Welcome to Upkazi – Africa’s Freelance Marketplace.
Whether you’re a client searching for skilled professionals or a freelancer ready to earn, this guide will walk you through everything you need to begin confidently.

Upkazi is designed for Africa, but built for the world: secure payments, mobile money integration, multiple currencies (USD, UGX, KES), and a platform that values trust, professionalism, and growth.

Join Upkazi

You can start your journey in just a few minutes.

Visit upkazi.com from desktop/mobile, or download the Upkazi app (Android & iOS being updated).
Click Join and complete your registration.

What you’ll need to provide:

• Username – your professional identity on Upkazi
• Email address – verified for trust and notifications
• Password – secure and unique
• Phone Number – country code is detected automatically
• User Type – choose Client (to hire) or Freelancer (to sell services)
• Confirm Captcha + accept Terms of Service
• Or register instantly with Google login

Need help while signing up? Use the built-in AI Assistant (Charlie) right on the sign-up page to guide you.

If You’re a Client (Hiring)

When you join as a Client, you’ll land on your dashboard immediately.

From here, you can:

• Browse categories and explore hundreds of freelance services.
• Post a Job Request if you don’t find exactly what you need.
• Contact freelancers directly and request custom offers.
• Checkout securely with MTN MoMo, Airtel Money, card/debit card, or bank transfer.
• Switch roles later and become a freelancer anytime.

Emails you’ll receive as a client:

1. Welcome to Upkazi – Confirm your account and start exploring.
2. A Note from Charlie Brian (CEO) – A personal welcome and introduction.

Pro tip:
Start with small projects to test the waters. Once you find a freelancer you trust, scale up with larger or ongoing contracts.

If You’re a Freelancer (Earning)

When you join as a Freelancer, you’ll first see this message:
“Welcome to Upkazi. Complete Your Registration.”

To activate your account, upload:

• A valid CV or resume
• Proof of qualification (certificate, transcript, or work sample)

Once uploaded:

• Your profile shows: “Application under review.”
• You’ll still be able to edit your profile, tagline, description, and other settings.
• You’ll receive two emails:
  1. Welcome to Upkazi – Confirm your account.
  2. Application Under Review – our team will verify your documents.

While waiting:

• Explore categories, see how gigs look, and study other freelancers.
• Don’t post job requests (that’s for clients). Focus on polishing your profile.

When approved:

• You’ll receive a Profile Approved email.
• Your freelancer dashboard will unlock.
• You can start creating gigs, adding skills, education, certifications, portfolio, sharing services, and earning.

Creating a Professional Gig (Freelancers Only)

Your gig is your storefront. The clearer and more professional it looks, the more clients trust you.

Best practices:

• Use desktop/laptop when creating your gig for full control.
• Write a clear headline (e.g., I will design a modern business logo).
• Choose the correct Category & Subcategory.
• Add a detailed description (what you’ll deliver, process, value).
• Upload work samples, images, or videos.
• Set delivery times, revisions, and packages.
• Add FAQs & buyer instructions to reduce confusion.
• Use tags/keywords so clients can find you.

Gallery is key: use high-quality images and videos. Freelancers with strong visuals get 3x more orders.

Understanding Package Pricing

On Upkazi, you can set your services in package pricing model.

• Packages (Basic, Standard, Premium): Create 3 service tiers with different scopes and pricing, giving clients clear options.

Posting a Job Request (Clients Only)

If you want freelancers to come to you:

1. Go to Post a Request.
2. Write a clear job description.
3. Select category, delivery time, and budget.
4. Submit for review (fast approval unless incomplete).

Tips for success:

• Be specific (e.g., “Logo for a Fintech Startup in Uganda”).
• Mention deadlines and expected deliverables.
• Set a realistic budget – good freelancers respect fair pay.

Trust, Safety & Support

Upkazi takes trust and safety seriously.

• All freelancers must be verified before selling.
• Secure payments are held in escrow until work is approved.
• Both sides can leave reviews to build credibility.
• Disputes are resolved through the Resolution Center.

Support options:

• AI Assistant (Charlie): Instant guidance, available 24/7.
• WhatsApp Support: Direct human help.
• Help Center & FAQs: Detailed guides (like this one).

Explore Your Dashboard (Freelancers & Clients)

Once logged in, everything you need is in one place:

• Account & Profile: Update details, language (English/Swahili), security.
• Gigs & Services: Create/edit gigs, manage pricing.
• Proposals & Requests: Apply to client requests.
• Earnings & Payments: Track balance, request withdrawals.
• Communication: Messages, notifications, video calls.
• Reputation: Ratings, reviews, performance metrics.

Final Word: Why Upkazi?

Unlike global platforms where African freelancers are sidelined, Upkazi is built for Africa first:

• Mobile money and local payments
• Local languages & currencies
• Verified freelancers & safer hiring
• Global reach with African talent at the center

Whether you’re hiring or freelancing, Africa works here. So should you.