Latest news with #underservedcommunities
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
12 Factors For Utilizing Hiring Platforms To Retain Underserved Talent
For HR professionals, recruiting and retaining talent from traditionally underserved communities can be both challenging and impactful. The right hiring platform can make all the difference, offering not just access to talent but also the support, trust and inclusion necessary for long-term engagement. Many elements determine whether these partnerships truly succeed, from cultural relevance and equity of processes to personalized development opportunities. To assist you in choosing the right hiring platform to retain underserved talent, 12 members of Forbes Human Resources Council share the top factors to consider. 1. Inclusion, Rather Than Placement Alone When partnering with hiring platforms to support candidates from underserved communities, focus on inclusion, not just placement. Choose platforms that provide support, build confidence and create a sense of belonging from day one. It's about inclusion with intent, and retention starts when people feel seen, supported and set up to succeed. That's the standard we must hold ourselves—and our partners—to. - Bala Sathyanarayanan, Greif Inc. 2. Authentic Connections With Communities HR recruiters should prioritize hiring platforms that can foster a deeper and more authentic connection with underserved communities. It would require an intentional and inclusive strategy, starting with using appropriate, accessible and bias-free language. By doing so, hiring platforms can engage a wider talent pool, build trust and significantly improve retention. - Ijeoma Onwordi, Tetracore Energy Group Ltd. 3. Industry-Specific Reach Partner with specialized hiring platforms that focus on your industry. They have built-in communities and actual human connections with influencers in the industry, helping recruiters reach candidates. Also, make sure that the platform is mobile-friendly, inclusive and has a human-first customer support system to reduce barriers candidates may face. - Milos Eric, OysterLink 4. Cultural Relevance And Community Trust One key factor is cultural relevance and community trust. Hiring platforms should have an authentic presence in underserved communities—using inclusive language, offering localized support and mentorship and partnering with trusted orgs. This builds credibility and helps candidates apply and stay engaged throughout the process. - Stephanie Manzelli, Employ Inc. 5. Accessibility And Equity It's critical to choose a hiring platform that prioritizes accessibility and equity, especially for candidates from underserved communities. As someone who comes from one, I know barriers like limited internet, language differences or lack of access can block great talent. The right partner helps meet candidates where they are. - Nicole Cable, Blue Zones Health Forbes Human Resources Council is an invitation-only organization for HR executives across all industries. Do I qualify? 6. Emotional Intelligence Within The Technology When partnering with any technology designed to retain talent from underserved communities, prioritize EQ in the technology. Meaning, don't just ask what it automates, ask how it personalizes. Look for systems that adapt to a candidate's tone, respond with empathy and engage with care. Retention begins when people feel seen, heard and understood, not filtered, rushed or reduced to a transaction. - Dr. Timothy J. Giardino, 7. Long-Term Support And Development Opportunities One key factor HR recruiters should consider is whether the hiring platform provides long-term support and development opportunities for candidates from underserved communities. A platform that goes beyond placement to focus on retention and growth ensures candidates are not only hired but set up for success and longevity. - Eiman Alhammadi, ADNOC 8. Messaging That Aligns With Inclusive Values Retention starts with resonance. The job description, language and brand positioning must reflect inclusive values, accessible requirements and real pathways for growth that resonate with candidates from underserved communities to enable meaningful traction and long-term engagement. - Britton Bloch, Navy Federal 9. Transparent, Skills-First Hiring Practices Inclusive hiring starts with transparency and a skills-first approach. Implementing practices like blind resume reviews and structured interviews helps eliminate bias and ensures candidates are assessed fairly. When paired with clear job descriptions and a welcoming candidate experience, these steps don't just promote equity—they lead to stronger, higher-performing teams. - Sheena Minhas, ST Microelectronics 10. The Ability To Track Equity At Every Stage Partner with platforms that track equity at every stage, not just clicks and hires. Ask how they surface drop-off patterns for underserved candidates and how insights translate into system fixes. Retention begins with redesign, not volume. The right partner helps you turn access into advancement, not attrition. - Apryl Evans, USA for UNHCR 11. Challenges To Organizational Retention Barriers The right platform doesn't just find talent from underserved communities; it challenges whether your organization is structured to keep them. Partner with those who expose where opportunity stalls, where inclusion is performative and help you assess the systems that shape access to growth, visibility and advancement. If your platform isn't challenging your systems, it's replicating your gaps. - Katrina Jones 12. Culturally Responsive Candidate Support HR recruiters should ensure the hiring platform offers culturally responsive support, like accessible communication channels, flexible options and inclusive engagement. This would allow candidates from underserved communities to feel valued and stay involved throughout the hiring process. - Sherri Reese, Salisbury University
Bloomberg
04-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Trump Administration Urged to Save Program Extending Internet Access
A key Democratic senator on Wednesday urged Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to save a program targeted by President Donald Trump that provides billions to extend internet access in underserved communities. Trump said last month he would end the program, part of President Joe Biden's massive infrastructure law, as part of his administration's efforts to target diversity, equity or inclusion measures. He has called the measure unconstitutional, racist, illegal and a giveaway.
