KoraLink is a bold initiative designed to harness the tech-savvy energy of young people in Africa and revolutionize health in their communities.
The KoraLink program seeks to support and inspire a movement of young changemakers to serve as digital agents who sell health products and other services to their communities.
Using digital innovation and enterprising spirit, the program places young people at the heart of health transformation, building a future-ready workforce committed to inclusive, equitable and sustainable health systems.
Vision
To create direct and indirect employment opportunities for young people, by developing them into a new cadre of digital community entrepreneurs, known as KoraLink Agents. The program creates sustainable livelihoods by equipping participants with digital, entrepreneurship, marketing, and communication skills.
The program advances the Mastercard Foundation vision of empowering 30 million young Africans to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030.
Our Youth Participants
The program targets financially disadvantaged rural and urban young people aged 18-35, particularly women, people with disabilities, and refugees who are without full-time employment, have strong community ties, a high school or higher education, are eager to acquire entrepreneurial digital skills, and are ready to work as sales agents to expand access to essential products and services, and transform health access and outcomes across Africa.
Methodology
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Provide initial inventory funding, a work-enabling mobile device, e-commerce website, and mobile app to order and sell goods and manage business.
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Recruit, educate, and train youth to become community sales agents via in-person and digital formats.
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Provide ongoing digital support, upskilling, and career progression opportunities.
Pilot Project Goal, Timeframe and Geography
The program is currently piloting in 30 districts in Rwanda, with the goal to create 44,000 direct and indirect jobs over four years (2025-2029), and the intention to expand into other African countries in the future.
Partners
Working closely with the Government of Rwanda to align with national priorities, the program is a collaborative partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and The Commons Project, with local implementing partners: TCP Africa, which leads and manages on-the-ground activities, Society for Family Health (SFH) Rwanda, which leads community engagement and social marketing, and the Rwanda ICT Chamber, which supports marketplace technology development.
