OxyCare Uganda

OXYGEN CHALLENGE; UGANDA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Service and repair of oxygen concentrators

Learn more about the Oxygen Challenge and how proper maintenance of oxygen concentrators expands access to medical oxygen to save lives.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

OxyCare Uganda aims to sustainably care for oxygen concentrators to save the lives of people in communities that would have lost their lives due to a lack of oxygen and functional oxygen concentrators.

OxyCare Uganda’s operating model is rooted in the community. They will recruit and empower local biomedical and electrical technicians, providing them with facility-based oxygen concentrator simulation training. This approach will ensure timely assessment, maintenance, and repair of oxygen concentrators in Northern Uganda, fostering a sense of ownership and trust within the community.

Together with trained and skilled technicians, OxyCare Uganda will train oxygen concentrator users at health facilities to use simple maintenance techniques to reduce errors and downtime. OxyCare Uganda will go beyond maintenance and repair by offering rental and leasing services for backup oxygen concentrators and cylinders during emergencies.

OxyCare will maintain a reliable 24/7 helpline distributed to partnered and all other regional hospitals for seamless communication and immediate response. This ensures that service requests, including emergencies, are never delayed. They will also develop a dynamic website with a 24/7 helpline, standard operating procedures (SOPs), a quick maintenance guide, and an online form for requesting maintenance and repair support, providing a secure and trusted platform. A standby motorcycle will support the repair and maintenance team in responding to emergencies, performing routine assessments, and performing repairs and maintenance.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Directly reach 70 children and other individuals in need of oxygen within three months.

• Repair and maintain 23 Oxygen Concentrators in three months.

• Fundraise an additional $20,000 from new donors and investors within three months.

FOUNDING TEAM

Solomon Piwun - Biomedical Engineer

Peter Kalulu - Public Health Specialist

Pius Okwairwoth - Electrician

Tony Abeka - Finance and Administration

Aloha Foundation Uganda

TEACHING AT THE RIGHT LEVEL CHALLENGE; UGANDA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Teaching at the Right Level Foundational Learning Program

Learn more about the Teaching at the Right Level Challenge and how an evidence-based foundational learning program can improve primary literacy and numeracy in low-resource schools.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Aloha Foundation Uganda's mission is to foster primary school education and drive socio-economic inclusivity in Uganda.

Aloha Foundation Uganda’s distribution model, set in Chegere Sub County, Apac district in Northern Uganda, implements a teacher-led TaRL methodology within the government education system for grades 3-5 students facing academic challenges.

The unique approach integrates TaRL sessions before and after regular school hours. Individual student assessments guide the formation of learning groups where students receive tailored support to help them catch up. What sets Aloha Foundation Uganda apart is its commitment to continuous capacity development, reinforced through refresher courses.

Aloha Foundation Uganda was founded in 2023 by Diana Ejang and Racheal Gloria Apok. The dual's passion for transformative education creates a powerful synergy for success.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Reach 350 grade 3 - 5 students.

• 690 hours of engagement.

• Fundraise an additional 20,000 USD.

FOUNDING TEAM

Diana Ejang - Co-Founder

Racheal Gloria Apok - Co-Founder

Solar Cube Energy Solutions

SOLAR LAMP CHALLENGE; UGANDA

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 Cube is a social enterprise with the mission to change the lives of many people in rural off-grid areas in Uganda and beyond by using clean and affordable solar products & services.

Solar Cube will distribute quality solar lamps verified by Greenlight Planet through a network of last-mile shop owners selling out affordable solar lamps to last-mile customers in rural and off-grid areas in the West Nile region in Uganda.

The company will apply a flexible payment system accepting cash or instalments using mobile money to suit the financing needs of the last-mile customers. In addition, Solar Cube has developed a solar kiosk that will be leased out to shop owners or businesses using the energy-as-a-service model.

The last mile shop owners will become Solar Cube’s distribution agents to sell solar lamps while powering their businesses for cold drinks, mobile phone charging, and powering TVs using solar power from the solar kiosks.

