Empowering Women through Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity at Just
Just is a US-based Certified B-Corp Pending focused on empowering 150 million women in the Global South by 2035 through technology, e-learning, and e-commerce. The entity’s vision is grounded in this impact. With a core focus on gender and sustainability, Just operates as a technology company specialising in SaaS, boasting an online education division recognized for its commitment to diversity and sustainability.
The JEDI lens: How Just embeds a diversity lens
Just has undertaken a pioneering approach by developing a robust methodology and comprehensive online education program tailored to empower women from the lowest socio-economic levels in the Global South. Recognising the challenges of limited education and minimal access to technology, especially in the pre-COVID era, Just designed its solution to be as user-friendly, and as such, leverages widely-used platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook. The courses are thoughtfully crafted based on extensive data collected from the users, ensuring they are easily understandable and immediately implementable.
Users of Just's initiatives encompass a diverse group, including;
Brands & designers producing eco-Innovative products
Human trafficking victims who are creating unique products as part of a collective,
Indigenous artisans that are applying their ancestral techniques,
Marginalised groups that find a way to create new things,
Micro, small and medium women-owned businesses that create handmade products,
Single mothers and widows who make products at home to support their children,
Women with disabilities who express themselves through their craft, trade, and skill sets,
Women and youth who are transitioning from homelessness, abuse, incarceration or shelters.
What is the overall Impact?
By combining economic empowerment, gender equality, and scalable technologies like SaaS, Just has developed an e-learning application to transform the lives of these women. The platform not only increases income but also significantly decreases exposure to gender-based violence and harassment and creates a safer environment for women and girls in these communities. Quarterly reports track progress, and the specially designed courses empower these women with entrepreneurial skills, facilitating their integration into the digital world. Importantly, Just's online education content can be shared, empowering not only the current generation but also the daughters of these women.
How are they enhancing Inclusion with Just Artisan App?
The Just Teresa Artisan App goes further in promoting inclusion within the artisan community. The app is specially designed for artisans, better supporting market pricing through a costing tool, enabling price transparency on the Just Artisan Marketplace, integrating with payment tools for timely payments, and providing opportunities for private labelling for partners such as Development Banks, Governments, and Foundations.
What’s next in terms of collaboration for Scalable Impact?
Just actively collaborates with funders to scale its impact, offering an innovative e-learning solution for technical assistance to portfolio companies and funds. Funders can leverage Just's tailored TA packages, designed to align with their specific approaches. This collaboration creates a standardised and accessible TA offering, making it easier for funders to support their portfolio companies and funds while ensuring that the assistance is customised to the unique needs of each recipient.
Just's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity is not only embedded in its operations but also extends to collaborations with funders, creating a sustainable and inclusive approach to empowerment.
Snapshot
Name: Just
Investment type: Entrepreneur Support Organisation
Operates in: Emerging markets
Focus: Empowerment of women creators through a technology platform, e-commerce and e-learning
