Connecting idle talent to digital opportunities

Giving talent from poor areas in countries in the developing world an opportunity is core to Samasource’s strategy for mapping a pathway out of poverty.  And the pathway is digital.

Through the partnership with BESTSELLER FOUNDATION, the Samasource Kenya delivery center in Nairobi will get an additional 80 workstations – and bring the total number of workstations from 210 to 290. With 2.4 shifts per day it means that almost 200 additional young talents can be taken in and offered a job and a living wage. 

The work at the Samasource delivery center consists of data processing projects such as image optimization and classification, creating datasets for algorithms, enhancing data and turning content into data. Examples of clients are companies such as eBay, Google, TripAdvisor, Marriot, Walmart, Yahoo and many more. According to Samasource the investment by BESTSELLER FOUNDATION will enable Samasource to meet some of the demand but further expansions are already in the pipeline – the market for this type of work is far from saturated.

Samasource was founded in 2008 as a social enterprise with the aim of connecting people at the bottom of the pyramid to dignified digital work. Samasource US is based in San Francisco and has been instrumental in creating awareness about Samasource’s model and thereby securing a steady flow of data projects for the delivery centers. Samasource broke even in 2016 and is now able to invest revenue into programs for its agents.

BESTSELLER FOUNDATION’s director, Kristian Sloth Petersen, says that Samasource’s success of making a social enterprise financially sustainable while growing the social impact is a perfect scenario for an investment, “It is great to meet a company that in so many ways matches BESTSELLER FOUNDATION’s philosophy of creating positive social change and development that is sustained by a profitable business model. We hope to build a strong relationship with Samasource and play a role in deepening and expanding the impact it makes around the world.” 

Samasource's CFO, Tony MacDonald, says that adding a partner that is mission aligned and visionary will help support Samasrouce's expansion plans and adds; "The team is very excited to work with BESTSELLER FOUNDATION as a global thought partner and we look forward to jointly expanding our impact across the world." 

Since it was founded in 2008 Samasource has employed over 8,000 young men and women from low-income areas in Haiti, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya and India. Samasource agents in Nairobi, Kenya are trained through the Samasource Digital Basics Training program.
At the trainings, participants are taught basic computer skills and financial literacy and they receive career guidance and are offered insights into entrepreneurship. After completing the training successfully, trainees can be linked to a Samasource delivery center where they are offered a job and a salary.