Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

FloMonitor is an application that informs reproductive health among females within the reproductive age. FloAlert is a wearable device or a twin application to FloMonitor, that updates partners of their loved one's reproductive health for decision-making.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

FloMonitor is an application that will be desgined to inform target females of their reproductive health. Users will monitor various phases of their menstrual cycle for informed decision-making. They will also be able to belong to a community and interact with other users, learn about their reproductive health, consult a specialist, access to a marketplace, donate towards community-based programs and get help, especially for gender-based violence victims. FloAlert is a twin application that will work in conjunction with FloMonitor as the partner version. Partners will be able to access information about their partners' reproductive health for which they have been granted access to. Partners can also seek help for gender based violence, donate towards community based programs. Apart from having FloMonitor and FloAlert as applications, the aim is also to develop wearable devices that are solar-powered to reach populations that lack devices that support applications.

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

Latest statistics show 1/4 of married women, about 1.4 million in Kenya have unmet need for family planning. Only 1/10 women of reproductive age have access to family planning. Low uptake of family planning results in high fertility rates, which increases maternal morbidity and mortality. Illegal abortions and unintended pregnancies can worsen or increase poverty rates. Communities are burdened since there's increased demand for health, education, and public services. Informing reproductive health can significantly enhance the uptake of family planning methods. Tracking a woman's menstrual cycle and allow their partners to access this information could be a great way of predicting their reproductive health and their overall general well-being. Creating a platform that will tackle gender based violence, which is prevalent among women of reproductive age sustaining the current efforts towards ending violence against women and even men. A Marketplace will promote economic empowerment.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

Users of the application and the wearable devices will be able to understand their reproductive health and that of their partners. Understanding their reproductive health will raise fertility awareness. Fertility awareness would enhance effective contraception use and family planning. Users can also manage their menstrual symptoms and identify hormonal imbalances. The application will extend other services to consumers, such as talking to a specialist, which will help them in early detection and management of illnesses that are fatal if detected late. A community within the app will create space for peer interaction, which will allow users to share information and demystifying common reproductive health myths that can sometimes lead to stigmatization. A get help section within the app will promote corporate social responsibility and victims of gender based violence and mental health challenges can get the much-needed help. A marketplace would promote economic empowerment.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

The targeted beneficiaries are women aged between 15 years and 35 years old who are within the reproductive age and male who have attained puberty. Those outside these age brackets are not restricted since learning is a continuous process and you can never be either too early or too young or too late or too old to learn. According to data from the 2019 census the majority of the Kenyan Population (75%) is made up of youths aged below 35 years, who are faced with significant challenges including those surrounding reproductive health. 29% of this population is made up of individuals aged between 14 and 35 years. Approximately 60 of this population is female, roughly 7-8 million Kenyans, which is expected to significantly grow in the next census. Tapping into this population and spilling into other age groups will impart the society with essential information that will inform their current reproductive health and secure their future well-being.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2023-11-01

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

2

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

2

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

1. Medical doctor, data analyst, and digital health enthusiast. 2. Medical doctor, social innovator and entrepreneur.

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

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

f) Healthcare (healthcare equipment and services)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

My project raises awareness about reproductive health, which consequently promotes effective contraceptive use and family planning methods. Unwanted pregnancies and illegal abortions are as a result of poor family planning, which has a negative impact on the poverty index. My projects empowers women and the general population at large with knowledge that gives them control over their reproductive health. The knowledge gained also empowers them to make decisions about their health, especially with conditions that have shown to improve outcomes if detected and managed early such as cervical cancer. Such a move will significantly lower the financial burden associated with managing reproductive health issues, subsequently improving the poverty index. My project also enhances access to health services and information, which can significantly reduce healthcare costs for an individual and the society.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

My project will contribute to the Zero hunger goal by sharing information on nutrition, healthy eating diets and the significance of accessing a healthy diet, especially during the reproductive age. The information shared can help users make informed choices about their diet and lifestyle. The nutritional advice offered can be tailored to the various phases of the menstrual cycle and individuals' genome type and blood group, which will promote overall health and decrease the risk of malnutrition. The application can also be utilized to promote sustainable food choices among users, which will encourage users to support local farmers, embrace organic foods, and reduce food wastage. This will promote food habits that are environmental friendly, which will contribute to efforts across the world to achieve zero hunger by promoting long-term food security and environmental sustainability.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

The application will aid with raising awareness of individuals' menstrual cycle, which will inform their reproductive health and promote timely interventions if needed. The application also promotes healthy reminders such as physical exercise, taking medications and supplements, hydration, and menstrual diet, which enhance wellbeing. The application will also provide educational resources and community support to its users. thus adolescents will have an educational tool to learn from, especially on how to navigate puberty and menstruation. women of reproductive age will benefit from family planning and ovulation predictions, and any deviations from their normal cycle, which will aid seeking medical attention if need be. Post and peri-menopausal women get much needed educational resources that will help them navigate this period and seek the appropriate medical care, if need be.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

The application will inform reproductive health, which is beneficial particularly among low income and marginalized communities (UNESCO, 2018). Reports indicate that over one million girls in Kenya miss school for an average of three to four days every month due to lack of menstrual education and access to safe and sustainable sanitary products. Therefore the application will enhanced menstrual education and promote access to safe and sustainable sanitary products, which significantly contribute to menstrual poverty that is a major challenger to quality education of girls from low income backgrounds both in rural and urban areas. menstrual poverty also denies them a change for capitalizing for lifelong opportunities since some of them are forced to drop out of school. besides, some women miss work due to the debilitating symptoms of menstruation, which results in some of them being fired or denied career progression opportunities.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

The application does not only focus on menstrual related problems alone but issues that affect the general wellbeing of a woman. By advocating for health promotion initiatives across the various aspects of a woman's reproductive health, it aims to bridge traditional barriers that have undermined gender equality within the society.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

6

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

My project will campaign for increased access to clean water.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

5

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

My project aims to campaign for increased use of eco-friendly sanitary projects. This even includes the use of clean and affordable energy in the production of sanitary products. This will also involve highlighting to our users eco-friendly sanitary products in the market and lobby policymakers to make them easily affordable and accessible within the market.

