Harambee is a not-for-profit social enterprise with extensive experience building solutions and innovations that can solve the global youth unemployment challenge. We partner with business, government, young people and many others who are committed to results that can work at scale.

We connect employers who are looking for entry-level talent to high-potential South African youth who are hungry for opportunity but lack the finances and networks needed to find jobs because they come from poor households. We tackle the youth unemployment challenge using data, innovation, partnerships and on-the-ground experience to build pragmatic, implementable solutions that get results.

What can we do for you?

Harambee uses scientifically rigorous matching tools and behavioral readiness programmes to reduce hiring risk and sources high-potential young people from a labour pool that is untapped by most employer networks. We assess the competencies of each candidate to match them to jobs where they are most likely to succeed.

We also work with you to fine tune interviewing skills, so they better identify a young person’s capability and potential to do the job properly, instead of overly focusing on previous work experience. By providing a better understanding of catchment and transport issues, we also help reduce your business’s job churn and improve employee retention, helping you create and keep a more inclusive workplace.

The Process:

1. Diagnose: We start with a detailed diagnostic of your entry-level talent needs and requirements
2: Assess: We use a wide range of assessments (including your own) to identify candidates who will fit your business.
3: Match: We use our innovative matching methods to find and match talent to your positions.
4: Check: We can run a range of candidate checks (qualification verifications, credit, ID and criminal checks).
5: Prepare: If required, we can supply required work readiness interventions specifically designed to meet your needs.
6: Support: We can provide ongoing retention support and measure success by tracking retention and candidate performance.


Our Story:

In 2009-2010, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator was designed to be a solution that could tackle youth unemployment through partnerships and at scale. Incubated in 2011 by Yellowwoods, Harambee established its proof of concept with a group of 5 founding employers and 40 young people.

Harambee is an independent, not-for-profit social enterprise that works with individual businesses, government agencies, local and international donors, industry sector associations, youth-serving organisations, assessment specialists, behaviour change experts and technology providers. Through research and delivery, we contribute knowledge and insights nationally and globally about what is working to solve youth unemployment.