Malawi - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Our project is a hunt for treasure in waste. We are the first and only provider of routine and on-demand waste collection in Dedza Township. Currently, we are disposing waste into a landfill, but we aspire to sort and recycle the waste to create value.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Mitekete Social Enterprise is a registered enterprise offering waste management solutions in the Township of Dedza. Currently our portfolio of services includes routine waste collection and on-demand waste collection. These are paid services that clients subscribe to on a monthly basis. Our current model of managing waste is that the waste we collect is disposed into a landfill at a dumping site allocated by the District Council. We acknowledge that our approach at managing waste is not as sustainable. The future envisioned by the enterprise is one where we are able to sort the waste into different streams of waste. We would like to produce organic fertilizers from the organic waste collected; bone meal for fish and livestock from bones collected; and glass dust for pottery from the glass waste collected.

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

Mitekete Social Enterprise exists to meet the waste management needs of residents of Dedza Township. In townships like Dedza township, waste management is a service that the town assembly must offer. In most townships across Malawi, this service is often under-resourced. households in Dedza Township do not have access to routine garbage collection. Households have resorted to unsustainable ways of managing waste. Waste can be seen in roadways and waters, an evident cause of pollution.

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

Our Unique Selling Position is that we are the only provider of routine garbage collection in Dedza Township. Our enterprise offers an effective, efficient, sustainable, and convenient way for households and other enterprises to manage waste that they generate. With our project proposal. we will be able to remarkably contribute to preserving the environment; ensuring clean surroundings; and reduce water and land pollution.

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

Our Target market comprises households and enterprises that generate any kind of solid waste. We are targeting middle-income households at the center of the township. We are targeting households with a substantial income because we are offering a paid service. Waste management is not a service that a lot of households prioritize, it therefore requires someone to have disposable income to demand our service. But we also acknowledge that waste management services are a need and not a luxury. Any household can demand this service if they understand the importance of sustainably managing waste. Dedza Township has an estimated 6,723 households, and less than 5% of HHs have access to garbage collection services (National Statistical Office, 2018).

01.05 When was your company established?

2022-11-05

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

0

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

0

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

I am the sole owner of the enterprise. I am a holder of a Master of Science in Development Studies and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics. At the enterprise I double as the founder and General Manager. I lead in business ideation, resource management, planning, and resource mobilization.

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

https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085338646814

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

Other: Waste Management

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

6

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

The enterprise has created employment for 7 individuals.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

5

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

With our plan of producing organic fertilizers from the waste collected, smallholder farmers around Dedza Township will have access to affordable plant nutrients which will ensure them bumper harvest for consumption and surplus for sale.

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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

Our waste management solutions enable households to achieve clean environment. Good sanitation highly correlates with good health and well-being.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

Previously, households did not have access to routine garbage or on-demand garbage collection. Households and enterprises were resorting to disposing waste in waterways and roadways. Our enterprise is offering efficient and effective waste management for households and enterprises.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

We ensure our employees are safe when handling waste and are paid more than the minimum wage.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

Recycling waste will see us bring in innovative ideas of generating value from waste.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

We have introduced a sustainable model for waste management. Homes and business premises are now able to keep their surroundings clean by having waste being disposed in the right places.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

The organic fertilizers which we will be able to sell will allow farmers find a sustainable alternative for inorganic fertilizers.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Unsustainable waste management can lead to pollution of air, water, and land, affecting the environment and biodiversity. Such impacts can indirectly affect the ecosystem and influence climate change. Our enterprise is offering sustainable waste management

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

Waste that is not correctly disposed makes its way into water ways and further into water bodies. We are offer a sustainable way of disposing waste.

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

Careless disposal of waste affects the quality of land and biodiversity present in land.

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

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

3

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

4

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

5

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

1 - Strongly Disagree

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

7 - Strongly Agree

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.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.08 Justification for my startup

06.09 Competitive Analysis

We are operating as a monopoly in our target area. We are the only provider of routine garbage collection in Dedza Township. Our enterprise offers an effective, efficient, sustainable, and convenient way for households and other enterprises to manage waste that they generate.

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