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

My project will ensure that it recruits fairly and provides productive employment and decent work for all. It will ensure there's no discrimination during the recruitment process and everyone is encouraged to maximize their talents to significantly enhance women's reproductive health.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

My project fosters industrialization and promotes innovation, especially when it comes to the production of sanitary products. It encourages the use and production of sanitary products that are eco-friendly. Besides, it encourages communities to stand up for themselves and fight inequalities and let their voice be heard, especially when and where it matters.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

To reduce inequalities within communities and in the country we will lobby for, collaborate with like-minded partners and provide safe facilities for changing of sanitary products as often as needed and as close as it can be. We will also encourage our users to wash with soap and water as much as it needed and also lobby facilities to provide soap and water as much as its needed. We will also encourage, collaborate, and distribute sanitary products to reach as many women as possible.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

6

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

The application will aim to source most of its resources during campaigns and promotions from the immediate communities. This will ensure that as much as we empower their knowledge regarding their reproductive health we also involve them in activities that promote their economic wellbeing. Women who have benefited from our programs will also be recruited as trainers, ambassadors, and mentors to impact their immediate communities.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

6

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

The project will lobby for the production of sanitary products that utilize materials that are recyclable or have minimal effect on the environment. Through its e-commerce platform it will encourage and subsidize the sell of sanitary products that are eco-friendly. We will also campaign for the use of sanitary products that are biodegradable and inform our users of the availability of eco-friendly sanitary products and where to get them.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

6

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Menstrual tracking applications are not only for women. They are also a great tool for men, medical companies, and marketers. thus, they can be utilized to champion for change to achieve the climate action goal. one of the goals is to enhance education and raise awareness to promote climate change adaptation, mitigation, early warning, and impact reduction. Medical companies can be encouraged to adopt environmental friendly ways of producing and extending to consumers sanitary products that are use materials that are recyclable using the application as a campaign tool. Marketers and climate change advocates can also utilize the application as a tool to raise awareness, partner with and educate communities.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

5

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

Whatever is thrown on land, eventually will get into or will have an effect on what is under water. Collaboration with marine conservatists and those aimed educating the general public and women on proper disposal of sanitary products and products, will significantly enhance their efforts towards preservation of marine life and sustainable development.

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

5

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

The project aims to educate women on proper disposal of sanitary products to reduce or prevent environmental degradation. Research has estimated that sanitary products that are plastic-based can take as long as 500-800 years to breakdown in landfills. Besides, the production process of these products utilizes huge amount of energy, water, and other resources. It has been estimated that the average lifetime use of sanitary products for an individual generates more than 12500kg of waste. Thus, we aim to campaign for the adoption of reusable feminine sanitary products across communities. The campaign will involve donations, demonstrations on how to use them and their explain their general benefit to the environment.

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

5

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

The projects aims to develop solutions that will overcome traditional barriers that have denied women the chance to be included in sustainable development. Besides, it aims to create platforms that will help fight gender-based violence and other kinds of violence that are extended towards women thus creating a peaceful and inclusive society. A peaceful and inclusive societies will significantly reduce the rate of all forms of violence and related deaths across the country. According to the Unite Nations 1in 2 women die from homicide related events at the hands of a partner or family member. The project also aims to back the involvement of women in peace processes and also lead and participate as equal partners in governance systems, which will give them a voice and in one way or another impact their reproductive health.

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

The project aims to partner with like-minded entities such as civil society organizations, governments, and private sector entities and other stakeholders to develop solutions aimed at informing and improving reproductive health and promoting sustainable development. The application also encourages partners to discuss family planning strategies, make informed choices regarding contraception, which will inform their future plans. collaboration in decision making strengthens partnerships and promotes mutual understanding and support among partners.

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

5

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

7 - Strongly Agree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.08 Justification

The use of smartphones in Kenya among adults is approximately 98% according to a 2020 survey. The application mainly targets those with smartphones and their partners, where women are enabled to exchange information with their partner regarding their reproductive health. The application mainly aims to offer menstrual tracking services as the primary services and also extend various services to its users such a marketplace, a community for peer interaction, an e-commerce platform for business, a place to donate to support community programs, wearable devices for real-time tracking of menstrual cycles, organize community-based outreaches and workshops, all in all to inform women across all ages of their reproductive health for their general wellbeing and future health. The majority of the menstrual tracking applications in Kenya are foreign-based, this will be one of its kind, locally made, tailored for local problems.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

The most popular menstrual tracking applications in Kenya such as Flo, Clue, Glo, Eve and the rest are foreign-based. Flomonitor will be developed and based locally with the aim of providing solutions to problems that are Kenyan. As much as the applications have proved effective in enhancing reproductive health, there's still a gap for a local product tailored towards the Kenyan communities providing unique and innovative solutions. The project will put effort to eventually gain visibility in the market space through various community based campaigns, projects and workshops aimed at enhancing reproductive health of women across Kenya.

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

I often identify female entrepreneurs who have interest specially in healthcare technologies and link them to networking opportunities. I also celebrate success of female entrepreneurs on my social media platforms to encourage would be entrepreneurs. I also develop networks that encourage female entrepreneurs to access resources, collaboration opportunities, and sometimes act as a mentor and refer them for mentorship.