Solar Cube was founded in 2022 by two energy experts with extensive experience of over 7 years each in the energy sector of Uganda. Solar Cube is led by Mr. Muceka Rolex, the managing director and co-founder, and assisted by Mr. Alokore Yunus, the business development manager and co-founder.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Directly reach more than 1,500 beneficiaries in 3 months.

• Using 9 last mile high-performing distribution agents, distribute 300 solar solar lamps in three months.

• Fundraise an additional fund of $20,000 from new investors or funders within three months.

FOUNDING TEAM

Mr. Muceka Rolex - Managing Director and Co-Founder

Mr. Alokore Yunus - Business Development Manager and Co-Founder

Akanyo Santa - Market Development Manager and Co-Founder

Farmerstack Technologies Limited

QUALITY INPUTS CHALLENGE; Uganda

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

Farmerstack helps smallholder farmers achieve a more profitable harvest, 2 - 3X better than their average counterparts.

Farmstack’s model pairs asset-based loans with flexible repayment to meet the financing needs of smallholder farmers, who earn the majority of their income after harvest. Instead of providing cash loans, farmers borrow a stack or bundle of top-quality agricultural inputs valued between $100 to $200 per acre and repay the loan within four months after the harvest.

Farmerstack offers a flexible loan repayment system. Clients have only two deadlines: a 10% down payment to receive the loan bundle and a final repayment after the harvest. After the down payment, farmers can make smaller, manageable repayments on their own schedule throughout the season. This flexibility helps them stay on top of their loans and reduces post-harvest pressure.

Farmerstack organizes small-scale farmers and transform them into successful commercial farmers. Currently, Farmerstack is piloting its program in West Budama Central, Tororo district, Eastern Uganda.

Farmerstack was started in 2023 by Phillip SAJJA and Peter ONDUR. Phillip serves as Farmerstack's full-time CEO and Peter is Farmerstack’s full-time CTO. As young boys, they recognized the value of farming, albeit at a subsistence level. Now, as adult farmers, they are determined to make farming more productive and valuable for millions of small-scale farmers through Farmerstack.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Directly reach 200 smallholder farmers, offer affordable credit rates, lend to them, and ensure a repayment rate of 97% or higher within three months.

• Distribute 200 bundles of high-quality inputs to smallholder farmers, using 5 high-performing distribution officers.

• Fundraise an additional $30,000 USD within three months from new donors, investors or commercial credit

FOUNDING TEAM

Phillip Sajja - CEO

Peter Ondur - CTO

ChildVax

CHILD IMMUNIZATION CHALLENGE; UGANDA

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

ChildVax aims to increase childhood immunization coverage in Uganda.

ChildVax shall increase childhood vaccination coverage in Bukwo district by creating a network of Village Health Teams (VHTs) and providing transport refunds to financially disadvantaged caregivers. ChildVax shall conduct a thorough needs assessment in Bukwo district to identify areas with the lowest vaccination coverage rates and the primary reasons for this, recruit and select dedicated individuals from local communities to serve as VHT members and train them.

VHTs should work closely with the local community to identify caregivers who are financially disadvantaged and unable to afford transportation costs for vaccination visits. ChildVax shall develop a reminder system that sends text messages or makes phone calls to all caregivers a few days before their child's vaccination appointment.

Once the program proves successful in Bukwo district, the team will develop a plan to expand it to neighboring regions with low vaccination coverage, seek partnerships with governmental and non-governmental organizations to scale the program to a national level.

ChildVax was founded in 2022 by a dedicated team consisting of Yeko Olive, a seasoned nurse specializing in childhood immunization, Dr. Ivan Chemos, with vast experience in managing immunization projects, and Chepkwurui Abigail, an experienced financial manager.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Reach 500 beneficiaries/ children in the 3 month pilot period.

• Send 5000 reminder text messages to care givers for immunization.

• Raise additional funding of $50000 by the end of 3 months.

FOUNDING TEAM

Olive Yeko - Program Manager

Dr. Ivan Chemos - Technical Advisor

Abigail Chepkwurui - Operations Manager

Ziimba

CUSTOM AGRICULTURE CHALLENGE; Uganda

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Quality inputs, technical training, field monitoring, and direct linkages to markets

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

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Ziimba's mission is to empower marginalized farmers to earn substantial income through sustainable agroforestry.

