Konexio

The world’s 80M refugees face systematic exclusion from economic opportunities, preventing them from building sustainable lives. For the 84% living in developing regions, this exclusion creates structural aid dependency that causes the majority to live below $1.90/ day. Refugees are left in flux and lack the tools to break this vicious cycle, particularly women and youth. Simultaneously, an unmet demand for digital freelancers has caused the online freelance market to grow 50% in the past three years, with an estimated 56M online freelancers globally. 

Konexio creates pathways for self-reliance through a scalable train-the-trainers program, connecting vulnerable populations to digital freelance jobs through its non-exclusive partner network of employers and freelance platforms. Locally contextualized training can be adapted globally, and training trainers builds a lasting resource. Konexio has no prerequisites, taking those lacking any digital skills to a level at which they can independently earn an income within 6 months.

There are over 80 million displaced people worldwide. Though displacement lasts on average 11 to 26 years, current solutions are geared towards short-term responses, leaving refugees in a vulnerable state of flux and reliant on aid. Refugees seek to break this cycle and become self-reliant, yet face lack of access to job markets and job-ready digital skills. Globally, just 20% of adult refugees are employed.

Poverty rates among forcibly displaced people in Africa and the Middle East remain startlingly high, demonstrating a lack of opportunity to become self-reliant. In Malawi, Dzaleka Refugee Camp hosts 48,948 displaced people . In Kenya, 197,000 refugees live in Kakuma camp and neighboring Kalobeyei settlement. In Jordan, estimates of displaced people are as high as 1.6 million. Less than 10% of adults in Dzaleka camp are employed, with an estimated 96% living in poverty. In Kakuma/ Kalobeyei, refugee unemployment exceeds 60%, where over two-thirds live below $1.90 a day. In Jordan, where most refugees live outside of camps, an estimated 86% of urban refugees live below the poverty line. Without sufficient economic opportunity, refugees have become asymmetrically impoverished compared to local populations, demonstrating a need for innovative solutions to help close this gap.

Konexio addresses three barriers to refugee self-reliance through a scalable model: lack of skills, poor local economic conditions, and lack of access to job markets. To address lack of skills, Konexio trains trainers and supports initial set-up for on-the-ground organizations, building local capacity, and implements an adapted training program aligned with in-demand digital freelancing skills. This model is highly scalable. The program’s first three months teach digital literacy and IT tools including case studies on transcription, translation, data analysis, and AI annotation. In the second three months, students begin working online and earning income while guided by course trainers. Students learn soft skills such as client communication, marketing, and budgeting. By graduation, beneficiaries have project portfolios, client reviews, and experience, enabling them to seek clients independently and fill the projected 1.7 million technically skilled jobs in Europe alone by 2023. To address poor local economic conditions and lack of job market access, Konexio accelerates job market entry through its partner network, working with freelance platforms like Upwork, the world’s largest freelance marketplace, and Appen, a leader in AI solutions with annual revenue exceeding $600M. Working with industry leaders provides immense value to beneficiaries as a digital economy entry point.

The communities in which Konexio works have concentrated refugee populations who skew young and face high rates of unemployment, poverty, and lack of training opportunities. Of the 80M refugees globally, 86% live in developing countries and would benefit from Konexio’s program. Up to 4 in 5 refugees are unemployed, and on average, wages are 35-45% lower than host country counterparts. In total, the potential beneficiary pool of adult refugees in the global south stands at 42.5M people.

Konexio has chosen three pilot sites to test the program before accelerating scale; all are densely populated by refugee youth confronting high unemployment rates, poverty, and lack of education. The Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi hosts nearly 50,000 registered asylum seekers and refugees, over half of whom are below 18 years old. Less than 10% of adults are employed, and 96% of the population lives below the moderate to ultra-poverty line. 89% have never attended skills training. Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp and neighboring Kalobeyei settlement host 197,000 refugees, with 75% of residents under 25 years old. 60% are unemployed, and over two-thirds live below $1.90 per day. Between 86% and 95% have never attended secondary school. Amman, Jordan hosts nearly 200,000 registered refugees, the vast majority of whom are Syrians, and nearly two-thirds are under 30 years old. 53% of refugees in Jordan are unemployed, and only 15% of Syrian 16-year-olds were enrolled in secondary school in 2017. 

