Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

PfGAF aims to support girls' education, end early marriages and teen pregnancies, provide youth leadership training, and champion environmental conservation and climate change initiatives.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Mission: PFGAF is committed to empowering girls and young women in Busia County by promoting access to quality education, advocating against early marriages and teen pregnancies, offering youth leadership training, and leading initiatives to conserve the environment and address the adverse effects of climate change that directly affect the girls. Goals: 1.Enhance access to quality education for girls and young women in Busia County. 2.Advocate against outdated cultural practices, such as early marriages, that impede girls' rights and hinder their educational and personal development. 3.Provide youth women with leadership training to be empowered to become effective leaders and change-makers in their communities. 4.Champion climate change initiatives and environmental conservation efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of climatic changes, such as floods, soil erosion, land degradation, waterborne diseases, and pest outbreaks. 5 Address the socio-economic challenges faced by the region

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

1. Inequity in education for the girl as compared to the boy 2. Cultural practices that continually subject girls/young women 👠 to early pregnancies and/or marria ges 3. Suppression of the women's voices in leadership and decision making platforms 4. Negative Climate change effects (floods and flow-backs) that have caused displacement, water borne diseases, economic disagreement etc. 5. General economic disagreement.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

At PfGAF, our initiatives are offering the following advantages to the girls and community at large: 1. Girls getting Educated and knowledgeable 2. Alleviating effects of negative climatic effects. 3. Sustainability in environmental and green house effects. 4. Taking of leadership roles by women 5. Financial & Economic empowerment of the community

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

1. Girls Seeking Education and Knowledge: PfGAF's foremost mission is to empower girls through education and knowledge acquisition. We belief that education is the key to unlocking potential and creating pathways to prosperity. 2. PfGAF recognizes the urgent need to mitigate environmental degradation and build resilience within vulnerable communities. From extreme weather events to dwindling natural resources, the effects of climate change disproportionately affect the most marginalized populations, exacerbating poverty, hunger, and displacement. 3. Through education, outreach, and community engagement, PfGAF raises awareness about the importance of environmental conservation and empowers individuals and communities to take action to protect the planet. From reducing waste to adopting renewable energy technologies. 4. Women Taking on Leadership Roles 5. Financial and Economic Empowerment of the community.

01.05 When was your company established?

2024-04-08

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

2

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

1. Else Mulaa is an experienced Physiological Counsellor and a trained educationist. She has worked with several organisations and programs including Ministry of Health Kenya,KenPhia Project, NACADA Kenya, NASCO Kenya, Kenya Red cross, etc. She has also taught in several schools. Her expertise in Counselling and Tutoring is help girls, women and the community in our programs to be encouraged and adopt positive perspectives of life. 2. Elizabeth Andako is a trained International Relations expert. She has good communication skill and had help us secure funding in kind. She is a champion of women matters which greatly see women in benefit maximumly from our programs. Having with with 540 Aviation Ltd, Kimfay E.A , National Crimes Research Centre-Kenya and now PFGAF.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/partners-for-girls-africa-foundation/

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

Other: Humanitarian Non-profit making initiatives

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Goal 1: No Poverty: By enhancing access to quality education for girls and young women in Busia County, our organization addresses the root causes of poverty. Education empowers individuals to break the cycle of poverty by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to secure better job opportunities and improve their socio-economic status.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

4

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

3

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Goal 4: Quality Education: By enhancing access to quality education for girls and young women in Busia County, our organization directly contributes to SDG 4. This includes initiatives to ensure that girls have equal opportunities to attend school and receive a quality education, ultimately leading to improved literacy rates and better educational outcomes. We award scholarships to the needy to ensure they stay in school.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Goal 5: Gender Equality: Our advocacy against early marriages and teen pregnancies addresses gender inequality by challenging harmful cultural practices that disproportionately affect girls' rights and hinder their educational and personal development. By empowering girls and young women, PfGAF promotes gender equality and ensures that they have the same opportunities as boys to reach their full potential.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

2

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: Our organization contributes to this goal in several ways. First, by promoting access to quality education, we help equip girls and young women with the skills needed to participate in the workforce and contribute to economic growth. Second, by advocating against early marriages and teen pregnancies, we enable girls to complete their education and pursue career opportunities, leading to greater economic independence. Finally, by addressing the socio-economic challenges faced by the region, such as poverty and unemployment, PfGAF supports efforts to create a more inclusive and sustainable economy that provides decent work for all.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

4

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities: Through our efforts to provide leadership training to youth women, our organization helps reduce inequalities by empowering marginalized groups to become effective leaders and change-makers in their communities. This contributes to creating a more inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to participate and contribute to decision-making processes.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

5

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Our organization champions climate change initiatives and environmental conservation efforts, which directly contribute to creating sustainable communities. By addressing the adverse effects of climate change and promoting environmental conservation in Busia County, you help build resilience and ensure the long-term sustainability of the region's ecosystems and communities.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

5

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: By addressing the socio-economic challenges faced by the region, including issues related to poverty, unemployment, and inadequate infrastructure, our organization promotes responsible consumption and production practices. This involves promoting sustainable development strategies that prioritize the efficient use of resources and minimize negative environmental impacts.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

6

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Goal 13: Climate Action: Our organization's efforts to champion climate change initiatives and environmental conservation directly contribute to SDG 13 by mitigating the adverse effects of climatic changes such as floods, soil erosion, land degradation, waterborne diseases, and pest outbreaks. By raising awareness and implementing practical solutions, you help build resilience and adapt to the impacts of climate change while also contributing to global efforts to combat it.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

2

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

3

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals, in several ways: 1.Collaboration with Government and NGOs: By working in Busia County to empower girls and young women, our organization collaborates with local government agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders. These partnerships facilitate the sharing of resources, expertise, and best practices to more effectively achieve shared goals related to education, gender equality, youth empowerment, and environmental conservation. 2.Engagement with Communities: Our organization's initiatives involve engaging directly with communities in Busia County. This community engagement fosters partnerships at the grassroots level, empowering local residents to actively participate in efforts to promote access to education, combat harmful cultural practices, develop leadership skills among youth, and address environmental challenges. 3.Advocacy and Awareness-Raising by partnering with the local community

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

4

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

2

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

2

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

6

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

6

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

6

06.08 Justification for my startup

Our Leadership Academy is a a gateway to other institutions that we have partnered with. This ensures that our graduates proceed to pursue the career area well informed and with zeal. We also secure job opportunities to this graduate so that the work while studying.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

1. Other NGOs with a focus on girls' and women's empowerment in the region 2. Local advocacy groups and grassroots organizations in the region 3. Environmental conservation organizations in the region 4. Education-focused NGOs that work to enhance access to quality education for girls and young women in similar contexts

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes. My Programs are mainly (80%) benefiting female in my community. By learning Computer Coding and getting employment, they can build their own capital and venture into entrepreneurship. We also train women in fruit trees planting with the intentions that they can make that a cash generating entrepreneurial venture.