Ziimba’s program is a hyper-scalable, smallholder-based agroforestry initiative that aims to create viable livelihoods for ultra-poor dry-land farmers in Kyankwanzi District, located in Uganda's cattle corridor, where the pilot is set to launch.

Ziimba is employing an end-to-end support model of distributing quality inputs, technical training, ongoing field monitoring, and direct linkages to preferred markets for farmers’ high-value tree outputs.

Their model stands out for its dual approach of helping farmers earn a living wage in the short-term with high-value cash crops interplanted in woodlots, and providing a transformative, secondary source of income in the long-term with rapid-growing trees suitable for dry-land cultivation and high-value commercial utility.

By forging strategic partnerships that empower marginalized farmers via their proven intervention, they will convert their underutilized and deteriorating landholdings into sustainable tree farms, thereby elevating their livelihoods, eradicating deforestation, and stifling surging demand in the region's wood-scarce markets.

Juliet Namwanje is the Founder of Ziimba and serves as the organization's Executive Director alongside key team members including Gerald Katende, a knowledgeable advisory board member who brings extensive knowledge of the pilot district's climate, poverty-driven challenges, and forest management; Simon Zziwa, the Director of Field Operations, with a strong background as a Senior Agriculture Officer and Agronomist; John Kibuuka, the Field Manager with vast experience in community-centric reforestation from the National Forestry Authority (NFA); and Maureen Nakacwa, the Field Facilitator, known for her administrative coordination and efforts in workplace gender equality.

Each member brings specialized knowledge and experience, allowing Ziimba to address the multifaceted challenges of the agroforestry initiative effectively. United by a shared vision, the team is deeply committed to spreading Ziimba’s proven agroforestry intervention to marginalized populations across Sub-Saharan Africa, starting in Uganda, to address the continent’s growing wood supply deficit.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Directly reach 180+ beneficiaries during the pilot.

• Establish 40 operational woodlots with 9,600+ trees planted.

• Fundraise an additional $50,000 USD from new donors or investors within three months.

FOUNDING TEAM

Juliet Namwanje - Founder and Executive Director

Gerald Katende - Board Member

Simon Zziwa - Director of Field Operations

John Kibuuka - Field Manager

Maureen Nakacwa - Field Facilitator

AgriNov

Quality inputs CHALLENGE; Uganda

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Quality agricultural inputs.

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

AgriNov seeks to improve yield and income of smallholder farmers through timely access to quality inputs, knowledge and market facilitation.

AgriNov uses a proven market-based model that stands on the following; financing for quality seeds and fertilizers, timely distribution of inputs to the last-mile farmers, agricultural trainings, and market facilitation to enable farmers maximize profits. Working with field officers, we target smallholder maize farmers that are in hard to reach areas (remote areas), and then provide such farmers with timely access to quality inputs, knowledge, and market facilitation. They mobilize farmers into groups, and then inputs are delivered to them on credit, and the loan is repaid at the end of the growing season.

The company was started in 2021 by Johnson Tumwesige and Emmanuel Dusabimana. Johnson serves as AgriNov’s full time managing director whilst Emmanuel serves as a full time sales and operations lead.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Reach 100 farmers by the end of the pilot period

• Distribute two interventions (improved maize varieties and fertilizers)

• Fundraise an additional $15,000 USD from philanthropic organizations

FOUNDING TEAM

Johnson Tumwesige - Managing Director

Emmanuel Dusabimana - Sales and Operations Lead

Women Self-Inject Initiative

SAYANA PRESS CHALLENGE; UGANDA

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

Women Self Inject Initiative (WSII) seeks to increase access to modern contraceptives particularly self injectables (Sayana press) among women in low resource settings. WSII’s mission is “Empowering women to take control of their reproductive health needs"

The distribution model is based on private health workers who own drug shops to supply Sayana Press to women. We shall identify and train 30 private health workers (PHW) Masaka district, southern Uganda on family planning counseling and how to train women on self-injection using standard tools developed by PATH. In turn, the PHW will instruct and demonstrate self-injection technique to the women who take Sayana Press as method of choice. We believe that this model eliminates the need for women to return to a clinic every three months for re-injection and improves privacy for the users of the method.

