Business Model & Sustainability
A sustainable, scalable approach to tech education in rural Africa
Funding & Revenue Model
Diverse funding streams ensure sustainability and scalability
Grants & Philanthropy
Initial development, pilot programs, and core operations funded through grants from foundations, impact investors, and development agencies.
Examples: Gates Foundation, Mastercard Foundation, USAID, local impact funds
Corporate CSR
Corporations sponsor learners, counties, or thematic programs (e.g., digital safety, fintech literacy) as part of their corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Examples: Telcos, banks, tech companies, mobile money providers
Telco Partnerships
Mobile network operators subsidize USSD session costs or provide discounted rates, recognizing the value of an educated, tech-literate customer base.
Examples: Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom Kenya, and other regional telcos
Revenue Streams
Training-of-trainers programs, white-labeled USSD learning for other organizations, and aggregated data insights (anonymized) for policy and research.
Examples: NGO training programs, government partnerships, research institutions
Why This Model Has Potential
Key factors that make KijijiCoder sustainable and scalable
Leverages Existing Infrastructure
USSD is already widely used across Africa for mobile money, airtime, and banking. We build on familiar technology.
No Device Requirements
Works on any feature phone with a SIM card. No need for smartphones, tablets, or computers.
No Data Costs
Learners don't need internet or data bundles. USSD uses standard mobile network connections.
Highly Replicable
Once developed, the curriculum and platform can be adapted and deployed across multiple countries.
Massive Untapped Market
Hundreds of millions of rural Africans with feature phones but limited tech education access.
Multiple Value Propositions
Benefits learners, communities, telcos, corporates, governments, and development agencies.
Value Propositions
What different stakeholders gain from KijijiCoder
Learners
Free or low-cost tech education, career opportunities, digital literacy, economic empowerment
Communities
Tech-aware youth, reduced digital divide, economic development, improved access to opportunities
Telcos
Educated customer base, increased data usage (long-term), brand visibility, CSR impact
Corporates
CSR alignment, talent pipeline, brand visibility in rural markets, measurable social impact
NGOs & Development Agencies
Scalable education program, complements existing initiatives, measurable outcomes, cost-effective
Governments
Digital literacy at scale, youth employment, economic development, SDG alignment
Cost Structure & Efficiency
Low-cost delivery model enables scale
Key Costs
- • USSD platform development & maintenance
- • Curriculum development & updates
- • Facilitator training & support
- • Community outreach & partnerships
- • Monitoring & evaluation
Cost Advantages
- • No physical infrastructure needed
- • No device distribution costs
- • Minimal data/internet costs
- • Scalable technology platform
- • Low per-learner cost at scale
Cost Per Learner
At scale, the cost per learner is significantly lower than traditional tech education programs because we eliminate infrastructure, device, and data costs. This makes KijijiCoder highly cost-effective for funders and partners.
Detailed cost analysis available to partners and funders upon request.
Partner With Us
Join us in building a sustainable, scalable model for tech education in rural Africa.