Konexio focuses on refugee youth because they are at a point of peak vulnerability. Since jobs build skills, experience, and savings, being unemployed while young results in missed opportunities to build the foundations of self-reliance. This causes unemployed youth to experience scarring effects on lifetime earnings. Konexio’s target beneficiaries lack foundational skills, such as digital literacy, that exclude them from other training opportunities and employment. These challenges are compounded for refugees by the experience of displacement, which devastates financial stability, limits rights and resources, and traps people in vulnerable situations. Konexio steps in at this critical juncture to provide a path towards opportunity. By training refugees in employable digital skills and facilitating job market access through company partners, Konexio gives beneficiaries the tools to access employment through the digital economy. Increased income and the beginnings of a career trajectory lead to a more stable financial situation and increased well-being, so that refugees can lay a foundation for a sustainable life.

Collaboration with refugees and displaced people is at the heart of our work. Konexio will implement feedback systems which rely on one-on-one student follow-up and surveys distributed before, during and after the program. Every cycle, the program is adapted to better meet the needs of program participants as they express themselves. Specific attention is paid to all participants, and if issues arise that prevent a student’s full participation, such as childcare commitments, course coordinators follow up individually and support the student in getting back on track. Additionally, Konexio hires course instructors from its graduate pool so that those who are teaching have been students’ shoes, making them best placed to hear and respond to feedback. 

Konexio is on track to double its impact numbers every year. In five years, Konexio will directly impact 10,000+ beneficiaries by enabling participation in the digital economy, indirectly impact 50,000+ dependents who will grow up in a financially stable environment, and provide an economic boost to previously stagnant communities through a ripple effect, stimulating economic growth and impacting millions.

Konexio is well aligned with the challenge because it tackles structural elements of the digital divide, such as lack of access to digital training, digital infrastructure/ internet, and online financial tools, to provide equitable access to the digital workforce for currently excluded people. The solution is adaptable to many contexts and leverages partnerships for lean deployment, enhancing scalability and therefore impact. Konexio not only provides skills training, a computer, and an internet connection, but puts beneficiaries on a path to use technology to become empowered and independent members of a digital society, able to teach themselves new digital and technologies as they evolve.

Konexio has been active in France since 2016, and has so far established its program in three different locations. In 2019, Konexio expanded internationally, launching an initial pilot program in the Dzaleka refugee camp located in Malawi. The success of this first cycle, with beneficiaries increasing earnings to $500 on average from a $0 baseline and 100% of students experiencing employment, has prompted Konexio to refine the program and test it in new contexts. A second round of the program in Malawi, as well as new pilots in Kenya and Jordan will provide feedback as we refine the model before moving to a growth phase, with 250+ people in three locations impacted in the first year of this pilot phase. Major goals include proving adaptability across contexts, maintaining consistently high impact during multi-country rollout, and exploring different business models that will generate revenue and cover program costs, increasing program sustainability.

Konexio’s program is unique in that it (1)starts with no prerequisites and is accessible to the most vulnerable refugees, those with no digital skills, who cannot access other opportunities. Konexio creates multiple pathways for these individuals: whether their goal is to land a job quickly or invest more time into a high-tech career, Konexio gives them the tools to start and facilitates their first professional experiences. The proprietary curriculum is adapted to address the specific vulnerabilities of displaced people, with modules emphasizing soft skills, professional language, entrepreneurship. (2)Konexio facilitates access to jobs through its 300+ non-exclusive partnerships with corporate, non-profit, governmental, and institutional organizations, offering privileged access to job listings, work placement, and networking. This multi-sectoral approach increases Konexio’s impact potential. In contrast to current impact sourcing models, Konexio puts students in contact with a wide range of employers, increasing their prospects and giving them more opportunity to pursue the path of their choice. This also facilitates a higher degree of self-reliance, as students learn to independently navigate the professional world. (3)Finally, Konexio’s model is unique in leveraging a “train-the-trainer” approach. Konexio trains local instructors for a period of 6-8 weeks to become operational partners equipped to independently run the program, freeing Konexio to support other locations. This practice has a community multiplier effect, as once one local has the skills, they can continue to teach, creating additional jobs. In this way, Konexio’s model is fast, cost-efficient, and effective, and can support the most vulnerable at scale.