Their team consists of 4 co-founders. Three graduate midwives, Robert Isoke, Hamiidah Nakyanzi, and Usaama Ssewankambo as well as their mentor Felister Apili who have expertise and prior experience working on sexual reproductive health and maternal child health initiatives in various parts of Uganda.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Distribute Sayana Press to at least 500 women by the end of the pilot.\

• 30 private health workers recruited to distribute Sayana Press and trained on how to instruct and train women on self-injection with Sayana Press by the end of the pilot

• Raise an additional $40000 by the end of the pilot

FOUNDING TEAM

Robert Isoke - Team Leader

Nakyanzi Hamiidah - Public Relations Officer

Ssewankambo Usaama - Quality Assurance Officer

Apili Felister - Technical Lead

Madaraja Foundation

SAYANA PRESS CHALLENGE; UGANDA

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

Madaraja Foundation aims to improve the health and well-being of Ugandan women and girls by increasing access to quality sexual and reproductive health information and care.

The distribution model focuses on establishing a network of trained providers in private clinics, pharmacies, and drug shops in Mukono, Uganda, who can reliably offer self-injectable contraceptive, DMPA-SC, and support its continued use among women. To achieve this, the team will provide training and quarterly supportive supervision to enhance provider capacity, ensure availability of affordable DMPA-SC supplies through negotiations and collaborations with local importers, and support demand creation through printed communication material and community radio talk shows featuring community champions.

Madaraja Foundation was founded by Jacquellyn Nambi Ssanyu and Andrew Basenero, both Uganda Pharmacists with training in public health and deep passion for Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights. As the Executive Director, Jacquellyn provides strategic direction and day-to-day management of the organization, while Andrew, the Program Manager, oversees planning, implementation, and management of all project activities.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Directly reach 160 women within three months

• Work with 20 private health facilities (drug shops, pharmacies and clinics), distribute 160 doses of self- injectable contraceptives.

• Raise an additional $20,000 by the end of the pilot

FOUNDING TEAM

Jacquellyn Nambi Ssanyu - Executive Director

Andrew Basenero - Program Manager

Hope Springs Health Foundation Uganda

SUGAR DADDY AWARENESS CHALLENGE; uganda

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

Hope Springs Health Foundation Uganda’s mission is to increase awareness of the risks of sugar daddies to 100%, improve girls' confidence to say "no" to cross-generational relationships, and enhance girls' ability to think critically about challenges facing them as well as how current choices can shape the future.

This project will utilize the “Sugar Daddy Awareness” class – (1-hour classes composed of 21 girls per class session. They will target 500 girls in ten schools in Mayuge district to tailor a core message that ‘sexually partnering with older men is risky behavior.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Reach 500 girls in ten schools in the Mayuge District

• Train a team of 20 top-quality facilitators to teach the sugar daddy classes across the 10 schools

• Raise $60,000 by the end of year two operations

FOUNDING TEAM

Safaa Garelnabi - Team Leader

Jonathan Nsamba - Technical Lead

Charles Mwanje - Field Project Coordinator

TONDA Uganda Limited

SAYANA PRESS CHALLENGE; UGANDA

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

Tonda Uganda is a new NGO that seeks to establish, engage and scale up community structures for the distribution and improved access of Sayana Press among rural women in Kitagwenda district.

Traditional birth attendants are the center of TONDA Uganda’s distribution model. With the support of the District Health Team, the team will identify and train 100 TBAs and 50 VHTs using PATH’s globally recommended training manual for subcutaneous self-injection. The TBAs will support 20 community dialogues, educating and empowering women before delivering them Sayana Press.

Dr. Besigye’s medical background and previous works on several collaboratives on maternal health and family planning in Kitagwenda district will go a long way in ensuring that our door-to-door traditional birth attendants-centered distribution model will reach the targeted 5000 women in the three months

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• 100 TBAs and 50 VHTs trained to support door to door campaign.

