Ethio-ConnectEd
Ethio-ConnectEd empowers children whose education has been disrupted by crisis to rebuild their learning, strengthen essential skills, and unlock brighter futures.
CONNECT-ED CHALLENGE; Ethiopia
PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED
ConnectEd Education Program
Learn more about the ConnectEd Challenge and how a high-access, low-cost phone-based innovation can deliver remedial education to underserved primary-aged learners.
DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION
Ethio-ConnectEd empowers children whose education has been disrupted by crisis to rebuild their learning, strengthen essential skills, and unlock brighter futures.
Ethio-ConnectEd delivers phone-based tutoring to children whose education has been disrupted by conflict and natural disasters. The pilot is based in the Tigray region, reaching 200 disadvantaged primary school children with numeracy-focused support. By customizing materials to local languages and education systems, and working through capacitated local teams, they ensure that learning is accessible and culturally relevant. What sets them apart is their ability to combine rigorous research with practical, low-cost delivery, creating solutions that can be scaled to reach tens of thousands of children across Ethiopia.
ConnectEd was launched in 2023 as a pilot project in partnership with Youth Impact, Botswana. Building on the success and demonstrated impact of the pilot, Gidisa Lachisa Tato, the Founder, is establishing a standalone organization in Ethiopia, named Ethio-ConnectEd.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
Reach 200 most disadvantaged children in remote and conflict-affected areas in the Tigray region.
Using 14 well-trained teachers, provide 6 weeks of phone-based numeracy tutoring for 200 children.
For intervention scale-up, fundraise an additional USD 50,000 from new donors or affiliate partner organisations.
FOUNDING TEAM
Dr Gidisa Lachisa Tato - Founder
ClearSight Initiative
Clearsight Initiative empowers low-income presbyopic adults in Ethiopia by providing affordable, accessible reading eyeglasses through a sustainable, community-based distribution model.
READING GLASSES CHALLENGE; Ethiopia
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
Clearsight Initiative empowers low-income presbyopic adults in Ethiopia by providing affordable, accessible reading eyeglasses through a sustainable, community-based distribution model.
Clearsight Initiative will combine multiple models based on geographic and demographic considerations. In urban areas, they will use the hub-and-spoke model with micro-entrepreneurs and in rural areas, they will rely on mobile clinics and self-adjustable vision kits.
Schools and community centers will act as year-round access points in both settings. They will integrate those models for a comprehensive, flexible, and scalable distribution framework to make reading glasses accessible across diverse communities in the Tigray region of Ethiopia and beyond.
The team combines Dr. Araya Yirga, a clinician and public health expert with more than 13 years of experience, including as Regional Public Health Services Director; Tr. Assefa Berhe, a teacher, top-selling books author and former head of a teachers' association; Sir Mulu Tekie, an ophthalmic nurse, with an extensive public service record including director of MNCH project at Moms fir Moms NGO; and Dr. Bereket Zeray, a university professor with Phd in Accounting and Finance and who has served as regional development bank advisor.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
Reach 1,000 presbyopic adults during our pilot phase by distributing 1,000 reading eyeglasses through trained sales agents in selected communities in Tigray, Ethiopia.
Distribute 1,000 proven reading eyeglasses to presbyopic adults during the pilot phase.
Raise up to $5,000 during the pilot phase by pursuing small grants, local contributions, and potential in-kind support.
FOUNDING TEAM
Dr. Araya Yirga - Founder
Tr. Assefa Berhe - Co-Founder
Sir Mulu Tekie - Co-Founder
Dr. Bereket Zeray - Co-Founder
SunLink Engineering PLC
SunLink Engineering PLC is building sustainable livelihoods for off-grid Ethiopian communities through community-driven solar solutions.
SOLAR LAMP CHALLENGE; Ethiopia
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
SunLink Engineering PLC is building sustainable livelihoods for off-grid Ethiopian communities through community-driven solar solutions.
