Congo Water Solution (CWS)

Clean Water Access CHALLENGE; Democratic Republic of the Congo

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Ceramic Water Filters

Learn more about the Clean Water Access Challenge and why ceramic pot water filters can be used by households to clean otherwise unsafe water from almost any source.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Congo Water Solution (CWS) is a social enterprise with the aim of increasing access to clean and safe water through affordable and reliable household water filters to underprivileged communities.

Congo Water Solution will provide household filters to ensure underserved communities have access to clean and safe drinking water. CWS will commission 25 agents from the existing Village development groups, calling themselves AVEC, to distribute household filters on a Pay as You Use Model in Minova, DR Congo. Congo Water Solution will also expand distribution to other rural communities, optimizing the PAYU model based on customer feedback.

Congo Water Solution (CWS) was founded by Aristote Bashokwire Masimango, a dedicated WASH specialist with a strong commitment to tackling community issues. He serves as the CEO, leading the planning and implementation of the project.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Directly reach 2000 beneficiaries within three months.

• Distribute 300 water filters during the pilot.

• Raise $50,000 in additional funding to support operations and scale.

FOUNDING TEAM

Aristote Bashokwire Masimango - CEO and Founder

Aid Vision

READING GLASSES CHALLENGE; Democratic Republic of the Congo

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Reading Glasses

Learn more about the Reading Glasses Challenge and how increasing access to non-prescription reading or working glasses can improve the livelihoods of those in need.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Aid Vision distributes reading glasses to older adults experiencing age-related vision change.

Aid Vision’s model is based on distributing affordable non-prescription reading glasses through last-mile shops in underserved areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Targeting individuals aged 40 and older with age-related vision changes, they offer quick vision screenings. What sets Aid Vision apart is its high-leverage approach, which consists of improving the quality of life for older adults with accessible, affordable solutions.

Aid Vision was founded in 2025 by Victor Naka Magerano and Benjamin Luhazi. Aid Vision is based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Victor Magerano serves as Aid Vision's full-time Project Lead.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Provide reading glasses to 500 individuals.

• Equip 20 last-mile shops to distribute the reading glasses.

• Fundraise an additional $60,000.

FOUNDING TEAM

Victor Naka Magerano - Project Lead

Benjamin Luhazi - Project Manager

Creativa

Quality Inputs CHALLENGE; Democratic Republic of the Congo

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Quality Agricultural Inputs

Learn more about the Quality Inputs Challenge and why an evidence-based model that distributes high-quality seeds could reliably boost the standard of living for smallholder farmers.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Creativa improves the agricultural landscape by offering high-quality inputs and training to increase yields, boost farmer incomes and ensure food security.

Creativa is dedicated to empowering low-income rice farmers in the Ruzizi Plain, South Kivu, DR Congo, an area selected for the pilot. The initiative focuses on providing access to high-quality agricultural inputs, including seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, combined with comprehensive training tailored to enhance farming practices.

Through this multifaceted approach, Creativa aims to significantly boost agricultural yields and incomes for rice farmers, while also contributing to the broader goals of food security and sustainability in agriculture across the country.

Creativa was started in 2024 by Simbeko Sadi Guy, and Maroy Aksanti Chanceline. Simbeko serves as Creativa's full time project Lead and Maroy serves as Managing Director.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Reach 100 smallholder farmers within three (3) months.

• Distribute 12 proven interventions.

• Raise an additional $78,750 in funding.

FOUNDING TEAM

Simbeko Sadi Guy - Project Lead

Maroy Aksanti Chanceline - Managing Director

ARC-EN-CIEL

QUALITY INPUTS CHALLENGE CHALLENGE; DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

 PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Quality seeds, fertilizer, and post-harvest storage bags) to smallholder farmers

Learn more about the Improved Farm Practices Challenge and why increasing the effective use of fertilizer has the potential to unlock significant crop yield for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.  

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

ARC-EN-CIEL’s mission is to increase agricultural productivity as the major source of income and employment in the South-Kivu province that will help rural communities to move out of poverty.

ARC-EN-CIEL will distribute quality farm inputs (fertilizer, seeds and post-harvest storage bags) to smallholder farmers and provide extension services on better agronomic practices through village savings groups, farmer cooperatives, and existing hardware stores.

