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By Adedapo Adesanya

African e-commerce platform Jumia has secured $50 million in post-IPO equity financing, led by a $25 million investment from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, as the company strengthens its financial position and accelerates its path to profitability.

The funding round, which also attracted existing major shareholders and selected new investors, comes as Jumia reported strong operational growth in the second quarter of 2026 and reaffirmed its target of achieving adjusted EBITDA breakeven in the fourth quarter of the year and profitability in 2027.

Jumia’s Q2 performance showed continued momentum across its core markets. Revenue increased 14 per cent year-on-year to $52 million, while gross merchandise value (GMV) rose 20 per cent to $216.3 million. Orders grew 28 per cent, quarterly active customers increased 24 per cent, and gross profit climbed 28 per cent to $30.7 million.

The company also reduced its adjusted EBITDA loss by 36 per cent to $8.7 million, pointing to improving operating efficiency as it works towards sustained profitability.

Nigeria emerged as one of Jumia’s strongest-performing markets during the quarter, with GMV rising 36 per cent and orders increasing 34 per cent year-on-year.

The company also recorded a 96 per cent increase in gross items sold from international sellers, driven by an expanding base of Chinese merchants and growing affordable fashion supplies from Turkey.

The new capital comes at a critical stage in Jumia’s turnaround strategy. Its liquidity position stood at $48.3 million at the end of the quarter, representing a $14.3 million decline during the period. The additional funding is therefore expected to strengthen its runway as the company moves towards its 2026 breakeven target.

Beyond…