Entrepreneurship in the Digital and Gig Economy (EDGE) Program
Provision of Digital Awareness, Impact Communication & Influencer Engagement Services

Tender No: EDGE/RFP/HD/0001/2026
Date of Issue: February, 6 2026

INTRODUCTION 

Hybrid Designs is a women-led pioneer in mobility technology that aims to bring simple and efficient transportation solutions to Africa. Through its GIG model approach, Hybrid Designs empowers Ethiopians to utilize their resources effectively. Founded in 2014, Hybrid Designs has revolutionized Ethiopia’s technology landscape. Our flagship service, RIDE, has created over 91,000 jobs and expanded into diverse sectors. Beyond business, we’re committed to social responsibility. We’ve provided essential support during COVID-19, given free ride service to 1000 pregnant women in labor, and transformed barren land into a vibrant park. Our innovation and community engagement track record positions us to create even greater positive change in Ethiopia.

About the EDGE Program

The Mastercard Foundation in partnership with Hybrid Designs and its consortium partners- ICog, R& D Group, and Qua Qua Capitals are launching a five-year program entitled ‘Entrepreneurship in the Digital and Gig Economy (EDGE)’ with the aim of unlocking over 300,000 dignified and fulfilling employment opportunities for economically disadvantaged young people across Ethiopia through an innovative digitally enabled and mediated domestic outsourcing market and enabling a thriving offshore outsourcing ecosystem. This program will be scaling five outsourcing platform (digital) enabled products for both the offshore and onshore market that will empower young women and vulnerable groups. The program will also support 1,041 MSEs across Ethiopia to streamline their internal processes and organizational excellence to expand and grow their business, which will contribute to the development of a pipeline of competitive outsourcing enterprises that will serve and take advantage of the outsourcing market, both locally and globally. Through the ecosystem level collaboration with key strategic partners such as the IT Park and the Ethiopian Outsourcing Association, the program anticipates contributing to the development of a strong outsourcing ecosystem, which will enable system level changes and position Ethiopia as an attractive outsourcing destination. The program will work to transform the outsourcing ecosystem to better serve the needs of financially disadvantaged young women and men. 

The program anticipates achieving its goals through its three interconnected program components which include:

1. Enhancing youth awareness in outsourcing and skill development. 
2. Enterprise development and 
3. Improving enabling environment through ecosystem Support. Through these interventions, the program will contribute to the achievement of the goals of the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy, Ethiopia’s country roadmap and country success story by the end of the program period and beyond. 

OBJECTIVE OF THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

The objective of this RFP is to select a qualified and experienced digital communication agency to design and implement a nationwide, high-impact digital awareness and storytelling campaign that:

• Raises awareness of outsourcing and digital &  gig  work opportunities
• Positions EDGE as a credible pathway to dignified employment
• Inspires young women (urban and peri-urban) to explore outsourcing careers
• Builds sustained national digital reach and engagement

Primary Awareness Target:

Young women and men aged 15–35, with deliberate focus on:

• Young urban women
• Peri-urban women with digital access
• Disadvantaged youth (Person’s with Disabilities, Refugees and Displaced People) 
• First-time job seekers and gig-curious youth

Submission of the RFP

a) The proposal shall be submitted on or before 4:00 pm, Feb 13, 2026  via mail to the address below and in person to Century Executive Tower, Atlas Bole, 2nd Floor, EDGE Program Office. 

b) Both technical and financial proposals must be submitted in soft copy via email and in hard copy (sealed envelope).

Email submissions should be sent to:

• Program Manager: Zufan Tesfaye – zufan@ridepmo.et 
• Senior procurement officer:  Desalegn Alem – desalegn.a@hybriddesignsplc.com 

c) The original hard copy bid document shall be put in an envelope, sealed and marked the tender reference at the top of the envelope as follows: “Tender No EDGE/RFP/HD/0001/2026: – Request for Proposal for Provision of Awareness creation service 

Addressed to:
Hybrid Designs EDGE Program Office
Century Executive Tower Atlas Bole, 2nd Floor
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

d) All correspondence and documents relating to this RFP exchanged by the bidder and Hybrid Designs shall be written in the English language.