Facebook Marketplace rolled out across sub-Saharan Africa

Facebook has announced the roll-out of Marketplace in 37 countries and territories across sub-Saharan Africa. Currently available in South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria, Marketplace aims to be a convenient destination where people can discover, buy and sell items from others in their local communities. 

This is done simply by tapping on the Marketplace icon or visiting www.facebook.com/marketplace to browse and search for items. Users can also filter by distance or category.

Facebook's director of public policy for Africa Kojo Boakye says, "Increasing the availability of Marketplace to 37 more countries and territories in sub-Saharan Africa reinforces our ongoing commitment to helping connect communities and support buying and selling through one simple online destination."

"As the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic continue to impact people and businesses, the expansion of Marketplace will provide more people with a convenient destination where they can discover new products, shop for things they want, or find buyers for the things they want to sell," adds Boakye.

According to the platform, discovering things on Facebook Marketplace is simple. Listing an item for sale is just as easy as browsing for one on Marketplace. Sellers can share a photo of an item, enter a product name, description and price, confirm their location and select a category.

Sellers can also choose to post their listings to Facebook Buy and Sell Groups. Interested buyers will find the item they are looking for and message the sellers directly through Messenger. They can decide on the payment method depending on their own preferences.

The 37 countries and territories that can now make use of the feature include (in alohabetical order): Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Eswatini, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Niger, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Western Sahara, and Zimbabwe.

Facebook has subsequently provided best practices regarding buying and selling responsibly on Facebook Marketplace:

• Complying to the commerce policy: Items, products or services sold on Facebook must comply with the platform's community standards, as well as its commerce policies. Sellers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations.
• Choosing a preferred payment method: Buyers and sellers may offer or accept cash, cash on delivery or person-to-person payments. If you choose to pay electronically using bank transfer or money order solutions, avoid payment links and log in directly through the payment method's website. Keep in mind that personal checks or bank drafts can be counterfeit.
• Meeting in person: If you're meeting someone in person, arrange your meeting in a public, well-lit area. If you choose to meet at someone's home, consider bringing another person with you or share your meeting plan with friends or family.
• Facebook has advised all buyers and sellers to follow local guidelines to stay safe and help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Buyers and sellers can find more tips on how to use Marketplace responsibly and access the Help Center for further assistance.