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Lafiya Nigeria

Lafiya Nigeria focuses on expanding access to family planning products in underserved communities in Nigeria.

SAYANA PRESS CHALLENGE; NIGERIA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Sayana Press injectable contraceptive.  

Learn more about the Sayana®  Press Challenge and why training health providers to administer Sayana® Press can be particularly valuable for women who prefer injectable contraceptives but don’t have regular access.

 

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Lafiya Nigeria trains midwives, nurses, and community health workers to become “Lafiya Sisters,” specialists in family planning. Their team ensures that new mothers in hard-to-reach communities receive family planning counselling and access to contraceptives—like injectables—right after childbirth, empowering women to take control of their reproductive health.

Their mission is to empower women to have control over their reproductive autonomy. Lafiya Nigeria was started in 2021 by Yifei Jefferson Chen and Klau Chmielowska.

PILOT RESULTS AND SCALING GOALS

  • Distributed 800 doses of Sayana Press to women in three months

  • Reached 2,700 women by the end of Year 1

  • Reached 10,700 women by the end of Year 2

  • Reach 50,000 women by the end of Year 3

FOUNDING TEAM

Klaudia Chmielowska - Co-Founder and Executive Director

Yifei Jefferson Chen - Co-Founder and Director of Partnerships

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Soma Sawa

Soma Sawa uses the proven Teaching at the Right Level program to improve basic literacy and numeracy among primary students in Kenya.

TEACHING AT THE RIGHT LEVEL CHALLENGE; KENYA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) is an education program that tailors instruction to the learning level of the child, rather than their age. The result is that basic literacy and numeracy are achieved by students before they finish primary school.

Learn more about the Teaching at the Right Level Challenge and other D-Prize Distribution Challenges.

 

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Soma Sawa will aggressively intervene at the right time to close the gaps in education before students become unsuccessful. Using Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) methodology, the venture will target 3rd to 5th grade students who are left behind in their classrooms to quickly help them catch up in Literacy and Numeracy. Soma Sawa will leverage resources from University partners, community volunteers, education enthusiasts and parents to offer a robust but cost effective innovation to students.

Dorothy Dulo is the founder of Soma Sawa. The founding team members are Joyce Wambare, Brian Etole, Ann Mamboleo, and Linda Akoth.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

  • Reach 400 students during the pilot period

  • Raise $10,000 of funding during the pilot period

  • Reach 15,000 students by the end of year 1

  • Reach 50,000 students by the end of year 2

 

FOUNDING TEAM

Dorothy Dulo - Founder/Director

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Impact Energy

Impact Energy will distribute solar lanterns through a partnership with last mile mobile money booths.

SOLAR LAMP CHALLENGE; ZAMBIA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Solar lamps. 

Learn more about the Solar Lamp Challenge and how these lamps create enormous benefits for developing world families.

 

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Impact Energy was founded by Mapalo Wamushilo and co-founded by Mwemba Mvula. The venture will distribute solar lanterns in partnership with last mile mobile money booths.

The business model is based on working with mobile money service providers to distribute solar lanterns with agents working under them to work in rural field communities to do sales and marketing. The project will be implemented in rural Zambia, where the team has experience working in rural communities to deliver development through schools.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

  • Distribute 500 solar lamps during the three-month pilot through a network of 30 agents

  • Raise an additional $40,000 during the three-month pilot

  • Reach 440,000 people by the end of year 2

 

FOUNDING TEAM

Mapalo Wamushilo

Mwemba Mvula

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Learning Aid Initiative for Children Underprivileged (LAICU)

Schooling4All delivers the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) education program in rural primary schools to improve basic reading and math skills before students graduate from primary schools.

TEACHING AT THE RIGHT LEVEL CHALLENGE; NIGERIA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) is an education program that tailors instruction to the learning level of the child, rather than their age. The result is that basic literacy and numeracy are achieved by students before they finish primary school.

Learn more about the Teaching at the Right Level Challenge and other D-Prize Distribution Challenges.

 

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Learning Aid Initiative for Children Underprivileged (LAICU) delivers the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) education program in rural primary schools to improve basic reading and math skills before students graduate from primary schools.