The company was started by Waciba Swedi W’amisiand who was joined later by Byamnobe Mlongeca Evariste, Bagula Mukengere Espoir and Joseph Mkakyo Mtambala. Waciba Swedi W'Amisi serves as the Managing Directror who will oversee all days activities of ARC-EN-CIEL

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• 100 smallholder farmers trained and given the needed inputs

• 100 inputs packages (seeds and fertilzers) and PICS bags distributed to 100 smallholder farmers

• Raise additional $10,000 within the three months

FOUNDING TEAM

Waciba Swedi W’amisi - Co-Founder and CEO

Byamnobe Mlongeca Evariste - Co-Founder and HR and Finance Manager

Bagula Mukengere Espoir - Co-Founder and Program Leads

Union des Jeunes Filles pour le Développement

SUGAR DADDY AWARENESS CHALLENGE; DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Sugar Daddy Awareness classes. 

Learn more about the Sugar Daddy Awareness Challenge and how a simple, one-hour “sugar daddy awareness” training could help countless girls avoid pregnancy while still in school, which can lead to entrenched poverty, and build a better life.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Union des Jeunes Filles pour le Développement (UJFD) leverages existing youth education programming in DR Congo to deliver and timely scale proven and cost-effective solutions that contribute to the reduction of risky of sex among adolescent girls, reduce teenage pregnancy and HIV infection rates.

UJFD will organize 1-hour anti-sugar daddy module to be delivered by experienced women/youth facilitators. This module will highlight the higher HIV risk of cross-generational relationships to limit risky sex and teenage pregnancies among adolescent girls. This module will be delivered through trained facilitators. UJFD will reach 50 schools during the pilot and reach over 5000 teenage girls in the South-Kivu Province.

Union des Jeunes Filles pour le Développement was started in 2020 by Elizabeth Pelele and Ahongo Zakaria Opulent.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Reach 5,000 students during the three-month pilot

• Organize 100 Sugar Daddy classes

• Number of schools reached (50)

• Reach 25,000 students by the end of year 1

FOUNDING TEAM

Elizabeth Pelele - Co-Founder and Coordinator

Ahongo Zakaria Opulent - Co-Founder and Program Manager

Notre Voix

CHLORINE DISPENSER CHALLENGE; DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

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

Notre Voix installs chlorine dispensers next to community water sources and promotes their use to increase access to safe water.

The pilot will launch in two health zones including Fizi and Kimbi-Lulenge in the Fizi territory. The Notre Voix model helps people treat their water using a safe, pre-measured dose of chlorine in order to prevent waterborne diseases such as childhood diarrhea. Target communities will be requested to appoint promoters to encourage use of the dispensers. Promoters' responsibilities will include educating the community, refilling the dispensers, and receiving the chlorine solution for refills from the Notre Voix programme manager.

Notre Voix was founded by Makene Mtambala Charles, Yalala Jumaine, and Mauwa Mangala Lucie who fled eastern DRC during the 1996 civil war and met while living in Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania. Their experiences made them passionate about humanitarian assistance and committed to helping those in need.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Install 30 chlorine dispensers reaching 20,000 beneficiaries during the three-month pilot

• Raise an additional $30,000 during the three-month pilot

• Reach 80,000 beneficiaries by the end of year 1

• Reach 160,000 beneficiaries by the end of year 2

FOUNDING TEAM

Makene Mtambla Charles - Executive Director

Yalala Jumaine - Programme Manager

Mauwa Mangala Lucie - HR & Finance Manager

Solar Brother

SOLAR LAMP CHALLENGE; DRC

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

Solar Brother distributes quality solar products to the most vulnerable rural and semi-urban populations of the Tanganyika Province in DR Congo using a PAYGO model. Distribution will be done by talented and trained agents. Many potential customers have lost trust in solar because of poor products in the market. To address this, Solar Brother will target early sales to influential community members.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• 500 lamps distributed over the first three months by 5 high-performing agents

• Fundraise an additional $10,000 within the first three months

• 3,000 customers reached by end of Y1

• 30,000 customers reached by end of Y2

FOUNDING TEAM

Atuu Waonaje Sincere - Co-Director of Investment Development, HR and Finance

Issa Wakilongo Matthieu - Co-Director of Market and Business Development

SAUK

FERTILIZER CHALLENGE; DRC

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Fertilizer and microdosing technique. 