• Reach 5,000 women by the end of the pilot

• Reach 50,000 women by year two of operations

FOUNDING TEAM

Rogers Besigye - Co-founder

Brenda Naava - Co-founder

Geofrey Kaujju - Co-founder

Teso Women's Initiative

SAYANA PRESS CHALLENGE; UGANDA

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

Teso Women’s Initiative (TWI) is a Community Based Organization which distributes self-injectable contraceptives (DMPA-SC) to underserved women in Ngora District through private health care providers. These providers will be trained on how to distribute Sayana Press to women in need and teach them how to self-inject at the comfort of their homes. TWI plans to scale by enrolling up to 10,000 women in 1 year and 100,000 women in 5 years and involve stakeholders at various levels in the implementation. TWI’s long-term vision for this project is “A community where women have access to family planning services, make informed decisions and live longer.”

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Reach 500 women by the end of the pilot

• Distribute 1,000 doses of Sayana Press by the end of three months

• Raise an additional $40,000 by the end of three months

FOUNDING TEAM

Rose Aliano - Team Leader

Clement Esiat - Business Development Officer

Godlive Olokojo - Project Coordinator

Seedloans

QUALITY INPUTS CHALLENGE CHALLENGE; UGANDA

 PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Quality agricultural inputs.

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

Seedloans helps female smallholder farmers in Uganda grow more to feed their families.

The model combines the proven microfinance mechanism with a holistic solution along the entire value chain. One woman receives 10kg of bean seeds as a loan. She plants the seeds in her field, where they grow to ~100kg of beans within three months. After the harvest the woman gives back ~20kg of her beans to Seedloans as an in-kind repayment. She uses the remaining ~80kg to feed her family, sell an extra on the market or replant beans for the next season. Seedloans offers 5kg, 10kg, 15kg and 20kg options to farmers – enough to cover one acre of land, the typical field size of a smallholder.

Elizabeth Nalugemwa is a trained entrepreneur and an Obama foundation leader. Growing up as a daughter of a female rural smallholder, she wanted to empower farmers to overcome the challenges she experienced at home.

Sabrina Kuespert is trained in business administration. She grew her passion for smallholders during her time in agricultural finance at KfW-Developing Bank. Currently she is a strategy consultant at BCG.

Lisa Stolleis is a trained economist and pursues her masters degree in Public Policy at the Hertie School of Governance. She gained experience in international development as intern and consultant at the GIZ and International Trade Centre of the United Nations.

Merlin Stein is a trained economist and collected profound experience in Impact Measurement in several projects during his graduate time at Oxford University. He currently works in strategy consulting at BCG.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Directly reach 500 smallholder farmers in the pilot period

• Reach 1,000 farmers by the end of year 1 and 8,000 by the end of year 2

FOUNDING TEAM

Elizabeth Nalugemwa - Co-founder and Team Leader

Merlin Stein - Co-founder

Lisa Stolleis - Co-founder

Sabrina Kuesper - Co-founder

She Screens 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

She Screens Uganda’s mission is to extend cervical cancer screening services to all women at an affordable cost by early identification and referral for first line treatment of women with precancerous cells through incentivized group transportation, and partners with philanthropy organizations for extensional support.

This culturally sensitive model for cervical cancer screening will pilot in Bukomansimbi district. About 400 women aged 25-49 years will be sensitized about cervical cancer including signs/symptoms and prevention, screened and identified patients will be referred through streamlined referral to first line treatment center through incentivized group transportation, and partners with philanthropy organizations for extensional support.