In collaboration with the State Universal Basic Education Board and Local Government Education Secretary, LAICU is able to access classrooms of public primary schools to deliver TaRL education Program, while also maintaining interaction with foundations that provide support and intervention for quality primary school education. The program’s recruitment process provides TaRL training to graduates with National Certificate in Education or holders of first degree whom are unemployed within the intervention communities. They serve as volunteer TaRL instructors in their communities where the TaRL program is implemented.

This model will be launched at three public schools in Riyom District, Plateau State benefiting up to 250 pupils. An initial baseline assessment will be undertaken to group pupils in their appropriate learning levels. This data will be utilized by the instructors in the TaRL classrooms to provide the appropriate reading and math activities to the pupils.

The learning camp commences with a lunch break immediately after regular school hours before providing pupils with reading and math activities for two hours daily.

LAICU was founded by Kangyang Pam, Gideon Wang and Dura Moses in August 2020. They are passionate about rural development and aspire to bridge the educational gap of children in rural communities

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

  • Reach 250 students during the pilot period

  • Train 18 community volunteers to serve as TaRL instructors in three public schools during the pilot period

  • Raise $10,000 from local donors and government collaboration within first 3 months

  • Reach 1,000 students by the end of year 1

  • Reach 5,000 students by the end of year 2

 

FOUNDING TEAM

Kangyang Musa Pam - Project Coordinator

Gideon Wang - Programme/M&E Manager

Dura Moses - Lead Content Development/ Mentor

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HealthPort

HealthPort improves access to medical oxygen in Nigeria through digitized clinician support and oxygen equipment asset management.

OXYGEN CHALLENGE; NIGERIA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Service and repair of oxygen concentrators.

Learn more about the Oxygen Challenge and why repairing and maintaining oxygen concentrators in low-resource hospitals expands access to medical oxygen - a key treatment for pneumonia, malaria, sepsis, meningitis, and Covid-19.

 

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

HealthPort improves access to medical oxygen through digitized clinician support and oxygen equipment asset management.

HealthPort is a health tech venture improving access to quality medical care by using digitized solutions to efficiently manage care delivery and resource availability in low-resource settings. Using low-cost solutions, we intend to improve oxygen access and hypoxemia outcomes by strengthening capacity among local biomedical technicians, improving clinician ability to assess oxygen needs using simple quality improvement interventions, and medical asset management for rural healthcare facilities in Nigeria.

The HealthPort solution focuses on improving care delivery skill sets and establishes a foundation for digital medical device assets management. Maintaining oxygen concentrators under our distribution model will improve access to medical oxygen and increase prioritization of low flow oxygen needs.

 

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

  • Train 10 biomedical technicians to service 50 Oxygen concentrators, reaching 1,000 patients during the pilot phase.

  • Improve clinician ability to assess oxygen need by 80% and decrease hypoxemia related mortality in regions where we work by 20-40%.

  • Raise an additional $20,000 within 3 Months

 

FOUNDING TEAM

Aishat Adeniji - Co-Founder/Clinical Operations Lead

Oladeji Sofoluke - Co-Founder/ Health Center Relations

James Adebayo - Biotechnician

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OxyMed Global Solution

OxyMed Global Solution improves access to medical oxygen The Gambia by repairing and maintaining existing oxygen concentrators.

OXYGEN CHALLENGE; THE GAMBIA

Team Photo.jpeg

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Service and repair of oxygen concentrators.

Learn more about the Oxygen Challenge and why repairing and maintaining oxygen concentrators in low-resource hospitals expands access to medical oxygen - a key treatment for pneumonia, malaria, sepsis, meningitis, and Covid-19.

 

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

OxyMed Global Solution improves access to medical oxygen The Gambia by repairing and maintaining existing oxygen concentrators. The pilot will be based in two rural health facilities in The Gambia.

The OxyMed model is focused on recruiting and training biomedical technologists while providing them with the necessary tools and resources to carry out commissioning, repairs, and preventive maintenance on oxygen concentrators. In addition, a comprehensive use and user maintenance training will be conducted for nurses to enhance the proper usage and productivity, and an asset management database will be deployed to keep track of all information related to service and maintenance record. This data could eventually be used for future decision making by both health facilities and OxyMed.

