Sustainability & Impact Co-Founder (Equity-Based)

Company Description Gephra Sustaina is a sustainability-focused digital marketplace ecosystem operated by Gephra Ltd, a Rwanda-based technology company building platforms that support responsible trade, employment verification, and digital commerce across Africa. We connect consumers, retailers, and businesses with responsibly made products from African producers. The platform is designed to make sustainability practical and trusted by combining commerce with clear product information, structured sustainability disclosures, and verification frameworks. Our goal is not to market sustainability. Our goal is to build the systems that make sustainability credible, usable, and scalable in real African market conditions. Role Description We are looking for a Sustainability & Impact Co-Founder to co-build and co-own the sustainability, standards, and impact infrastructure of Gephra Sustaina. This is a true zero-to-one founder role, not a senior hire or advisory position. You will help define how sustainability works before there is a playbook, making decisions that will shape platform trust, vendor behavior, and buyer confidence for years. Note: This is an equity-first co-founder role. There is no initial salary; we are looking for a partner to build and scale alongside us with shared risk and real authority. You will work directly with the Founder and technical team to ensure sustainability is designed into the product DNA, not layered on later. What You Will Be Accountable For • Systems Design: Designing the core sustainability frameworks used across the marketplace, including vendor disclosures, lifecycle/sourcing data inputs, and verification tiers. • Product Integrity: Defining rules and safeguards to prevent greenwashing and guiding product features like Digital Product Passports and traceability. • Strategic Leadership: Co-owning the company vision with a focus on impact governance and making the "hard trade-offs" between ideal standards and what is workable for African producers. • Ecosystem Building: Establishing early partnerships with certifiers, NGOs, and global impact networks as a builder, not just a spokesperson. • Decision Quality: Being accountable for decisions made with incomplete data, under time pressure, that cannot easily be undone later. This Role Is For Someone Who • Thinks in systems, not slogans or reports. • Understands sustainability as infrastructure, not advocacy. • Can translate complex sustainability concepts into simple, usable product rules. • Has worked with (or deeply understands) African SMEs, cooperatives, or informal value chains. • Is entrepreneurial, hands-on, and thrives in the ambiguity of an early-stage startup. Background & Experience Applied experience and sound judgment matter more than formal credentials. Strong candidates often have: • Applied experience in sustainability, ESG, responsible sourcing, or circular economy. • Direct exposure to real supply chains or production challenges in emerging markets. • Experience working alongside product/engineering teams or within digital marketplaces. • The ability to make high-stakes judgment calls rather than just following established standards. Who This Role Is NOT For • Those seeking a salaried role or a defined, stable job scope. • Those who prefer highly structured corporate environments. • Those focused primarily on reporting, auditing, or advisory work. • Those uncomfortable with shared risk and the "founder’s grind." Why This Role Matters Gephra Sustaina’s success depends on trust. This role ensures sustainability is treated as core infrastructure, not branding. You will define how sustainability is practiced, measured, and protected in African digital trade as the platform scales. Interested? If you want to co-build, take responsibility, and define what credible sustainability looks like in Africa, we would love to talk. Application Deadline: 20 February 2026 To apply: Reach out directly via partnerships@gephra.com. Please share a brief note on why this specific mission resonates with you and how your experience aligns with "building infrastructure" over "reporting."