In celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD), Uber has launched GigSister, a transformative community-driven initiative designed to empower women drivers and delivery people in Nairobi. Created by women at Uber, the platform aims to connect, uplift, and support female earners on the platform through a variety of empowerment initiatives, reinforcing the company’s commitment to closing the gender gap in the gig economy.
The launch of GigSister follows a similar initiative in Nigeria, where Uber collaborated with Healthtracka, a digital health platform, to provide women drivers with convenient self-sampling cervical cancer tests. This collaborative approach showcases Uber’s commitment to enhancing the lives of women on its platform, not just through business empowerment but also by addressing their health needs.
Partnerships for Empowerment
As part of the GigSister initiative, Uber has teamed up with Google to provide a series of #IAmRemarkable training sessions for women earners. These workshops are designed to equip women with leadership tools, enabling them to thrive and position themselves for success in their businesses. With the gender gap in ICT in Africa at 23%, the African Union’s strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment seeks to empower women and girls as active participants in the technological space. Uber’s initiative is a key part of this vision, bridging the gap and creating more opportunities for women to succeed.
Lorraine Onduru, Uber’s Head of Communications for East and West Africa, emphasized the importance of the initiative during the event: “We are so happy and proud to launch this initiative to help eliminate barriers for women in the gig economy. We want to support women, provide them with a platform to network, and make them feel empowered to get into the tech space, and make a living out of it.”
A Step Towards Equality
The collaboration with Google and the #IAmRemarkable training is one of the many steps Uber is taking to drive allyship and break down gender-related barriers in the gig economy. Dorothy Ooko, Head of Communications & Public Affairs for Africa at Google, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership: “We are pleased to partner with Uber to roll out the #IAmRemarkable training, which will help more women celebrate their achievements in the workplace and thrive in their businesses in the tech space. We believe this is a step in the right direction to ensure that women are equally equipped with the information, support, and opportunities they need.”
The #IAmRemarkable program, which has seen success in Europe and the UK, offers mental health support, motivation, self-promotion strategies, and even self-defence training. Partners such as L’Oréal have joined Uber and Google in empowering women through these initiatives, helping them build confidence and unlock greater career opportunities.
A Vision for the Future
The GigSister initiative is not only about business empowerment; it also focuses on breaking down the barriers that many women face in male-dominated sectors. By partnering with major companies like Google, Uber is helping women unlock new opportunities in the tech space and ensuring they have the tools to succeed in the gig economy.
As Uber’s initiative continues to grow, it is set to provide a platform for women to network, share experiences, and access valuable training that will prepare them for the future. The GigSister program aims to be a beacon of empowerment, creating a pathway for women to thrive and lead in the tech space, making a meaningful impact on both their businesses and the larger community.
Uber’s continued commitment to women’s empowerment ensures that they are not only part of the gig economy but are thriving within it, paving the way for future generations of women entrepreneurs.