A minimum stock of replacement parts will be kept supporting immediate need for replacement parts, thus minimize equipment downtime. OxyMed will also support Health facilities managements in equipment pre-purchase advice and a replacement plan for machine that have reached economic useful life. A dedicated local representative for each facility will be trained to serve as first line support on basic user maintenance.

 

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

  • Increase access to medical oxygen for up to 300 patients in rural health facilities within the three-month pilot

  • Ensure that 90% of the 20-25 concentrators supported in the pilot are in good working condition

  • Reduce the cost burden on oxygen cylinders purchased by health facilities by 20%

  • Reach 6,000 beneficiaries by the end of year 1

 

FOUNDING TEAM

Ebrima Nyassi - Executive Director

Ismaila A Jallow - Program Director

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GLOMED Technologies

GLOMED Technologies improves the accessibility of medical oxygen through the servicing and maintenance of medical oxygen concentrators in Ghana.

OXYGEN CHALLENGE; GHANA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Service and repair of oxygen concentrators.

Learn more about the Oxygen Challenge and why repairing and maintaining oxygen concentrators in low-resource hospitals expands access to medical oxygen - a key treatment for pneumonia, malaria, sepsis, meningitis, and Covid-19.

 

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

GLOMED Technologies improves the accessibility of medical oxygen through the servicing and maintenance of medical oxygen concentrators in Ghana, beginning in the Ashanti Region.

GLOMED Technologies ensures that each and every concentrator under its technical care is working throughout its lifespan. This will ensure that patients get access to high grade medical oxygen at affordable rates thereby increasing the accessibility of oxygen to all patients irrespective of their economic background.

GLOMED Technologies was founded by Thomas Kwame Duah and David Opoku who are all professional biomedical engineers and supported by Ing. Faustina Adu-Poku and Ing. Tuffour Gyekye Ampem. The team consists of professional clinical engineers with much experience in the maintenance and management of medical equipment.

 

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

  • Service and maintain 20 oxygen concentrators within the three-month pilot

  • Directly reach 430 patients with medical oxygen within the three-month pilot

  • Raise an additional $30,00 from new donors and investors within the three-month pilot

  • Reach 5,000 beneficiaries by the end of year 1

 

FOUNDING TEAM

Thomas Kwame Duah - Director of Sales and Marketing

David Opoku - Director of Operations

Ing. Tuffour Ampem Gyekye - Technical Supervisor

Ing. Faustina Adu-Poku - Finance Manager

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Girls Hub

Girls Hub is a youth-led feminist NGO addressing the unmet need for family planning for underserved populations in rural Nigeria.

SAYANA PRESS CHALLENGE; NIGERIA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Sayana Press injectable contraceptive.  

Learn more about the Sayana®  Press Challenge and why training health providers to administer Sayana® Press can be particularly valuable for women who prefer injectable contraceptives but don’t have regular access.

 

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Girls Hub is a youth-led feminist NGO addressing the unmet need for family planning for underserved populations in rural Nigeria.

Contraception is a powerful tool in combating poverty and with a tremendous range of health benefits, including maternal and infant survival, nutrition, and educational attainment. To increase women's access to contraceptive services in Nigeria, Girls Hub will empower Community Health Workers (CHWs) to deliver Sayana Press, an injectable contraception to women and girls in remote areas. To achieve scale and cover more marginalized women and girls across communities, Girls Hub will also consider the training of community–based distributors or clients themselves in addition to strengthening supply chain for Sayana Press in rural communities.

Girls Hub was founded in 2020 by Isaac Ejakhegbe and Osemudiame Ejakhegbe. Other team members include Dr. Mary Ama Blankson and Mr. Okhea Kelly Relobhegbe.

 

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

  • Provide 1,500 women with access to Sayana Press during the pilot

  • Train 50 Community Health Workers during the pilot

  • Reach 5,000 beneficiaries by the end of year 1

  • Reach 10,000 beneficiaries by the end of year 2

 

FOUNDING TEAM

Isaac Ejakhegbe - Founder

Osemudiame Ejakhegbe - Co-founder

Dr. Mary Ama Blankson - Program Officer

Okhea Kelly Relobhegbe - MEL Officer

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YeneHealth

YeneHealth's mission is to reach, educate, and enhance women’s confidence in the use of contraceptives with the goal of addressing the unmet need for family planning in Ethiopia.

SAYANA PRESS CHALLENGE; ETHIOPIA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Sayana Press injectable contraceptive.  