Konexio seeks to increase access to everyday Information Communication Technologies (ICT) for the purpose of unlocking refugees’ potential in the digital economy. The program provides laptops and internet connectivity to trainees, and the training to use these tools for livelihoods. A core part of our technology is the blended e-learning platform which Konexio has created in collaboration with Crossknowledge, a leader in e-learning solutions. This proprietary blended platform combines the benefits of in-person training with the accessibility of online learning. The hybrid element of the program allows for further practice and exposure to a digital environment. Konexio has a particular focus on teaching students how to self-teach using digital tools, so that when the program is over, beneficiaries feel comfortable seeking out other free online learning tools to continue learning and building their careers. Once Konexio reaches the scaling stage, we aim to deploy a low-tech version of our e-learning platform for access in a wide variety of last-mile contexts. Another core technology are the freelance platforms students use to find work, whether a broad open platform such as Upwork, or company-specific contractor platforms such as Appen’s in which they funnel work directly to students and use predictive AI technology to match students to jobs that they are likely qualified for. Though simple, tools such as internet, word processing, spreadsheets, and platform navigation form the base of the lucrative and growing digital freelancer industry, which generated an estimated $1.2 trillion for the US economy in 2020 alone. 

The Crossknowledge platform is an established technology offering a blended approach to help organizations design programs for learners with all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. As the trusted learning partner for over 400 global brands, Crossknowledge works closely with partners to create programs based on sound research and using proven pedagogical techniques and next-gen technological capabilities [1]. Though often used by companies to upskill employees for business performance improvement, Crossknowledge can be adapted for any audience. The platform saw much success in their partnership with DP World, a multinational logistics company, for whom Crossknowledge saved an estimated $295,000 as a direct result of their custom training program [2]. The program itself is designed to be easily administered and managed, with built in learner marketing activities for engagement and access to intuitive and immediate performance reporting. The platform is available in 31 different languages, and is adaptable to any device, including mobile phones, increasing accessibility for refugee and displaced populations [3]. 

Both Upwork and Appen are widely used platforms that connect freelance and contract workers with employers seeking specific skill sets. Upwork uses a more broad platform where employers can post jobs for short-term online workers to find. Freelancers can build up their profile with project ratings and examples of past work, helping job prospects for the future. Upwork is trusted by large corporations such as Microsoft, Airbnb and GoDaddy [4]. Appen allows students to apply to both short and long-term projects posted by employers. Using machine learning technology, Appen connects users with employment that is best suited to their needs, offering performance focused solutions to users [5]. Such digital talent platforms create transparency and efficiency in labor markets, increasing incomes and allowing the entrance of non-traditional workers, such as refugees and women in traditional cultures

Konexio provides technical expertise and training curriculum but is dependent on partners for on-the-ground implementation. Konexio mitigates these risks by properly vetting and strategically choosing partners, and constantly seeks feedback from stakeholders and beneficiaries to ensure that everything is running as reported. Konexio is prepared to step in and take a larger implementation role or provide training if a partner needs assistance. 

As Konexio grows its number of students, the growth in partners who hire students may not keep pace. Our safeguard against this is training students to be autonomous on freelance platforms. Students enter the program expecting to seek their own freelance clients, and may have privileged access to jobs through Konexio, but that they shouldn’t rely solely on Konexio to provide work. Konexio catalyzes their potential for autonomy, a safeguard in case partner growth takes time to catch up. This also provides options for beneficiaries to work flexibly according to their needs, or take their clients with them if they decide to move. Konexio also plans to focus resources in gaining partners, possibly through developing a business model that will leverage companies hiring Konexio talent as a revenue stream. 

A risk directly to beneficiaries is the safety concerns that come with accessing the internet anywhere. Konexio’s curriuculum includes an internet safety component that minimizes risk by leading students through practical case studies and allowing students to begin their freelance journey guided by course trainers.

The initial pilot program in Malawi served 60 direct beneficiaries and 300 indirect beneficiaries. Indirect beneficiaries, such as children or dependents, are represented by the average household members of direct beneficiaries. In program areas, the average number of dependents is 5. Other indirect beneficiaries include key stakeholders and partners. The capacity of operational partner Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) was expanded as they added implementation of digital technology programs to their already impressive repertoire of education initiatives. Our corporate partners, Appen and Upwork, immediately access a motivated and growing labor supply that has been specially trained to their needs. 

Malawi’s government and the refugee camp authorities became aware of the need to include vulnerable groups in the digital economy. The government showed interest in expanding the program or similar programs to help with youth unemployment issues throughout Malawi. Discussions and partnerships with other national and international organizations allows for the spread of ideas and best practices for all parties. 