Zawya
28-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
SmartSwitch Botswana brings financial inclusion to thousands of food grant recipients
SmartSwitch Botswana is blazing a trail for financial inclusion with a financial technology (Fintech) solution that puts dignity and financial services into food voucher beneficiaries' hands. Since it was established in 2006, Smart Switch has grown its footprint to more than 75 000 beneficiaries in underserved communities across Botswana. SmartSwitch Botswana, a subsidiary of Lesaka Technologies, was founded with the exclusive rights to deploy Botswana's Universal Electronic Payment System (UEPS). The UEPS has also been embraced and approved by the central banks of countries such as Namibia, Ghana, and South Africa as an accredited national payment system. At the heart of the offering is a secure, biometric-enabled smart card platform designed for the unbanked and underbanked. The system enables food grant recipients to safely receive, store, and spend funds at local merchant outlets while earning interest on unspent balances. The solution was developed in response to a Ministry of Local Government tender to overhaul Botswana's paper-based food basket system. The previous system—marked by inefficiencies, lack of choice, and social stigma—was failing the people it was meant to help. The tender had two main goals. Firstly, the Ministry of Local Government wanted to empower beneficiaries with choice in the food they acquired, when they could collect their food, and where they could collect their food. The second aim was to provide a dignified alternative to the stigma associated with the earlier system. 'Although we applied cutting-edge technology to the challenge, we also knew we needed to create a deeply human solution to address the audience's needs,' says France Mabiletsa, Managing Director of SmartSwitch Botswana. 'We had to provide beneficiaries with choice and restore their dignity.' Today, those goals have been exceeded. Beneficiaries no longer need to queue in the sun with wheelbarrows to collect pre-packaged goods. Beneficiaries receive a monthly allowance on a SmartSwitch card, which they can use at over 1,200 local shops, ranging from general dealers to corner stores. Each transaction is authenticated through biometric verification, ensuring security and privacy. The card looks like a bank-issued debit card, so it isn't apparent they are food allowance beneficiaries. In the first three years after implementation, more than 50,000 people, many of whom had never engaged with a financial institution, were integrated into Botswana's financial ecosystem. Today, over 75,000 beneficiaries have access to these smart banking tools, which include secure, offline-capable transactions via biometric-enabled POS devices The solution is equally transformative for merchants. Payments are settled within 48 hours, improving liquidity. Competition among stores has improved service quality, benefiting end users. 'The system has helped our business grow. We serve more customers, and we get paid quickly and securely,' said Kennete Mmusinyane of Obed Supermarket in Gumare in the Okavango District. With a track record of reliable delivery and innovation, SmartSwitch is gearing up for the next phase of its development. As the government prepares to issue a new tender, SmartSwitch has plans to introduce enhanced services and upgraded devices to further support beneficiaries and retailers. 'We're not standing still. We're reinvesting in the system to do more for more people,' says Mabiletsa. 'It is our aim to continue to be a trusted partner to the government, a reliable ally to merchants, and a gateway to dignity, choice, and empowerment for thousands of people in Botswana.' SmartSwitch is a member of Lesaka Technologies ( Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kazang. About Kazang: Kazang ( is a leading provider of cash and digital solutions to merchants in Southern Africa's informal economies. Our fintech solutions include a diverse range of value-added services (VAS), card acquiring, secure cash vaults and supplier payments platforms. Operating with a network of approximately 90,000 active devices, we process approximately 2.2 million transactions daily in markets such as South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia. We are dedicated to helping small and medium merchants grow and succeed, through increasing their sales, making their businesses more efficient and reducing their risks with our holistic portfolio of products and services. Kazang is a member of Lesaka Technologies ( About Lesaka Technologies, Inc: The Connect Group and Kazang was acquired by Lesaka Technologies, Inc. in April 2022. Lesaka Technologies, (Lesaka™) is a South African Fintech company that utilizes its proprietary banking and payment technologies to deliver superior financial services solutions to merchants (B2B) and consumers (B2C) in Southern Africa. Lesaka's mission is to drive true financial inclusion for both merchant and consumer markets through offering affordable financial services to previously underserved sectors of the economy. Lesaka offers cash management solutions, growth capital, card acquiring, bill payment technologies and value-added services to retail merchants as well as banking, lending, and insurance solutions to consumers across Southern Africa. Lesaka has a primary listing on NASDAQ (NasdaqGS: LSAK) and a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE: LSK). Visit for additional information about Lesaka Technologies (Lesaka ™). $LSK / $LSAK
