Modern Slavery Statement

Quola is committed to combating modern slavery and human trafficking across our operations and the communities we work in. As a platform that engages field data collectors across East Africa — including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi — we recognise the particular responsibility that comes with operating in regions where labour exploitation risks exist. This statement is made pursuant to the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Quola is a data collection platform used by organisations to design surveys, deploy field research projects, and manage data annotation workflows. Our model connects requester organisations (NGOs, research institutions, enterprises) with independent field data collectors who carry out data collection assignments on mobile devices across East African communities.

Our supply chain has two sides. The technology side is entirely digital — cloud hosting, software services, and payment processors. The human side involves a distributed network of field collectors who operate independently in their own communities, accepting project assignments through our mobile app. This distributed, mobile-first workforce model means we don't control physical workplaces, which creates both protections (collectors work from their own environments) and challenges (less direct visibility into working conditions).

We have identified the following areas where modern slavery risks are most relevant to our business:

• Third-party recruitment: Collectors may be recruited by local coordinators or community leaders. We mitigate this by requiring every collector to register directly on our platform with their own verified identity.
• Payment interception: In some contexts, wages may be intercepted by intermediaries. All Quola payments are made directly to the collector's registered mobile money or bank account — never through a third party.
• Underage labour: Data collection in the field could involve minors. Our platform enforces a strict minimum age of 18 for all collectors, verified during onboarding.
• Coerced participation: Collectors in economically vulnerable situations could face pressure to work under exploitative conditions. Our platform ensures collectors freely choose which projects to accept, with no penalties for declining assignments.

Every data collector on the Quola platform is protected by the following safeguards:

• Direct registration: Collectors sign up individually with identity verification. No bulk enrolment by third parties is permitted.
• Voluntary participation: Collectors browse available projects and opt in. They set their own schedules, work from locations of their choosing, and can stop at any time.
• Direct payment: Earnings are paid directly to the collector's personal mobile money or bank account. We never pay intermediaries on a collector's behalf.
• No fees: Quola never charges collectors recruitment, registration, or platform fees.
• No document retention: We never request or hold original identity documents, travel documents, or personal property.
• Single-account policy: Each collector maintains one account to prevent identity fraud and ensure payments reach the right person.

Organisations that commission data collection projects through Quola are required to:

• Set fair compensation rates that meet or exceed local market standards for equivalent work
• Design projects with reasonable workloads and realistic timelines
• Not require collectors to travel to unsafe areas or work in conditions that endanger their wellbeing
• Comply with our platform terms, which prohibit exploitative practices

Anyone — collectors, requester organisations, or members of the public — who suspects modern slavery or labour exploitation in connection with Quola's operations can report their concerns through the following channels:

• Email: trust@quola.io
• In-app reporting: Collectors can flag concerns directly through the Quola mobile app
• Local authorities and relevant national human trafficking hotlines

All reports are treated confidentially. We protect whistle-blowers from retaliation and investigate every concern raised.

Our team members who manage collector relationships and platform operations receive training on identifying modern slavery indicators relevant to field data collection in East Africa. This includes recognising signs of coerced labour, underage workers, and payment exploitation within mobile workforce networks.

This statement is reviewed annually and updated to reflect changes in our operations, supply chain, and understanding of modern slavery risks in the regions where we operate.