SunLink Engineering PLC distribute high-quality solar lanterns in rural and deep rural Ethiopia by partnering with trusted local community-managed social groups. This promotes collective purchasing within their pilot region of Oromia. Their commitment extends beyond the sale, as they provide full after-sales and maintenance service to all their customers.
Abnet Birkineh, a YALI RLC EA fellow and experienced electrical engineer, serves as the leader of their dedicated team of young entrepreneurs possessing significant familiarity with Ethiopia's solar energy sector. The core team includes financial management expertise provided by the Finance Manager, Tseganesh Birkineh, alongside a committed sales department and strategic guidance from an experienced business mentor. Mr. Abnet's leadership, coupled with the team's local knowledge and diverse competencies, is central to achieving their objective of delivering sustainable energy solutions.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
500 quality solar lamps will be distributed to off-grid households.
2,500 people will be directly impacted.
10,000 USD additional funds will be raised.
FOUNDING TEAM
Abnet Birkineh Molla - Team Lead
Tseganesh Birkineh - Finance Manager
Soladrash
Soladrash’s mission is to develop a distribution mechanism which will help to create a means to reach remotely located societies with cost effective and reliable solar lamps.
SOLAR LAMP CHALLENGE; Ethiopia
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
Soladrash’s mission is to develop a distribution mechanism which will help to create a means to reach remotely located societies with cost effective and reliable solar lamps.
Their distribution model is to serve as a provider, integrator and facilitator of dissemination of cost-efficient solar-powered lamps usable on an individual level. The model will focus on building a distribution network in rural areas starting from Kebele (the smallest administrative region) and continue to neighboring Kebeles, after that to other woredas (the next bigger administrative region) in Southwest region, Ethiopia which is one of the remotest regions.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
Distribute 500 solar lamps during the pilot period
Impact 40,000 beneficiaries by the end of the first year
FOUNDING TEAM
Nathnael Tadesse - Project Manager
Vital Water Purifier
Vital Water Purifier is a social enterprise that distributes high-quality ceramic water filters to communities in rural Ethiopia.
Water filters CHALLENGE; ethiopia
PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED
Ceramic Water Filters.
Learn more about the Chlorine Challenge and other D-Prize Distribution Challenges.
DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION
Vital Water Purifier is a social enterprise that distributes high-quality ceramic water filters to communities in rural Ethiopia.
The distribution model devised is to transport the water filters using cargo motorbikes within the pilot location, Aleta Chuko Woreda. When a household buys a water filter, we deliver the unit from our local store to their home using cargo motorbikes. The team’s unique quality is that they have lived and seen the life of typical rural families.
Vital water Purifier - Ethiopia is founded by Habteab Argaw, an aspiring social Entrepreneur. Habteab runs the startup as the project manager.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
Distribute 300 ceramic water filters during the pilot period
Raise an additional $3,000
FOUNDING TEAM
Habteab Argaw Bantora - Project Manager
Nahom Tesfaye Kebede - Co-Founder
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.
Education and Awareness: Content we will disseminate on a web-based/mobile platform
Access to Contraceptive(s) (Sayana Press): Partnership-based distribution channel with Urban Health Extension Workers
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
HMP PLC
HMP PLC distributes is a new for-profit social business established with a primary aim of commercializing and distributing proven social impact products to rural and marginalized under-served households in Ethiopia.
SOLAR LAMP CHALLENGE; ETHIOPIA
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
HMP PLC is a new for-profit social business established with a primary aim of commercializing and distributing proven social impact products to rural and marginalized under-served households in Ethiopia.
The HMP distribution model involves community-based youth and women resellers and institutional partnerships with MFI’s for access to finance. The team will also recruit farmers’ multi-service cooperatives to serve outlets for solar products and tap into already existing local dealer networks.
