Master Terms & Conditions
(Applies to All Users of the TAWDO Ecosystem)
Executive Summary
These Master Terms & Conditions ("Master T&C") govern the use of the TAWDO digital ecosystem, including the marketplace, machinery & equipment rail, industrialization hub, logistics & QA network, and all associated services. They apply to all users interacting with the TAWDO platform; buyers, sellers, OEMs, cooperatives, logistics partners, financial institutions, and governments.
The Master T&C establish the legal framework for safe, compliant, transparent, and digitally powered trade across Africa and international markets. They define user eligibility requirements, platform obligations, payment rules, anti-disintermediation policies, verification and compliance standards, data protection, dispute resolution, and operational protocols.
This summary is for guidance only; the full terms that follow constitute the binding legal agreement.
Purpose
The purpose of this Master T&C is to:
Define the binding legal rules governing all platform interactions, transactions, and services.
Protect all participants: buyers, sellers, OEMs, cooperatives, logistics providers, QA partners, banks, and institutions.
Ensure integrity, security, and compliance through verification (KYB/KYC), escrow payments, PAPSS settlement, and traceability.
Establish a unified standard of conduct prohibiting fraud, disintermediation, misrepresentation, and unsafe trade practices.
Provide a clear governance framework aligned with OHADA, AfCFTA, AU Digital Trade Protocol, FATF compliance, and international e-commerce standards.
Enable TAWDO's mission as Africa's Trade & Industrialization Ecosystem, supporting trusted regional and global trade flows.
1Introduction
Welcome to TAWDO, Africa's Trade & Industrialization Ecosystem; a multi-layer digital platform enabling commodities trade, machinery & equipment procurement, industrialization support, and logistics/QA services across Africa and global markets.
By accessing, browsing, or registering on TAWDO (the "Platform"), you agree to be legally bound by these Master Terms & Conditions ("Terms"), which govern all activities across:
- The Commodities Marketplace
- The Machinery & Equipment Marketplace
- TAWDO Operational Partners Network (Logistics, QA/QC, Certification)
- TAWDO Industrialization Program (TIP)
- TAWDO Bankability Lab
- TAWDO Machinery & Equipment Financing Gateway
2Legal Basis & Applicability
These Terms operate under:
- OHADA Uniform Acts (Commercial Law, Contracts, Corporate Governance)
- AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade & Trade in Goods
- African Union Digital Transformation Strategy
- UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce
- Malabo Convention on Cybersecurity & Personal Data Protection
- Applicable national laws in the User's operating country
- FATF & AML/CFT regulatory frameworks
- GDPR-equivalent protections for cross-border data handling
TAWDO operates as a trade facilitator, providing digital rails for secure, verifiable pan-African commerce.
3Platform Scope & Services
3.1 Marketplaces
- Commodity Marketplace: Agricultural commodities, minerals, raw materials, semi-processed goods
- Machinery & Equipment Marketplace: Industrial, agro-processing, mining, construction, cold-chain, medical & packaging equipment
3.2 Operational Partners Network
- Logistics Partners: Freight forwarders, warehousing, local delivery, cold chain
- QA/QC Partners: Inspection, certification, lab testing, compliance checks
3.3 TAWDO Industrialization Program (TIP)
- Industrial project catalogue (30+ SME-friendly factory projects)
- SME/Cooperative support for factory setup
- Construction of bankable project dossiers
3.4 TAWDO Bankability Lab
- Financial models (IRR, NPV, DSCR)
- Risk assessments
- CAPEX/OPEX templates
- ESG compliance sheets
- OEM technical documentation verification
3.5 Machinery & Equipment Financing Gateway
- Term loans, asset financing, leasing
- Supplier credit and purchase-order finance
- Afreximbank/TDB/AfDB guarantee-backed structures
3.6 Payment & Settlement Rails
- Escrow
- PAPSS (Pan-African Payment & Settlement System)
- Bank transfers & approved financial instruments
4Definitions
5User Eligibility, Verification & Obligations
5.1 Eligibility
- Only legally registered entities may engage in trade on TAWDO.
- Individuals cannot list products unless operating through a registered cooperative.
5.2 Verification Requirements
All Users must complete business verification, including:
- Legal entity documents
- Ownership/UBO structure
- Trade licenses
- Responsible officer profile
- Contact information
- Additional KYC/KYB as required for escrow or financing
TAWDO may require enhanced due diligence for high-risk sectors.
5.3 User Obligations
Users must:
- Provide accurate, updated information
- Comply with trade, customs, tax & financial laws
- Respect platform integrity
- Avoid fraud, misrepresentation, money laundering
- Follow all escrow/payment rules
5.4 Early-Stage Platform Disclaimer
Users acknowledge that TAWDO is in an initial operational phase and that certain services, integrations, or automations may be introduced progressively.
TAWDO commits to transparency, notice, and continuity while reserving the right to optimize processes for scalability and compliance.
6Platform Access & Usage
6.1 Digital Access
TAWDO may provide additional access channels (app, USSD/SMS, API integrations).
6.2 In-Platform Communication
Messaging tools must be used professionally; communications may be monitored for compliance.
6.3 Sponsored Listings & Visibility Tools
All promotional content must be truthful, non-political, non-misleading, and pre-approved.
6.4 Premium & Featured Services
TAWDO offers optional premium services including but not limited to:
- Featured listings
- Sponsored RFQs
- Verified badges
- Advertising placements
- Market data & reports
- Industrial project tools (TIP)
Premium services are optional, fee-based, governed by separate Premium Service and Advertising Terms, and clearly priced and disclosed prior to activation.
