1. What the programme is
The MakeChapa Affiliate Programme lets any MakeChapa account holder invite new users to the platform using a personal referral link, and earn a one-time reward when an invited user first transacts. Joining is free and does not change your existing client or freelancer account.
2. Who can join
Any signed-in MakeChapa account holder in good standing may join by accepting these terms. Staff members, operations members and anyone with access to platform administration tools may not earn affiliate rewards. We may decline or close an affiliate account at our discretion.
3. How attribution works
When someone opens your referral link, the referral code is stored on their device for 90 days. If they create a MakeChapa account within that window, and that account has never been referred before, the account is permanently linked to you. Attribution is device-based and best effort: a cleared browser, a different device, or a signup outside the 90-day window may mean no attribution, and no reward is owed in that case.
4. The reward
- The reward is 10% of the contract value of the invited user's first completed contract on MakeChapa, whether that person acts as a client or as a freelancer.
- It is paid once per invited person. Nothing is earned on their later contracts.
- The reward is calculated and credited automatically when the escrow for that first contract is released.
- Clients never pay extra. The reward is taken from the platform side of that single contract: for that first contract the freelancer receives 80% of the contract value instead of 90%, the platform keeps 10%, and 10% goes to the affiliate. This is disclosed to freelancers in the fee breakdown of any first contract that carries a referral.
5. Your affiliate balance and withdrawals
Affiliate rewards are credited to a separate affiliate balance, shown on your Affiliate page. Withdrawals follow the same rules as every other payout on MakeChapa: a minimum of ETB 100 per request, two staff approvals, and transfer to a bank account or mobile money account in your own name. Money in transit is shown as pending until the transfer settles; if the bank rejects a transfer, the amount returns to your available balance.
6. What voids a reward
We may withhold, reverse or cancel a reward, and close an affiliate account, where we reasonably determine that:
- you referred yourself, a duplicate account or an account you control;
- the signup was fake, automated, incentivised by misleading claims, or created only to trigger a reward;
- the underlying contract was cancelled, refunded, disputed or reversed;
- the referral link was distributed as spam, or promoted using MakeChapa branding in a way that suggests you speak for MakeChapa.
7. How you may promote
You may share your link on social media, messaging apps, your own site and in person. You may not run paid advertising on MakeChapa brand terms, imitate MakeChapa communications, promise earnings on our behalf, or make claims about the platform that are not on our public pages.
8. Tax
Affiliate rewards are income. Meeting your own Ethiopian tax obligations on them is your responsibility. Where MakeChapa is required to withhold or report, we will do so and tell you.
9. Changes and ending the programme
We may change the reward rate, the attribution window or these terms, and may pause or end the programme. Changes apply to referrals attributed after the change; rewards already earned and credited are unaffected. You may leave the programme at any time and still withdraw any balance already earned.
10. Platform Communications
Affiliate accounts receive operational notices about their referrals, rewards and withdrawals in the MakeChapa inbox. These cannot be switched off while the affiliate account is open. Promotional messages remain optional under Account -> Notifications.
11. Contact
Questions about the programme: support@makechapa.online · +251 971 787 842.