She Screens Uganda was founded by Nabunnya Naimat following the death of her mother to cervical cancer. Naimat's vision was enhanced by her colleagues Nakonge Martha Dearn and Nemeyimana Vicent who developed interest in this field through their working practice in clinical settings.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Direcly reach and screen at least 400 women aged 25-49 years with in three months

• Fundraise an additional $15,000 USD from philanthropic organizations

• Screen 7,000 women by the end of year 2

FOUNDING TEAM

Nabunnya Naimat - Program Manager

Nakonge Martha Dearn - Nursing Officer

Nemeyimana Vicent - Clinical Officer

GrainAid Agency

POVERTY GRADUATION; UGANDA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Poverty Graduation Program

Learn more about the Poverty Graduation Challenge and why an evidence-based program that combines cash or asset transfers with mentorship and other forms of financial and social support helps graduate the ultra poor from poverty.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

GrainAid Agency works with members of the local community especially women and youth, and other national and international organizations to overcome extreme poverty and hunger through creating access, improving, and diversifying livelihoods.

The GrainAid Agency model ensures that the extremely poor individuals in the community especially women and youth are empowered/enabled to graduate out of extreme poverty and achieve economic and social advancement through a combination of asset building, technical skills training, dedicated coaching and mentoring, and savings as well as social support. The focus on poverty alleviation for the extremely poor reflects our clarity of purpose and our approach which involves building implementation units within the communities, including recruitment and training of community facilitators among people based in the same community with a thorough understanding of the community makes our model affordable and acceptable by the entire community. The chosen solution (poverty graduation) is already proven to work around the world and our approach minimizes the chance of failure by over 95%.

GrainAid Agency was started by Emmanuel Curuma Obia and Gertrude Basirika who have over 18 years of experience in poverty eradication initiatives within Africa and are both passionate about efforts to address poverty and hunger. Emmanuel works full-time at GrainAid Agency as the Executive Director while Gertrude serves on the board of directors as the Treasurer.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Provide productive livelihood assets to 30 female heads of households thus impacting 120 members of their households, especially children by end of the pilot.

• Provide tailored skills training, coaching, and routine mentoring to 30 female heads of households for effective management of their livelihood initiatives by end of the pilot.

• Raise additional $50,000 by end of the first year

• Scale to serve 600 participants by year 2

FOUNDING TEAM

Emmanuel Curuma Obia - Executive Director

Gertrude Basirika - Board Member

Growth Pathways

POVERTY GRADUATION; UGANDA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Poverty Graduation Program

Learn more about the Poverty Graduation Challenge and why an evidence-based program that combines cash or asset transfers with mentorship and other forms of financial and social support helps graduate the ultra poor from poverty.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Growth Pathways will implement a 12-month poverty graduation program focused on microenterprise development to help the ultra-poor develop sustainable livelihoods.

Growth Pathways uses a micro enterprise development program with six sequenced interventions: Targeting, business skills training, Conditional Cash Transfer, business savings group, mentoring and social integration. The program is implemented through a network of of Business Mentors and local leaders. The pilot is located in Kamuli District.

Growth Pathways is started in 2022 by Ssempebwa Joseph and Adur Joyce. Joseph serves as Growth Pathways program director.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Equip 60 participants with business and group saving training, seed capital and mentorship to increase income and savings

• Launch 20 sustainable enterprises within the community

• Fundraise an additional $20,000

• Scale to serve 345 participants by year 2

FOUNDING TEAM

Ssempebwa Joseph - Program Director

Adur Joyce - Partnership Manager

Ssemugooma Fred - Field Coordinator

Prime Biomedical U Ltd

OXYGEN CHALLENGE; UGANDA

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

Prime Biomedical U Ltd’s mission is to increase access to life-saving in remote and peri-urban Health Centres through timely maintenance and repair of oxygen concentrators in Western Uganda.

Prime’s Distribution model will entail the skilling of biomedical technicians based at a central Oxygen hub to implement a timely maintenance plan for oxygen concentrators at health centers in Western Uganda. Oxygen equipment users will also be trained on how to perform basic maintenance practices which go a long way in reducing user error faults to reduce downtime. Prime Biomedical is also uniquely placed to provide these services thanks to the existing capacity and expertise to manufacture some basic oxygen concentrator spares through 3D printing equipment and access to a fabrication lab.

Prime Biomedical was founded in 2017 by Leslie Turyahikayo.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Directly provide life-saving oxygen to 3,000 patients within three months

• Recruit and Train 2 Biomedical Technicians to Repair, Maintain and Service 50 Oxygen Concentrators at 5 Health centers within three months

• Directly provide life-saving oxygen to 9,000 patients within one year.

