Pathway IMPACT

All over Africa, disabled people are sometimes looked upon with pity and misplaced perceptions of helplessness.

Governments and organisations have invested in the education and up-skilling of these population segment such that some of them produce high-quality household products. 

Most of the time, these products are only available in outlets within the same social segment where they were produced - communities that are already economically deprived.

Our strategy: identify these products and their producers, provide them with digital tools and platforms to promote their products online, integrate logistical component to ensure last-mile delivery to clients, track customer satisfaction/experience, document feedback for product/process improvement and encourage referrals. 

We shall guide/assist them set up cooperative societies where none is in place, strengthen existing ones. Help them pursue/attain financial inclusion for accelerated business growth through a combination of increased sales, higher turnover, increased revenue, access to capital, mechanised production resulting from increased demand.

The problems I am trying to solve is primarily the cyclical problem of poverty and destitution among the physically challenged in sub-Saharan Africa.

While an accurate census of the disability population in Nigeria is inexistent, the WHO estimates 25 million persons with disabilities in Nigeria. Three (3) million of these persons are faced with significant barriers to social and physical functioning. The global estimate is 15%.

The major factor contributing to the problem is the economic emasculation of this productive demographic segment.

The solution is a mobile platform that lists artisans and their products and prices (digital marketplace) whereby producers upload their various products (shoes, footwear, bags, clothes, furniture, detergents, etc).

Buyers browse through the gallery, identify the item they want and make a purchase.

The platform transmits a dual message to the producer and the logistics service provider who picks up the item, packages and despatches to the buyer. 

Upon confirming delivery to the client through the tracking mechanism, a feedback questionnaire is automatically despatched for quality assurance and process improvements purposes.

The disabled and physically challenged segment of the population, their families, members of the public, the government and the society.

Their needs are gathered through direct interactions, observation, monitoring and introspection.

It would provide them with a win-win situation.

Digital literacy is moderate among the primary target population. The simplicity of our proposed platform will make for ease of adoption and relatability by our primary users. 

Where an observed capacity gap is observed, example among visually impaired, a support structure, leveraging youth within the community would be recruited to support the effort.

For our secondary target (the users of the products), the platform will mirror their digital purchase, self service and spending culture and provide them with the additional delivery convenience that would promote uptake and patronage.

Furthermore, the integration of a "Support to a Cause" banner would further  incentivise patronage.