Experts say freelancing is the new form of employment for everyone

With the country suffering from high levels of unemployment, experts say freelancing can partially solve the problem.

“Many people think either you get a job or you start your own but there is a sweet space in between the two, and that is freelancing. You might not have money to start a business or you might not be able to get a job. Freelancing comes in.  The safe boda guys or Uber guys you see are doing freelancing. You have no shop and no boss but offer services,” Andrew Tugume, the team lead at Qraft Academy that deals in employability programs said.

“Freelancing is becoming a very big thing as it saves money for companies but also people who don’t like bosses and those without a lot of capital to start business, this is the way to go. With freelancing, unemployment looks like a scam.”

He was speaking during the inaugural freelancer summit at the Motiv in Kampala organized by the Innovation Village in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, Qraft Academy and Bakash Media Foundation.

The summit ran under the theme ‘Unlocking the African freelancer ecosystem’ to explore new freelancing opportunities, develop essential skill sets, and address the challenges within the gig economy.

Experts say, away from the conventional way of working, freelancing is the new gold.

According to the African Development Bank, the gig economy is expected to contribute over $300 billion to Africa's economy, with countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa experiencing a surge in freelance activities in sectors such as software development, content creation, data analytics, and graphic design.

In Nigeria alone, the freelance workforce grew by 24% between 2021 and 2023, driven largely by young people, with 60% of Africa's 1.3 billion population under the age of 25.

Experts say that with a young and dynamic population as well as increased access to digital platforms, tools, and global markets, freelancing is the way to go.

“The future of work is really uninformed perspective on the changes that, especially digitization is bringing, and how those changes affect  our organizations work. You're familiar with the BBC now. BBC is using freelance journalists more than chooses in house journalists. All organizations are going to be pushed to that direction, where they have to work with more people in a way that is flexible, because as an individual, the future is about integrating your work into your life, as opposed to going go a certain place or office. I could be at the cafe and I can work. I could be on the road, traveling and I'm able to work. I don't have to go to a building, sit at a cubicle,” said Edward Kandole, the community manager at Innovation Village.

He added, “  Freelancing is about working as an individual, delivering that product or service to a client , but in a very professional manner, as opposed to doing it as if it is a by the way or in a way that is not satisfactory to the client. It's about doing it in a very competent manner.”

Kandole said Uganda and other African countries can leverage freelancing to create employment for their citizens, adding that the digital era can ably support this.

“We at Innovation Village are working to get to a point where freelancing becomes very synonymous with an African independent worker. That people around the world can refer to Africans as being synonymous with freelancing.”

“We are building a future of work practice. Under that practice, we  are unlocking pillars, and which among those pillars is flexible work models. We are  unlocking modern work principles for organizations. We are spreading the gospel of strategic partnerships. That's all part of the future work. We want to  talk to government to  develop favorable policies in terms of labor  that support freelancing, such as the freelancers are protected. We want to unlock social security, ease access to financing, and many other opportunities. We are building platforms, and we are trying to work with all the other hubs to be able to build more hubs. “

Qraft Academy’s Tugume said one  of the challenges are the five dollar gigs which are cheap gigs for people starting out in the sector but said it is a step that one has to go through before joining the table of men

“Like in formal employment you start with a job of shs100,000 and you keep on growing, this is the same with freelancing as the money keeps on growing and you can even reach $ 40,000 an hour depending on the growing in your value. It is a challenge but if you want an entry point it is a what you have to go through.”

Innovation Village’s  Japheth Kawanguzi, emphasized that freelancing success requires more than just the skillset.

The workforce requires intentionality, resilience, and adaptability. I understand the road to freelancing is not easy, and challenges will persist, but the path to success is carved through consistent, focused effort. As freelancers operating within the global gig marketplace, you must endeavor to access unprecedented tools and platforms that eliminate geographical barriers, allowing you to think and operate beyond Uganda.”