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As E-Commerce continues to expand across East Africa, last-mile delivery has become a critical component of economic infrastructure. However, the sector remains overwhelmingly male-dominated – particularly in motorcycle-based delivery.
At CourieMate, female riders currently represent approximately 1% of our rider workforce. This reflects not only our internal composition, but also the broader reality of the regional labor market, where women rarely enter motorcycle-based logistics roles.
At the same time, nearly 80% of our office and warehouse staff are women. They manage fulfillment operations, customer service, and coordination, all of which are essential to ensuring stable, secure, and speedy delivery services.
This contrast reveals an important structural insight: talent availability in logistics is not simply a recruitment issue, but a systemic constraint. If the industry limits participation to only half of the population, scalability and long-term resilience are inherently restricted.
From an ESG perspective, inclusive workforce participation is not only a matter of social responsibility but also a matter of infrastructure sustainability. Expanding access to logistics roles for women increases labor pool depth, strengthens community engagement, and reduces long-term operational risk.
We believe that motorcycle delivery, with appropriate training and safety standards, presents a viable opportunity for women’s economic participation in urban Africa. Creating supportive environments, improving safety protocols, and challenging traditional assumptions will be essential steps forward.
Inclusive logistics is not an abstract ideal. It is a practical strategy for building a resilient and scalable delivery network.
On this International Women’s Day, we reaffirm our commitment to developing infrastructure that reflects the full potential of the communities we serve.
By Hiroshi Matsumoto
On March 7th, 2026
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