Learn more about the Sayana®  Press Challenge and why training health providers to administer Sayana® Press can be particularly valuable for women who prefer injectable contraceptives but don’t have regular access.

 

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

YeneHealth's mission is to reach, educate, and enhance women’s confidence in the use of contraceptives with the goal of addressing the unmet need for family planning in Ethiopia. YeneHealth’s pilot and first two years of operations focuses on reaching women living in the Addis Ketema region.

The YeneHealth model is based on three core elements which will be delivered through digital technology and trusted Urban Health Extension Workers.

  1. Education and Awareness: Content we will disseminate on a web-based/mobile platform

  2. Access to Contraceptive(s) (Sayana Press): Partnership-based distribution channel with Urban Health Extension Workers

  3. R&D: Data collection system and analytics to inform our distribution operations and support resource allocation in alignment with Ethiopia’s Family Planning 2030 (data-informed policy advocacy)

The YeneHealth model strives to engage women directly, learn rapidly, iterate to improve, and fast-track to reach economies of scale.

YeneHealth is founded by Kidist Tesfaye who is a young social-entrepreneur with a demonstrated history of working in the healthcare, education, and start-up ecosystem for over a decade. She holds a Masters degree in Education/Entrepreneurship from Harvard University and a Bachelors degree in Public Health, Global Studies and Strategic Communications from the University of Minnesota.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

  • Provide 200 women with access to Sayana Press and enroll them in the digital platform during the pilot

  • Fundraise a minimum of $100,000 from new donors or investors in the first year of operations

  • Reach 3,750 beneficiaries by the end of year 1

  • Reach 62,000 beneficiaries by the end of year 2

 

FOUNDING TEAM

Kidist Tesfaye - Founder

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Elevate Health Uganda

Elevate Health Uganda is a community-based organization that aims to improve uptake of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) for HIV prevention in hard-to-reach rural areas in Amuru district, Northern Uganda.

VMMC CHALLENGE; UGANDA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC).

Learn more about the VMMC Challenge and why scaling up voluntary medical male circumcision can substantially reduce the rate of HIV acquisition for men, and also reduce the risk of transmission of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) to the men’s partners.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Elevate Health Uganda (EHU) is a community-based organization that aims to improve uptake of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) for HIV prevention in hard-to-reach rural areas in Amuru district, Northern Uganda.

EHU uses the DAQs model - Demand creation, Accessibility improvement, and strengthening Quality referrals, linkage, and post-surgery follow-up. The model fuses strategies focusing on community, health facility, and quality improvement which are instrumental for a holistic approach in addressing health challenges and a platform for engaging a multi-sector approach. The lessons learned from this pilot phase will be used to scale up best practices, and cost-efficient strategies to 8 other districts in Northern Uganda.

Elevate Health Uganda was founded in 2021 by a team passionate to contribute to individuals, families, and communities having equitable access to quality health care services. Anna Lawino is the Executive Director, Stephan Kalyesubula is the Strategic Information Director, and Brenda Picho serves as Project Director.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

  • Reach 200 men with the service during the pilot

  • Raise an additional $10,000 during the pilot

FOUNDING TEAM

Anna Lawino - Managing Director

Stephan Kalyesubula - Strategic Information Director

Brenda Picho - Project Director

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Water4Life

Water4Life increases access to clean and safe water through the promotion of chlorine dispensers to prevent waterborne diseases in the most vulnerable communities in Benin.

CHLORINE DISPENSER CHALLENGE; BENIN

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Point-of-use chlorine dispensers

Learn more about the Chlorine Challenge and other D-Prize Distribution Challenges.

 

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Water for Life (Water4Life) increases access to clean and safe water through the promotion of chlorine dispensers to prevent waterborne diseases in the most vulnerable communities in Benin.

The dispenser system consists of three components: (i) A dispenser hardware installed next to a communal water source; (ii) community education done by a local promoter; (iii) ongoing supply of chlorine refills. The Water4Life distribution model is innovative, unique, cost-effective and suitable for the local context. The venture plans to install 15 dispensers and reach 4,500 beneficiaries in the commune of Natitingou in Atacora department during the 3-month pilot, scaling to at least 540 dispensers and 194,355 beneficiaries (spread throughout all the departments of Northern Benin and three other departments in Southern Benin) in the next five years. The venture aims to reduce diarrhea rates by at least 40% among target communities over the next five years. In the next 10 year, Water4Life will reach all the departments of Benin and extend to other countries in West Africa such as Togo, Mali and Burkina-Faso.