Learn more about the Fertilizer Challenge and why increasing the effective use of fertilizer has the potential to unlock significant crop yield for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.  

 

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

SAUK will facilitate access to commercial fertilizer and farmer training in the province of South-Kivu, mainly in the Ruzizi-Tanganyika Plain Corridor.

The SAUK model consists of establishing a vertically-integrated fertilizer distribution chain in eastern DRC, with SAUK controlling the supply, transport, storage and sale segments, delivering directly to farmers. SAUK will train farmers on the use of fertilizer and provide them access to quality fertilizer in the appropriate quantity.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• 160 farmers reached with commercial fertilizer and training by end of pilot

• 2 agroshops and 3 training centers opened by end of pilot

• 250 farmers reached by end of Y1

• 500 farmers reached by end of Y2

 

FOUNDING TEAM

Richard Bikulo - CEO

Leon Kazamwali - Director of Marketing

Frank Batumike - Technical Services

Leaf Global Fintech

CUSTOM CHALLENGE; RWANDA and DRC

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Improving access to financial services for refugees through mobile phones.

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

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Leaf Global Fintech provides digital financial services to refugees so that they can store and transport assets across borders from a feature phone, avoiding cash.

Leaf stores and transports assets across borders from a mobile device—no smartphone required. Refugees and migrants can journey without cash, knowing accounts are safe and accessible globally. Digitizing the process drastically reduces exchange and transfer fees. Friends and family abroad can also contribute into the Leaf customer’s account in a convenient and affordable way. Leaf protects customers’ savings through blockchain technology without exposure to cryptocurrency. By allowing customers to retain more value and increasing accessible funds through contributions from abroad, Leaf gives customers a better start with financial security and lessens their dependence on host countries and foreign aid.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Serve 10,000 customers during the pilot period

FOUNDING TEAM

Nat Robinson - Co-Founder and CEO

Tori Samples - Co-Founder and CFO

Energy One Africa

SOLAR LAMP CHALLENGE; DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

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

Energy One Africa operates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where only 9% of the population has access to electricity, leaving more than 70 million people without access.

Energy One Africa is building the energy solution that hard to reach markets needs, providing reliable and affordable solar power products, as well as specialized training for local community electrification leaders. The approach consists of enabling community-led electrification by providing solar power training sessions on installation and sales before developing local distribution projects with local people.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• 1,500 solar lamps distributed during the pilot phase

• 8,250 direct beneficiaries reached during the pilot phase

• 33,000 subscribers reached by the end of year 2

PERFORMANCE UPDATE (JANUARY 2020)

Energy One Africa has already trained 300+ people within 2 provinces of the Democratic republic of Congo, providing the workforce to serve 5,000 last mile customers and impacting 27,500 lives. Our plan for the next five years is to train 500 community electrification leaders and provide power to 100,000 last mile households.

FOUNDING TEAM

Mathy Mpassy Isinki - Founder

ALTech

SOLAR LAMP CHALLENGE; DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Solar lamps and other clean energy solutions. 

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

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

About 90% of the population of the DRC does not have access to electricity. It is estimated that the country hosts more than 11 million off-grid households and 2 million under-electrified households, encompassing about 70 million people. The less than 15 percent grid-connected population experiences over 17 power blackouts per month. 

ALTech has designed and developed a community-based pay-as-you-go business model for the distribution of modern energy solutions that provide the Base of the Pyramid (BoP) energy poor with clean, safe, affordable energy for lighting, phone charging, and power, leading to steady increases in household incomes and tangible improvements in health, education, and environmental outcomes. 

ALTech will distribute d.light $100, a multi-function solar lamp. The venture will recruit sales agents and area sales managers as well as solar community ambassadors, offer trainings, pay commissions to sales agents, and offer after-sales services. The venture uses an innovative distribution model that consists of on-lending clean energy solutions to primary and secondary school teachers, health workers, health centers, and hospitals. The model also involves reaching out to pregnant women, nursing mothers, and students’ parents.

 

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Operate in four provinces of the DRC 

• Distribute more than 50,000 clean energy solutions prior to pilot phase 

• Reach 5 million households within 5 years 

 

FOUNDING TEAM

Malango Washikala - Co-Director and Co-Founder, Business Development, Finance, and People

Iongwa Mashango - Co-Director and Co-Founder, Logistics and Operations