that approximately 55.5% (30.3 million people) of South Africa’s population is living in poverty at the national upper poverty line (~$73.08) while a total of 13.8 million people (25%) are experiencing food poverty.

This is where M4Jam can make a substantial impact for those who need it the most

The profile of the people that we have assisted:

• 100% previously disadvantaged individuals
• 35% no household income
• 35% household income less than R1600 ($106)
• 70% jobbers <40 years old
• 65% of jobbers are female

Key Stats:

• Growth in jobbers registered on the platform in last year – 487000 (150% growth)
• 850,000 micro-jobs completed in 2020
• R22.8m ($1,5m) paid to Jobbers in 2020
• 12,322 people fed during lockdown

How Our Technology Touches Lives

During the lockdown, we pivoted our technology to help feed the hungry while promoting growth for community businesses (Spazas) by transforming the model of food parcel distribution. Watch Video. View real Results through Kerebetswa's story.

M4Jam's aim is to empower communities and the ecosystems that they are part of.

One of our three solutions, Community Connect, was able to assist a mine to create sustainable SMMEs in local communities. M4Jam’s tasking technology was used as a tender solution that notified all the local community of new job opportunities which could be pursued immediately through our app.

Ultimately, the mine was able to upskill members of the community and instil a sense of independence, so they would not have to rely on the mine for income.

View case study

Our app is constantly evolving into something new as we uncover more about South Africa's unique challenges.

We envision our jobbers evolving into business owners. The more tasks the Jobber completes the more they will learn and experience. Our model allows for Jobbers to advance into a Master Jobber whereby he/she is enabled to build and manage their own team of Jobbers. As the product offerings grow and change, he/she will evolve into a nano-entrepreneur acquiring buying and selling techniques and enabling them to contribute positively to the economy and improve the lives of the people around them.

Our solution is unique as we partner with formal sector organisations that are looking to access emerging markets. These business relationships help us to create earning opportunities for the informal sector communities. The M4Jam is ultimately a mutually beneficial ecosystem helping address the socio-economic challenges we face. 

Unfortunately, most gig economy platforms live up to negative perceptions about gig worker vulnerability. The majority of platforms have taken no responsibility to assist and compensate workers. M4Jam is changing that. We're ranked in the top 10% of platforms worldwide by The Fairworks Project, for protecting its members from the economic fallout of Covid-19. We also offer personal accident cover for all M4Jam Jobbers (1st in SA). 

Our solution is built to upskill and grow the South African workforce. We envision our Jobbers evolving into business owners. The more tasks the jobber completes the more they will learn and experience. Our model allows for jobbers to advance into a Master Jobber whereby he/she is enabled to build and manage their own team of jobbers. He/she can acquire buying and selling techniques thereby enabling them to contribute positively to the economy and improve the lives of the people around them.

By working with corporate and government clients, M4Jam is changing the mindset of what the gig economy is. As organisations experience the advantages of an on-demand workforce, the gig economy will become more attractive, therefore more gig work opportunities will become available, helping is work towards a sustainable future in the gig economy.

Our mission is to revolutionise lives in Africa.

It currently serves just under a 1m jobbers

We hope to grow our business clients in order to increase the number of tasks on our platform for as many people as possible. 

Last year we grew by 137% with regards to gig workers and are expecting to double that in the next year.

The following objectives have been set up so we can measure our progress

1. Build a tactical Jobber network:
   1. Able to mobilise a crowd for a specific outcome
   2. National, provincial, town, ward location spread
2. Create the best stakeholder experience:
   1. M4Jam stakeholders become our best marketing tool - RAVING FANS 
3.  Drive operational efficiencies:
   1. Waste reduction
   2. Increased capacity
4. Invest in marketing initiatives for each M4Jam product offerings:
   1. Quality lead generation
   2. ROMI
5. Increase the number Spazas (township shops) transacting through M4Jam's Kazi Last Metre solution:

   
   

   1. Generating a revenue through 10k spazas transacting through KLM platform

43 permanent staff as well as a few outsourced companies.

