MAJI MAMAS. Women using social enterprise to transition from water bearer to water provider, launching sustainable water and sanitation businesses

Transcription

1 Women using social enterprise to transition from water bearer to water provider, launching sustainable water and sanitation businesses

2 Why An unprecedented cultural shift is occurring right now within the Maasai. Historically pastoral, the Maasai have received considerable pressure from governments to give up their nomadic ways and settle down into permanent homes. But they have little wealth and few resources needed to build healthy and productive communities. We can change that and meet their critical needs through Maji Mamas. A Maji Mama is a social entrepreneur providing sustainable water to her community. She is an enterprising woman in a rural or peri-urban community interested in improving the health of her community and the size of her income. Leveraging the strength of commercial franchises, we work with women to develop scalable businesses providing solutions to water and sanitation problems. Using a manual press, Maji Mamas make blocks from compressed earth (ISSBs) that they use to build high quality water tanks and pit latrines for half the cost of traditional solutions. By building an effective and sustainable business on a proven model, Maji Mamas double their annual income while ensuring thousands in their communities have access to water and sanitation. We value women as the key to growth in these rural communities, and believe that with resources and mentorship, women are the solution to the water crisis. Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks (ISSB) machine

3 How 1 FRANCHISEE IDENTIFICATION Women are identified as prospective franchisees through peer-to-peer nomination and by referral from existing Maji Mamas. Prospective franchisees receive support in market research and in securing 3-4 contracts to build water tanks in her community. 2 TRAINING With 3-4 contracts secured, Maji Mamas receive training in ISSB production, building water tanks out of ISSBs, and the policies and procedures for running a Maji Mama business. Women also receive training to become Water and Health Educators to build grassroots marketing. 3 BUSINESS STARTUP Currently, Maji Mamas are provided with start-up capital necessary to purchase the equipment, materials for a demonstration tank, and labor costs for the first two contracts. In the future, equipment will be provided on a micro-lease basis and additional startup costs will be provided as a loan. 4 BUSINESS EXPANSION Maji Mamas successful in their first water tank contracts, and with market interest in purchasing individual ISSBs and pit latrines, receive additional training and equipment to expand their product line.

4 Franchisee Products Product Competitor Price Maji Mama Price Cost Per Unit Margin 10,000 Liter Tank 72,000 KES 50,250 KES 45,650 KES 4,600 KES 20,000 Liter Tank 290,000 KES 100,500 KES 91,300 KES 9,200 KES Pit Latrine 75,000 KES 50,000 KES 45,000 KES 5,000 KES ISSBs (1 m 3 ) 980 KES 450 KES 368 KES 82 KES ISSBs: Maji Mamas use regionally sourced equipment to produce Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks (ISSBs) from local soils and materials. Considerably less expensive than stone and clay bricks, Maji Mamas use ISSBS to build build water tanks and pit latrines at a reduced cost. RAIN TANKS: Maji Mamas build rain collection tanks out of ISSBs. With the rain cycles in Maasai lands, a 10,000L tank can provide drinking water for approximately 25 people while a 20,000L tank provides access to 50 people. PIT LATRINES: With many pit latrines collapsing under the rains, ISSBs produce stronger, long-lasting pit latrines at a lower cost than competitors. ISSBs FRANCHISEE REVENUE Prices for product lines are set to provide an hourly wage to the women working on a contract. Profit margin above and beyond hourly wage is distributed to women shareholders for an average of 40,000 KES per woman per year. This is 2.7 times the current annual income of Maasai women in this region. 20,000L rain tank made from ISSBs

5 Financial Model Microloans for water tanks, pit latrines, and equipment Funding for general operations and business expansions Annual franchising fee Payment for Products Donors and Financing Partners Franchisor Franchisees (Maji Mamas) Customers

6 Impact 5 Year 775 WOMEN IN WATER BUSINESSES $2 MILLION WOMEN S INCOME WATER 600,000 PEOPLE