Water4Life’s team is composed of highly motivated fellows who have successfully implemented several other community development projects in Benin and Uganda. The team is led by Melas Cayrol Adoko, an African Union Youth Volunteer who serves as the Executive Director and Co-founder. He is assisted by Younoussa Abossouka who is the Supply Chain Manager.

 

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

  • Install 15 chlorine dispensers reaching 4,500 beneficiaries during the three-month pilot

  • Raise an additional $112,000 during the three-month pilot

  • Reach 22,000 beneficiaries by the end of year 1 

FOUNDING TEAM

Melas Cayrol Adoko - Executive Director & Co-founder

Younoussa Abbosouka - Supply Chain Manager

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Cultiba

Cultiba empowers Colombian smallholder farmers to engage in sustainable micro-forestry.

CUSTOM AGRICULTURE CHALLENGE; COLOMBIA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Micro-forestry market bundle.

Learn more about the Custom Agriculture Challenge and why distributing proven agricultural interventions can greatly improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

 

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Cultiba empowers Colombian smallholder farmers to engage in sustainable micro-forestry.

The average Colombian farmer is unable to engage in sustainable commercial forestry because they lack capital, quality inputs, technical expertise, and direct linkages to market. Cultiba empowers Colombian smallholder farmers to make use of their unproductive land to produce balsa wood for sale in industrial markets and increase their income. They deliver a proven micro-forestry partnership model where smallholder farmers provide land, labor, and security, and we deliver inputs, training, and access to fair market prices.

Cultibas’s CEO, Diego Hakspiel, has over 8 years of experience in the development sector working with the private sector, social enterprises, UN agencies, and INGOs in East Africa and Latin America.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

  • Reach 500 smallholder farmers within 6 months

  • 16,000 balsa seedlings planted within 6 months

  • Secure offtake agreement for initial plantation (value of $400,000) within 6 months

  • Reach 1,000 smallholder farmers by the end of year 1

  • Reach 5,000 smallholder farmers by the end of year 2

 

FOUNDING TEAM

Diego Hakspiel - CEO

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ChildACT

ChildACT increases routine childhood immunizations in Nigeria through SMS reminders to caregivers and supportive community engagement.

IMMUNIZATION CHALLENGE; NIGERIA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Routine childhood immunizations.

Learn more about the Immunization Challenge and how increasing routine childhood immunization rates in low-coverage areas could prevent millions of childhood deaths.

 

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

ChildACT increases routine childhood immunizations through SMS reminders to caregivers and supportive community engagement. The team envisions reaching two-thirds of Nigerian children to secure vaccinations by their first birthday.

ChildACT invests in communities through social mobilization and provides SMS reminders towards immunization of children and purposeful development. The team is motivated to realize this vision with experience in private sector efficiency, public health, and community relations. The team will mobilize stakeholders to improve and support immunization demand, while empowering caregivers through a reminder system to access immunization for children in their care.

 

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

  • 1,200 children immunized in the pilot who otherwise would not be

  • 5,000 SMS reminders sent during the pilot period

  • Reach 20,000 beneficiaries by the end of year 1

FOUNDING TEAM

Joan Alaboson - Project Lead

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Sunlight

Sunlight helps remote off-grid communities in Burkina Faso access high quality and affordable solar lamps on a sustainable basis.

SOLAR LAMP CHALLENGE; BURKINA FASO

Sunlight_team_photo.jpg

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Solar lamps. 

Learn more about the Solar Lamp Challenge and how these lamps create enormous benefits for developing world families.

 

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Sunlight helps remote off-grid communities in Burkina Faso access high quality and affordable solar lamps on a sustainable basis. The venture distributes solar lamps through agricultural cooperatives, savings groups and faith-based organizations in target off-grid communities.

Sunlight was started in 2021 by Maxwell Kubeini and Aissatou Diallo who both have immense experience in poverty alleviation, particularly in the renewable energy space.