In the next year, our international programs in Malawi, Kenya and Jordan, Konexio will collectively serve 400+ direct beneficiaries and 2000+ indirect beneficiaries. Building off this initial capacity, Konexio intends to double the number of beneficiaries each year using its scalable and replicable model. The curriculum can be easily redesigned to be appropriate for all local environments. The training of trainers model and low variable costs will allow Konexio to impact 10,800 direct and 54,000 indirect beneficiaries in 5 years, with larger community ripple effects.

In the next year, Konexio aims to renew the pilot in Dzaleka, Malawi, and launch new pilots in Kakuma/ Kalobeyei, Kenya, and Amman, Jordan, impacting a total of 360 direct beneficiaries and 1800 indirect beneficiaries. We do this through a scalable train-the-trainers model and adaptable curriculum. By building on the existing work of operating partners and training them to implement Konexio’s solution, Konexio can roll out 2+ new locations each year and adapt the program to the highest-need contexts globally. Within one year, beneficiaries will have collectively earned $1.2M+ by tapping into Konexio’s company partner network. Impact sourcing partners such as Appen report new jobs growing faster than they can fill positions. Konexio students are ideally poised to fill this gap. 

In five years, Konexio aims to operate in 10 locations, doubling impact numbers annually to cumulatively train over 10,000 students and impact 50,000 dependents indirectly. By year 5, students will have collectively earned over $40M. This income will flow into local communities, revitalizing the local economy and increasing opportunities for all. 

On a systems change level, Konexio establishes a new paradigm of refugee self-reliance, changing the conversation from being about what refugees take from a society to what they give. Konexio makes a business case for impact sourcing, leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Konexio’s solution influences geopolitical issues as well; once self-reliant and not competing for local jobs, refugees become engines of local economic growth, incentivizing governments to provide pathways to resettlement.

We continuously track and organize large amounts of data on the progress of our beneficiaries. Our core set of indicators are income and job market success. We measure monthly income 3-6 months and 12 months after the program as compared to pre-program, as well as the percentage of students engaging in work. In the Malawi pilot (60 students), participants increased incomes to $485.41 on average as compared to baseline of $0, and 100% of students found work.

We use proxies for well-being, social harmony, educational outcomes, and community economic growth. For one indicator, we compile a quality of life rating at the end of the course compared to the beginning, measured through surveys with questions relating to well-being. For instance, 87.5% of Malawi graduates reported a greater sense of social integration, an indicator of optimism about building a life long-term in Malawi. A third indicator is student satisfaction with the program, as measured in surveys and feedback. We adjust our program and curriculum based on what beneficiaries tell us prepared them for their future careers. 

Progress is measured through surveys of participants and measurement of earnings/ rate of employment. This first survey is taken as a baseline level pre-program and compared to future surveys which are completed at the end of the program, 3 months, and 6 months after the program is completed. We are working with our implementing partner JRS to establish a control group in the community to better determine the program’s real long term impact.

Full time staff for developing world programs: 4

Contractors (teachers) for developing world programs: 6

Founder and CEO Jean Guo grew Konexio from an all-volunteer community project in 2016 to an international NGO that has directly impacted 1400 students and scaled its program across three continents. Konexio launched its developing world programs in 2019. As a Stanford graduate, Fulbright alum, and former Silicon Valley consultant, Jean brings an intersectional approach for targeted social impact. Konexio recognizes the growing demand of the digital economy, leveraging improved refugee livelihood through digital upskilling to solve this issue – a holistically remunerative approach. Konexio’s platform is community driven, dedicated to bringing knowledge and expertise to local actors so that improved refugee and displaced population livelihoods can be sustainably carried on into the future. By emphasizing inclusivity, Konexio reaches the most vulnerable actors within the economy, such as women and youth.

Konexio’s project team also includes Denis Robert, lead curriculum developer, Allegra Chan Harrison, international programs officer, and Romeo Mpundu, international programs assistant. Denis Robert has extensive experience in designing, delivering, facilitating and coordinating digital skills training since 2004. Allegra has worked with refugee and migration focused NGOs since 2009 on both the program and development sides, in the US, Hungary, China, France, and East/ Central Africa, bringing expertise in communications, project management, and cross-cultural coordination. Romeo Mpundu, a former refugee himself, is uniquely able to support students and graduates in their journey towards self-reliance through administrative and program support. Together, our team combines innovative technical expertise with vast knowledge of the humanitarian sector.