7Prohibited Practices
To protect platform integrity, transparency, and compliance, the following practices are strictly prohibited. Violations may result in immediate suspension, termination, withholding of funds, and/or legal action, without prior notice.
7.1 Disintermediation (Zero Tolerance)
Users must not bypass or circumvent TAWDO after being introduced, matched, or engaged through the platform.
Prohibited actions include:
- Completing or attempting to complete transactions outside TAWDO
- Sharing direct contact details to move negotiations or payments off-platform
- Requesting or accepting payments outside TAWDO-approved escrow or payment channels
- Using TAWDO solely for lead generation
Consequences: Immediate suspension or termination, forfeiture of benefits, withheld funds, and potential legal claims.
7.2 Multi-Tenancy Abuse
Users may not create or control multiple accounts to gain unfair advantage or evade platform rules.
Prohibited actions include:
- Duplicate or parallel accounts for the same entity or beneficial owner
- Manipulating pricing, reviews, visibility, incentives, or compliance status
- Re-registering after suspension without disclosure
Consequences: Account consolidation or termination, benefit removal, withheld payments, and blacklisting.
7.3 Fraud & Illicit Activity
Any unlawful, deceptive, or unethical conduct is strictly prohibited.
Includes (but not limited to):
- Falsified or misleading documents
- Counterfeit or misrepresented goods
- Smuggling, tax evasion, or customs fraud
- Money laundering, terrorist financing, or sanctions violations
- Corruption or bribery
Consequences: Immediate termination, frozen transactions, regulatory reporting, and cooperation with authorities.
7.4 Enforcement
Violations of this section constitute a material breach of TAWDO's Terms & Conditions. TAWDO's enforcement decisions are final, subject to applicable dispute resolution mechanisms.
8Review & Reputation System
- Reviews must reflect verified transactions
- Fake, defamatory, or manipulated reviews will be removed
- High-performers may receive badges, ranking boosts, or visibility perks
- Poor performance may lead to penalties, demotion, or account review
TAWDO does not endorse reviews and is not liable for User-generated content.
9Payment, Escrow & Compliance
9.1 Approved Payment Channels
All payments must flow through approved channels, including:
- TAWDO Escrow
- Partnered banks
- PAPSS
TAWDO adheres to AfCFTA Rules of Origin, Customs and VAT laws, FATF AML/CFT rules, and industry-specific compliance protocols. Non-compliance may block shipments or freeze accounts.
9.2 Escrow, FX & Third-Party Fees Disclosure
All transactions on TAWDO are settled through approved third-party escrow and payment providers.
- Escrow processing fees may apply to each transaction (determined and charged by escrow/payment provider)
- Foreign exchange (FX) rates are set by the payment provider and may include market rates and provider spreads
- TAWDO does not control FX rates and is not liable for currency fluctuations
- PAPSS or regional settlement rails may be used to enable local-currency payments and reduce FX costs
- All applicable escrow, FX, and third-party fees must be reviewed and accepted by Users prior to transaction execution
TAWDO acts solely as a platform facilitator and is not responsible for bank charges, intermediary fees, or settlement delays imposed by third-party providers.
9.3 Transaction Fees & Pricing Policy Reference
All users acknowledge that TAWDO applies transaction-based commissions and optional premium service fees as defined in the official TAWDO Pricing Policy (published separately and incorporated by reference).
Key principles:
- Fees are disclosed before transaction confirmation
- Fees apply only to successfully completed services or trades
- Commission rates may vary by transaction value and service type
- Premium services are optional and governed by separate terms
TAWDO reserves the right to revise pricing structures with notice.
9.4 Inspection & Testing Cost Allocation (PSI & FAT)
Unless otherwise agreed contractually:
- Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) for commodities is borne by the Buyer as part of standard due diligence
- Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) for machinery & equipment is a mandatory Seller obligation, with costs borne by the Seller
- Any extended or buyer-requested inspections beyond standard scope are borne by the requesting party
Inspection outcomes may trigger remediation, replacement, dispute resolution, or escrow actions in accordance with applicable annexes.
10Privacy & Data Protection
- • Complies with Malabo Convention, GDPR standards
- • Data processed for verification, fraud prevention, analytics
- • TAWDO will never sell user data
11Intellectual Property
- • All platform content is property of TAWDO
- • Unauthorized copying, scraping, or reverse engineering prohibited
12Platform Liability & Risk
- • TAWDO is a facilitator, not a buyer or seller
- • Not liable for product defects, shipping delays, market fluctuations
- • Users must conduct due diligence and assume commercial risk
13Termination & Suspension
- • Accounts may be suspended for policy breaches, fraud
- • Regulatory violations or extended inactivity
- • Failure to complete verification
14Dispute Resolution
- • TAWDO internal mediation first
- • OHADA commercial law
- • AfCFTA arbitration body
- • DIAC (Dubai) if applicable
15Amendments
- • TAWDO may update Terms at any time
- • Significant changes require renewed acceptance
16Acceptance
By using TAWDO, you acknowledge:
- These Master Terms
- Annexes applicable to your User role (Seller, Buyer, OEM, Logistics, QA/QC, TIP Participant, etc.)
- Relevant compliance frameworks
Contact
📩 Compliance
compliance@tawdo.africa📩 Legal
legal@tawdo.africaCommitted to Fair & Transparent Trade
TAWDO's Master Terms & Conditions establish a legal framework for safe, compliant, and digitally powered trade across Africa and international markets. We are committed to protecting all participants and enabling trusted commerce.