 

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

  • Reach 2,000 beneficiaries with solar lamps during the pilot period

  • Raise an additional $35,000 during the pilot

  • Reach 9,000 beneficiaries by the end of year 1

  • Reach 50,000 beneficiaries by the end of year 2

 

FOUNDING TEAM

Maxwell Kubeini - Co-founder

Aissatou Diallo - Co-founder

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Screensavers Initiative

Screensavers Initiative reduces morbidity and mortality due to cervical cancer by increasing access to cervical cancer screening using VIA in Uganda.

PATIENT IDENTIFICATION CHALLENGE; UGANDA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Cervical cancer screenings.

Learn more about the Patient Identification Challenge and why identifying individuals in need of medical treatment and finding ways to make that treatment accessible reduces poverty.  

 

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Screensavers Initiative reduces morbidity and mortality due to cervical cancer by increasing access to cervical cancer screening using VIA among populations with unmet need.

The Screensavers model employs outreach clinical services using satellite clinics and a community participatory client recruitment process characterized by two components: (i) using community health volunteers locally known as village health teams (VHTs) to provide women with education and information hence enabling them to make informed decisions about cervical cancer screening and (ii) ensuring that women who receive screening services are satisfied and encourage other women to attend. The model is deliberately focused on sustainability, which is why the team works to ensure that programs are championed through community and government support structures. The project pilot will launch in Kalungu district before scaling to cover other districts in Uganda and beyond.

 

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

  • Screen 200 women during the pilot and refer any positive cases for treatment and follow-up

  • Raise an additional $30,000 during the pilot period

  • Screen 1,000 women by the end of year 1

  • Screen 10,000 women by the end of year 2

 

FOUNDING TEAM

NAGIRINYA AIDAH - Team Lead

NALUKWAGO COSTARITAH - Project Coordinator

SSALI DENIS - Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

AGABA COLLINS - Field Coordinator

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Family Empowerment Media

Family Empowerment Media is an evidence-based non-profit that enables informed family planning decisions through clear, compelling, and accurate radio-based communication.

CUSTOM CHALLENGE; NIGERIA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Family planning information through radio-based communication

Learn more about the Custom Challenge and why we only fund ideas that focus on distributing proven poverty interventions.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Family Empowerment Media (FEM) is an evidence-based non-profit that enables informed family planning decisions through clear, compelling, and accurate radio-based communication.

The FEM model is simple and transferable to many regions in Nigeria and, eventually, other countries. FEM works with local partners to produce and broadcast radio programming that shifts knowledge, attitudes, and behavior around family planning in Nigeria. The FEM solution is cost-effective because (1) radio programming is cheap in West Africa, and (2) the full-time team is lean - but complemented by part-time surge support when needed.

Accomplishments

  • Reached ~35 million listeners through short and long campaigns in first three years

  • Externally evaluated to be as much as 20-60x as cost effective as cash transfers

  • An external evaluator found FEM’s pilot correlated with a 75% increase in contraceptive uptake in the region.

SCALING GOALS

  • Reach 50 million listeners in Nigeria by 2030

  • Conduct one pilot in a new country and one pilot on a new health topic

  • Conduct a randomized controlled trial of their evaluation in 8 states in Nigeria

FOUNDING TEAM

Anna Christina Thorsheim - Director

Kenneth Scheffler - Director

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OSMER SARL

OSMER SARL expands access to affordable and sustainable solar lighting systems in rural Togo.

SOLAR LAMP CHALLENGE; TOGO

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Solar lamps. 

Learn more about the Solar Lamp Challenge and how these lamps create enormous benefits for developing world families.

 

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

OSMER SARL expands access to affordable and sustainable solar lighting systems in rural Togo. Its distribution model recruits local leaders, 70% of them women, to handle sales and installation with a credit component to help make products affordable.

The founding team is made up of passionate professionals with proven and complementary skills that have been involved in expanding energy access in rural Togo since 2020.

 

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

  • Distribute 675 solar lamps during the pilot, reaching 2,700 beneficiaries

  • Raise an additional $5,000 during the pilot

  • Reach 12,000 beneficiaries by the end of year 2

 

FOUNDING TEAM

Salma Bougoune - Project Manager

Anani Finouh - Technical Sales Manager

Mawunyo Aziave - Financial, Administrative, and Communication Manager

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