We have a quite flat structure at M4Jam. Our management team consists of:

• CEO - Chief Executive Officer
• CFO – Chief Financial Officer
• CIO – Chief Implementation Officer
• CTO – Chief Technology Officer
• Training and Development Director
• Head of Sales
• Head of Marketing

Our development team all have degrees in computer science, engineering, computer information systems, technology, or related academic education. They all design, develop, implement and support our software solutions using a variety of languages, tools, methodologies, and technologies.

Languages and Frameworks: 

• CSS 
• Django
• Git 
• HTML 
• JavaScript 
• jQuery 
• Linux
• Python
• SQL
• Nginx
• uWSGI
• Ansible

With regards to our management team as mentioned above, two are women (CEO and Head of Marketing) and one is a person of colour (CTO and co-founder of M4Jam).

We use a number of methods to ensure our team is diverse and inclusive.

1. Build an inclusive culture - We recruit based on the person and not so much on their skill. We actually have a few of our Jobbers who are now full-time employees of M4Jam. Our culture is the driving force behind our success and as we are a small team doing the same amount of work as a company of 200 people, a "can-do" attitude is vital. We have a very low staff turnover as a result.  
2. Use our own technology - We use our platform as an employee engagement portal (M4Jam Brand Connect) for all news, communications, activities, thoughts, ideas, complaints etc. 
3. Education and training - M4Jam is passionate about growing its staff. Regardless of role or level, we make it possible for everyone to upskill themselves.
4. Diversity awareness - Diversity is a mindset that touches every aspect of M4Jam. We ensure that everyone embraces and contributes to our diversity and inclusive culture.
5. Ongoing learning - we are making strides in creating an inclusive environment, especially on the IT/development side but we are also continuously looking at what more we can do. 

We are applying to Solve for the following reasons:

• We share the same values as Solve - to address global challenges
• To become part of Solve's ecosystem
• Develop partnerships with Solve members. We need awareness and partners in order to benefit communities not only locally but also around the world. Our model works in Africa, which is one of the toughest economies to succeed in
• There is an African proverb that says “it takes a village to raise a child”. Like with our solution it takes a global network of people and organisations to solve worldwide challenges and create innovative ways of creating a sustainable impact on transformation.

Expansion of our client base means more micro-tasks can be made available, which means more money can be earned by those who need it the most.

MIT

Solve Members

Partners that are aligned to our socio-economic development goals

Our technology and solutions are designed for impoverished communities. There is no bias on age, race, nationality etc.

By using the M4Jam platform Jobbers are able to:

• Develop and apply new skills with M4Jam's Mobile Training Technology
• Earn money so that they can provide for their family pay for expenses
• Gain valuable work experience that is matched to training/skill

By achieving this our Jobbers:

• Gain confidence within themselves by:
  • Becoming more self-assured and confident in their own abilities 
  • Being able to specialise in certain skills e.g. sales, merchandising, research, building, plumbing, road laying, carpenters, welders etc. 
  • Establishing a CV and an identity of value 
  • Becoming more employable or can pursue entrepreneurial endeavours
• Gain dignity through:
  • Creating a consistent income stream
  • Keeping their families together by providing micro-jobs within their local communities 
  • Becoming a role model and mentor to others in the community 
  • Being able to invest in: career ambitions, assets such as a car or house
  • Improving their wellbeing: reduced stress levels, feelings of purpose and self-worth, improved physical health and increased energy levels

All of which leads to financial stability and economic inclusion. In other words, creating smart, safe and sustainable communities.

Our growing Jobber base consists of 65% women, which we are building a model to offer bursaries for future studies.

Nelson Mandela once said, “Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.”

Technology is the fastest and most effective way to benefit humanity. M4Jam equips communities to gather and leverage data, train through mobile training technology all while earning an income. 

M4Jam is a tech-based platform specifically created for unemployment and poverty within informal communities. Our Jobber ecosystem model allows the unemployed to upskill themselves via our Mobile Training Technology, work experience through micro-jobbing and thus making them more employable or able to start their own business. Not only does this provide financial stability and help with economic inclusion, but it also creates something far more powerful; HOPE.