Building on the success of the WASH Accelerator
Building on the success of the WASH Accelerator
The WASH Accelerator programme in Nigeria is the result of a partnership between Reckitt and Yunus Social Business. Six enterprises—Let’s Build for Humanity, Onyeisi Care Foundation, Alora Reusable Pads, Toilet Pride, SOSO Care, and Kiddies and Brands—were selected for the program because of their innovative social business solutions ranging from sustainable sanitation facilities to reusable menstrual hygiene products. They all aimed at improving WASH conditions across communities in Nigeria. At the closing ceremony in Lagos, each participating social business was awarded 6,300,000 Naira in seed funding. (Discover more about the social businesses here).
The Accelerator Programme provided more than just financial support. It comprised five months of training covering nearly 300 hours of dedicated support and expertise provided by Reckitt employees. This included four intensive two-day bootcamps covering impact measurement and management, storytelling, and customer mapping.
“Looking at where we came from at the start of the program, where we were really struggling with funding and delivery of our product, to now where we have secured great partnerships and support with the likes of USAID and the Foreign Commonwealth Development Organisation (FCDO), I say to the WASH Accelerator program: Thank you, truly.” - Chukwuma Nnanna, Founder & CEO of Toilet Pride
“The Reckitt Accelerator Programme has immensely benefited both me personally and our organization, Alora Reusable Pads. The program's focus on storytelling, impact measurement, and customer mapping has allowed me to refine essential skills crucial for the success of our initiatives. I now approach storytelling with greater impact, measure our outcomes more effectively, and understand our customers' needs in a more nuanced manner.” - Sarah Kuponiyi, CEO & Founder of Alora Reusable Pads.
This proven model, which combines grant funding and capacity-building, is based on the learnings and impact of the WASH Accelerator in South Africa and Brazil. Now, with three markets and a total of 18 social businesses scaled, both Reckitt and Yunus Social Business look forward to the future of building the WASH Accelerator and growing the ecosystem further.
The Social Business Revolution: Why is Venture Philanthropy the Most Effective Form of Giving?
How should we give? Along with the issue of how much, questioning the model into which we donate our money is becoming more and more pertinent in the modern age. As we seek to optimise the way we spend and invest our money, it’s not surprising that we are also looking to optimise the way we give. There is a scarcity in the philanthropic capital available - so it’s important that it is spent well.
Yunus Social Business Partners With Ikea Foundation to Empower Social Entrepreneurs in Developing Ec
We are excited to announce our partnership with IKEA Foundation as part of their expanding focus on social entrepreneurship.
Godson Commodities - The entrepreneurs who quit their jobs and sold their home
We spoke to the founders of Godson Export Commodities, Godfrey and Marketing Director Anne Macharia to understand why they started the business and what they have learnt along the way. Godson Export Commodities collects, processes and exports chia, quinoa, and sesame grown by smallholder farmers in Uganda.