HMP PLC was started in 2020 by Michael Tariku and Helina Solomon. Michael & Helina will serve as the General Manager and Marketing Manager of Green Power.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
Distribute 600 solar lamps during the pilot, reaching 3,600 beneficiaries
Raise an additional $30,000 during the pilot
Reach 15,600 beneficiaries by the end of year 1
Reach 36,000 beneficiaries by the end of year 2
FOUNDING TEAM
Michael Tariku Tafere - General Manager
Helina Solomon Habtu - Marketing Manager
PHK Trading
PICS bags are potentially the next revolutionary product for safe grain storage for millions of farmers in Ethiopia. The inner lines of the bags greatly hinder the movement of oxygen across the wall of the bag, killing insects. The tough outer woven bag enables to bag to be easily handled. PHK Trading will increase sales and distribution of PICS bags by adoping a youth reseller model.
CUSTOM CHALLENGE; ETHIOPIA
PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED
Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags are a triple-layered plastic bag that serves as an air-tight storage method for harvested crops.
Learn more about the Custom Challenge and why we only fund ideas that focus on distributing proven poverty interventions.
DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION
Ethiopia produces over 300 million quintals (1 quintal = 100kg) of grain per annum. Post-harvest loss in Ethiopia is estimated at about 22-30%, equivalent to approximately USD $230 million. The most notable causes of this post-harvest loss are attacks from weevils, rodents, and moisture or growth of mold. Farmers use different traditional and modern technologies to control insects. The most popular traditional method is the use of underground pits which can lead to mold growth.
PICS bags are potentially the next revolutionary product for safe grain storage for millions of farmers in Ethiopia. The inner lining of the bags greatly hinders the movement of oxygen across the wall of the bag, killing insects. The overall efficacy of the bags in protecting grain or seed from infestation is reported to be over 99%.
PHK Trading will increase sales and distribution of PICS bags by adoping a youth reseller model. Local youth with close relationships to local shop owners will be a key component of the supply chain. As sales agents, these youth resellers will take PICS bags from local vendors on credit, travel to markets in a particular community in order to bring the bags closer to smallholder farmers, sell the bags, and take home a $.19 margin per bag sold.
The youth resellers will be chosen carefully on recommendations from local elders and will be tested to assess their entrepreneurial spirit. They will also receive training and professional development. PHK trading will hold demonstrations of the PICS bags in targeted villages with clusters of farmers to increase awareness of the product.
PICS technology has been introduced to more than 50,000 villages across Sub-Saharan Africa. The bags are manufactured and sold in 28 countries in Africa and Asia. To date, more than 12 million PICS bags have been sold with the scale up funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and executed by Purdue University. PHK Trading is authorized by Purdue University to commercialize PICS bags. Over a period of two years, farmers will see a 123% return on investment.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
Recruit 60 youth resellers by the end of year 1
Distribute 45,000 bags by the end of year 1
FOUNDING TEAM
Yared Sertse - Project Leader
Yemisrach Getachew - Project Coordinator
Michael Tariku - Project Coordinator
Pay2Africa
Zacharias is launching Pay2Africa, an online payment business that allows users to send money transfers from the US to Ethiopia. Money2Ethiopia.com will
CUSTOM CHALLENGE; ETHIOPIA
PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED
An online and mobile platform that provides a fast, reliable, low-cost, and convenient way to send money to loved ones from the United States to Ethiopia.
Learn more about the Custom Challenge and why we only fund ideas that focus on distributing proven poverty interventions.
DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION
Due to a lack of competition and a weak knowledge of the market, MoneyGram and Western Union - two major money transfer companies which charge high fees - have continued to dominate the remittance landscape in much of Africa. The only other option for customers looking to send money to Ethiopia is to use illegal hawala operators.
