USAID/Liberia Learning Links: “The Uber of Learning”

Refining an innovative business model that empowers literate women to earn income as literacy and numeracy tutors in rural Liberia
Liberian girls who become pregnant drop out of school, fall behind academically, usually never return, and become trapped in a cycle of poverty. The Kaizen Company is piloting an innovative approach in rural Liberia that connects literate Liberian women with these at-risk girls to serve as tutor-mentors. Drawing from successful private sector collaborative consumption business models (e.g. Uber), and leveraging existing SMS and mobile money functionality present in Liberia, Kaizen is providing micro-incentives to both learners and tutor-mentors for demonstrated learning progress verified by SMS. We complement this incentive-based performance model with psychosocial support. This model will support 2,500 girls.