FOUNDING TEAM

Leslie Turyahikayo - Manager

Salama Centre for Global Family Health

SAYANA PRESS CHALLENGE; UGANDA

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

Salama Centre for Global Family Health seeks to improve access to family planning services among women in underserved communities in Uganda.

Their model seeks to scale up distribution, access, and use of Sayana Press contraception through the private health networks in Jinja District. The private health networks will be recruited and trained to administer Sayana Press to women seeking contraception and train women to self-inject at the comfort of their homes.

Violette the team leader is an international development professional and was previously a GHC fellow serving with S.O.U.L Foundation. Alice has a clinical background with several years of experience in reproductive health, Joan has several years of experience in communication and stockholder engagements. Jovia will leverage her previous IT experience in multiple organizations to support the implementation of the venture.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Reach 500 women by the end of the pilot

• Distribute 1,000 doses of Sayana Press by the end of three months

• Raise an additional $30,000 by the end of three months

FOUNDING TEAM

Violette Hilda Nalutaaya - Team Leader

Jovia Tuhaise - Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

Joan Alupo - Communication and Knowledge Manager

Alice Nanteza - Technical Lead

Women for Women Uganda

PMTCT CHALLENGE; UGANDA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Retention in care and adherence to anti-retroviral treatment for people living with HIV. 

Learn more about the PMTCT Challenge and how increasing completion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to prevent mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV can decrease HIV rates and improve lives.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Women for Women Uganda aims to bridge the gap in health services delivery for underserved and disadvantaged communities by establishing and building local partnerships with communities.

Women 4 Women Uganda aims to use the Traditional Birth Attendant-mentor mother hybrid model to contribute to the Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV. The model is a sustainable approach to overcoming the barrier of geographic isolation faced by remote underserved communities of Kalangala district, an archipelago of 84 islands with limited access to health facilities by pregnant women living with HIV. For ease of integration into other government community health structures, the distribution of TBAs and Mentor mothers will be at the village level with an average of two mentor mothers and one TBA per village.

Women for Women Uganda was co-founded by three young women passionate about health equity in July 2021. Rebecca Mulungi a Fundraising and Communications Professional, Jane Frances Nakanwagi a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Expert, and Ruth Mary Kemigisha a Public Health Specialist.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Reach 300 beneficiaries during the pilot phase

• Distribute three interventions: Delivery of ART and psychosocial support reaching 300 women living with HIV, HIV counseling and testing reaching 600 women and their spouses, Linkage to safe antenatal and delivery services- 100 women linked to qualified health workers

• Raise an additional $5,000 during the pilot

FOUNDING TEAM

Rebecca Annette Mulungi - Team Lead

Jane Frances Nakanwagi - Monitoring, Evaluation, Assessment, and Learning Specialist

Ruth Mary Kemigisha - Public Health Specialist

Rising Roots

POVERTY GRADUATION; UGANDA

PROVEN INTERVENTION TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Gender focused poverty graduation program to ultra-poor women with resources to create sustainable businesses and permanently break the poverty cycle.

Learn more about the Poverty Graduation Challenge and why an evidence-based program that combines cash or asset transfers with mentorship and other forms of financial and social support helps graduate the ultra poor from poverty.

DISTRIBUTION MODEL INNOVATION

Rising Roots empowers last mile marginal households to access resilient and sustainable livelihoods through entrepreneurship.

Rising Roots uses a one year gender focused poverty graduation program to ultra-poor women with resources to create sustainable businesses and permanently break the poverty cycle. The program has six sequenced components: Targeting, Technical Business Training, Seed Capital, Business Savings Groups, Mentoring and Social Integration. The pilot program is implemented in Mayuge District.

PILOT AND SCALING GOALS

• Enroll 60 ultra poor women into the poverty graduation program

• Launch 20 group based businesses within the community

• Raise an additional $15,000

FOUNDING TEAM

Nganda Ben - Program Director

Achen Grace - Field Coordinator

Balyebuga Kelvin - Strategic Partnership and Development Manager