Pay2Africa's vision is to become the leading online and mobile platform application used by the Ethiopian diaspora to send money from the US to Ethiopia. The website will allow senders to wire funds directly to a recipient's bank account or for cash pickup at one of over 750 partner bank branch locations spread throughout Ethiopia. Pay2Africa is both a website and a mobile platform application that integrates the latest encryption technology with a secure remittance software platform that addresses all Anti-Money Laundering Act and Bank Secrecy Act laws and regulations. The end result is a user-friendly platform designed for the target demographic, the Ethiopian diaspora.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
Send $300,000 in transfers by 2015
Save customers $10,000 in fees by the end of year 2
FOUNDING TEAM
Zacharias Teshome - Founder and President
SponsorHer!
SponsorHer! will ensure the brightest girls receive high school education through a scholarship program. Their fundraising platform mobilizes a network of expatriate mothers
SCHOLARSHIP CHALLENGE; ETHIOPIA
PROVEN INTERENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED
A scholarship program via a social fundraising platform.
Learn more about the D-Prize challenges and why we focus on distributing proven poverty interventions that can help millions.
DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION
In Ethiopia, 80% of girls are enrolled in primary school but only 30% continue on to secondary school. It costs approximately USD 18 a month to keep a girl in high school, a sum that most families cannot afford. The aim of SponsorHer! is to support poor and bright girls in Ethiopia to go to high school through a scholarship program funded by a network of expatriate (and other) mothers as well as their families and friends at home. Believing that this target group wants to be more than passive donors, SponsorHer! is going to enable them to build a personal relationship with the sponsored girls through a social fundraising network and to easily motivate others to participate. At the same time, SponsorHer! will enable foreign companies operating in Ethiopia to enhance their social responsibility by engaging in corporate sponsorships. Being able to build on the team's experience on the ground, pre-existing networks and social media, SponsorHer! is going to provide a cost-effective scholarship program for girls with extremely low overhead costs to maximize impact.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
- Fund 100 scholarships during the pilot phase
- Sponsor 680 girls by the end of year 1
- Gain 10 corporate or institutional partners by the end of year 1
- Support 5,000 girls through scholarships by the end of year 2
FOUNDING TEAM
Viola Csordas - Co-Founder
Maria Zandt - Co-Founder
SMS Care
Within the world's poorest communities many children with preventable disease go without treatment, even when care is freely available. For some parents, they just don't know help is
PATIENT IDENTIFICATION CHALLENGE; UGANDA
PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED
An SMS database management tool.
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
A simple SMS database management tool allows SMS Care to identify underserved patients, connect them to their nearest provider, and manager their treatment through to discharge. While the service model will be tested with clubfoot in Uganda, the framework can easily scale to identify other diseases.
Clubfoot is a commonly recognized condition within Uganda but people do not seek treatment due to a lack of knowledge of available care and apprehension of the associated costs. SMS Care tackles this apprehension through a public awareness campaign that directs parents and caregivers of children with clubfoot towards free assistance. By texting a free number, they enter the database and self-identify to a central coordinator. Their phone number then becomes their unique case identifier, allowing the team to track patient progress until discharge. Mobile money is also connected with this number to compensate the caregiver throughout the treatment cycle while care is provided through partnership with CURE Clubfoot, a leading iNGO establishing a network of clinics to deliver free care to treat this condition.
Once an individual enters the system, the central coordinator calls to verify if they need assistance. If so, a trained health care practitioner (HPC) is dispatched for an in-person visit. If the condition is present, the HPC assigns the child to their nearest care clinic and updates their record to indicate progression. The caregiver is informed that mobile money will automatically credit their phone number to cover the cost of travel and time taken off work which is triggered by this progression through the system and the assigned clinic is told to expect a visit within the week.
PILOT AND SCALING GOALS
- Identify 100 patients during the pilot
- Reach 100,000 parents of children between the ages of one and two through a public awareness campaign during the pilot
- Establish a care partnership with CURE Clubfeet for clinic referrals during the pilot
FOUNDING TEAM
Ron Morrison - Manager, human-centered program design
Thomas Disley - Technology design and marketing strategy
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