Konexio’s mission addresses the status quo: “though talent is equally distributed, opportunity is not”, and we incorporate this principle in our team-building at every level. Our hiring practices value diverse backgrounds and experiences. Specifically, we hire based on relevant skills and experiences over formal educational achievements. We have found that focusing on experience rather than education puts an emphasis on talented people who might not have had the same access to education. In countries where our staff is not native, we partner with local actors who have a long history in the region of work, ensuring that staff is hired from the community. There is no substitute for on-the-ground context and knowledge.

The vision for Konexio came from first-hand experience of immigration by our founder, Jean Guo, and others in the community. Born in Guiyang, China, Jean immigrated to the US when she was five. Jean witnessed the struggles her mother had - no network, broken English - and learned to translate bank statements and at parent-teacher conferences as a child. Throughout Konexio’s growth, Jean’s upbringing has impacted the organization’s commitment to refugee integration. In the tech industry, entrepreneurship opportunities for women and immigrants are still a challenge. Konexio succeeds in breaking these barriers, with a diverse, woman-run team of refugees, migrants, expatriates, locals, men, and women who are committed to using digital learning to highlight the potential of excluded and disadvantaged populations to be at the forefront of digital and socio-economic inclusion.

Konexio is applying to the Digital Workforce Challenge because (1) the network is valuable in building a coalition of employer and operational partners, which is a unique aspect of Konexio’s model and a key value-add for beneficiaries, and (2) Konexio is using the upcoming year’s pilot programs as a critical opportunity to test and pinpoint a business model for scale. 

SOLVE’s peer networks, leadership networks, and visibility opportunities would give Konexio the resources and platform to create impact sourcing partnerships that benefit both employers and beneficiaries, and pave the way for more equitable participation in the digital economy. In addition, Konexio values the exposure and media access as we are still building an international reputation for the work that we do. Working with SOLVE’s networks and media allows Konexio to increase its presence in the US and build stakeholder relationships with tech’s biggest companies, many of which have made impact sourcing commitments for refugees through the Tent Foundation. In addition, Konexio seeks to increase its roster of operating partners, so that we can deploy our solution broadly and impact more people, increasing access to opportunity via the digital economy. 

Konexio also seeks strategic guidance as we fine-tune the business model and M&E practices. The next 12 months will be key for Konexio as we deploy in 3 locations and pinpoint a model that works flexibly across cultures and geographies. SOLVE’s strategic guidance would be invaluable at this critical juncture, setting Konexio up for sustainable impact for years to come.

Konexio is using the pilot phase as an opportunity to test the business model and establish financial self-sufficiency. We need strategy consulting to tailor our product and market fits and decide which revenue model or models are most sustainable. In addition, we seek impact sourcing partnerships to increase the number of jobs available to students, and operational partnerships to increase the geographic base where Konexio’s programs operate. This will allow more vulnerable refugees to access more jobs. SOLVE’s media exposure supports in the development of these partnerships, and gives legitimacy to our operations. Finally, we seek technological support to improve the technical implementation of our e-learning solution, including rollout of a low-tech version that can reach currently excluded last-mile locations.

Konexio seeks partnerships for impact sourcing, improvement of technical offerings, and strategic guidance on our business model. In addition, Konexio's model relies on operational partners for rollout and developing a strong ecosystem network enhances our ability to massively scale. 

Joining the MIT SOLVE community provides an invaluable pathway to expand our networks, creating more resources for beneficiaries and more ways to meet employer needs. Digitally-focused corporate partners provide a unique cross-section of technical expertise, business model strategy, and employment linkages for our beneficiaries. For example, companies like Amazon or HP could provide invaluable insight into best business models for technical products and systems and improvements in our e-learning platform. Larger technical partners could also provide specific job opportunities or link us to other organizations with specific job opportunities that could be made available to refugees and vulnerable people. Konexio also seeks to work with other NGOs, for example SOLVE member Women's WorldWide Web (W4). Their goal of women’s inclusion in digital technology align very closely with ours and we believe that both parties could gain from collaboration, either through sharing learnings or co-developing initiatives that combine the highlights of each organization into one program. Finally, MIT’s Center for Information Systems Research (CISR) is a global expert with invaluable resources on digital business models, digital design and transformation, and employee experience that are directly relevant for Konexio.