Tech in Africa
South African not-for-profit social enterprise looking to address the youth unemployment challenge Harambe Youth Employment Accelerator, has acquired job-matching platform Giraffe, a mobile recruitment platform. Giraffe was founded in 2015 by Shafin Anwarsha and Anish Shivdasani, two former Delta Partners consultants.
Giraffe runs on algorithms to identify, screen and set up job interviews. Fixated on entry-level and mid-level skilled candidates, the platform uses a zero-rated mobile app where job seekers upload their CVs, apply for jobs, or even take skills-based courses.
Early this month, Harambe Youth Employment Accelerator launched The DigiLink incubator programme alongside SiMODiSA and Clickatell.
The acquisition of Giraffe means in essence that Giraffe’s user base would now be a part of the Youth Accelerator’s initiative. Users can keep applying on the platform until June 30, 2021.
Giraffe has received previous grant funding from the UNICEF Innovation Fund, Forever Young Capital, Omidyar Network, Vumela Fund, and Catapult Trust. Thus far, it has attracted over a million job seekers not counting hundreds of businesses.
South Africa is the continent’s most industrialized economy yet grapples with a high rate of youth unemployment – 74.7 percent according to the global economy website. Innovative startups like Giraffe, Umwuga, among others trying to bridge the skills gap and connect to job opportunities.
