Empower millions: connect, inform, donate.

Africa is the world's second-largest continent by land area and population, with over 1.4 billion people. Despite its vast resources, Africa is still grappling with extreme poverty, displacement, violence, and lack of access to basic services such as healthcare, education, and clean water. This is largely due to weak governance structures, economic and political instability, and inadequate infrastructure.

Aid has been one of the key mechanisms for addressing these challenges in Africa. However, aid distribution in Africa is often inefficient, with a large percentage of capital going to waste. According to the World Bank, over 40% of development assistance to Africa is lost to corruption and inefficiency.

Moreover, the distribution of aid is often uneven, with some areas receiving more aid than others. For example, in 2018, six countries in Africa (Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, Sudan, and Kenya) received over 50% of all humanitarian aid. This leaves many other areas with inadequate support, despite facing similar or even more severe challenges.

To address these challenges, there is a need for a more efficient and effective distribution of aid. This is where our unique network and technology come in. By leveraging technology and data analytics, we can optimize aid delivery and ensure that resources reach those who most need them.

1. Work and source locally

a. To engage with formal and informal networks of citizens in disconnected and low-literacy areas

b. Our committees work together to plan and define the right way to spend the donation.

We are 10 x cost-effective.

By working directly with the communities,  we can source and negotiate locally, instantly reducing overhead costs.

2. Maintain transparency and speed

a. We transfer the money directly to our trusted community leaders, who can immediately use it based on their needs.

b. We keep track of everything in real time. From the flow of funds, allocation, how communities spend the donation, and who receives it.

Our network can help identify areas most in need of aid and prioritize them accordingly. We can also track the impact of aid interventions in real-time, allowing us to adjust and optimize our approach as needed.

In addition to addressing the inefficiencies in aid distribution, our network and technology can also help address other challenges facing Africa. For example, by providing access to reliable information, we can empower communities to make informed decisions and hold their governments accountable. By enabling secure and efficient fund donation and distribution, we can help support local businesses and economies, creating sustainable and long-term development.

Vulnerable communities in Africa are those who are facing various challenges, including displacement, poverty, conflict, and lack of access to basic services. These communities often lack access to the resources and support they need to overcome these challenges, leaving them vulnerable to further hardship and exploitation.

Refunite is an organization that serves vulnerable communities in Africa by leveraging technology to connect displaced people with their loved ones and essential services. 

Refunite operates in more than 20 countries, including several in Africa, where it has helped connect millions of people with their families and communities. The organization uses a variety of innovative technologies, including mobile phones, social media, and biometric identification, to locate and reconnect families who have been separated due to conflict, disaster, or migration.

In addition to its family tracing services, Refunite also provides essential information and support to vulnerable communities in Africa. This includes access to healthcare, education, and other basic services, as well as information on their rights and how to access legal and other support services.

One of the key challenges facing vulnerable communities in Africa is the lack of reliable information and communication channels. Many of these communities are located in remote or conflict-affected areas, where traditional communication channels may be disrupted or unavailable.

Refunite's use of mobile phones and social media has been particularly effective in addressing this challenge, allowing the organization to reach even the most remote communities with essential information and support. For example, Refunite's "RefuChat" platform allows displaced people to communicate with each other and access information on their rights and services in their local language.

Refunite also works closely with local organizations and community leaders to ensure that its services are tailored to the specific needs and challenges of each community. This community-based approach has been critical to the success of Refunite's programs in Africa. It has established partnerships with a wide range of organizations, including UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and local NGOs.

At Refunite, we recognize that the communities we serve are experts on their own needs and experiences, and we believe that meaningful engagement with these communities is critical to the success of our programs. To ensure that our programs are responsive to the needs of the communities we serve, we have a team lead and team representative who are responsible for engaging with communities and ensuring that their voices are heard throughout the design and implementation process.

Our team lead and team representative work closely with community leaders, local NGOs, and other stakeholders to understand the unique challenges facing each community, as well as their priorities and goals. They use a variety of methods to engage with communities, including focus groups, community meetings, and one-on-one interviews.

We also use feedback mechanisms, such as surveys and feedback forms, to gather feedback from communities on our programs and services. This feedback is then used to inform our program design and implementation, ensuring that our solutions are tailored to the communities' needs and priorities.

Our approach to program design and implementation is guided by the principles of community-led development, which emphasizes the importance of involving communities in all aspects of the development process. This means that we actively seek out and incorporate the input, ideas, and agendas of the communities we serve in the design and implementation of our programs.

For example, when designing our family tracing services, we worked closely with community members to develop culturally appropriate messaging and outreach strategies. We also trained community members to serve as local Refunite representatives, who could help connect displaced people with our services and provide feedback on how we could improve our programs.

In addition to engaging with communities in the design and implementation of our programs, we also prioritize transparency and accountability in our work. We regularly share updates on our programs and services with the communities we serve, and we actively seek feedback on how we can improve our programs and better meet their needs.

Currently, we have a digital network that serves over 100,000,000 million people across Africa, by working with over 56,000 community leaders.

As Refunite provides a range of solutions to address the complex challenges faced by displaced communities, the number of people our solutions can directly impact varies depending on the specific program or service.

For example, our family tracing services have helped over 1 million displaced people across Africa and the Middle East to reconnect with their loved ones. Our education and livelihoods programs, which aim to support the long-term well-being of displaced communities, have also reached thousands of individuals.

However, it's important to note that the impact of our solutions extends beyond the direct beneficiaries of our programs. By promoting community-led development and engaging with communities throughout the design and implementation process, we can foster a sense of ownership and empowerment within the communities we serve. This can lead to broader positive impacts, such as increased social cohesion, improved community resilience, and more effective advocacy for the rights and needs of displaced people.

We are applying to MIT SOLVE program because Refunite's innovative approach to supporting displaced communities has the potential to create positive change on a global scale. By leveraging technology to address the complex challenges faced by displaced people, we have been able to help over 1 million individuals reconnect with their loved ones and support the long-term well-being of thousands more. 

We are eager to participate in the MIT SOLVE program to develop our solutions further, collaborate with other innovators and experts in the field, and explore new opportunities for impact. The resources and network provided by the MIT SOLVE program will be invaluable in helping us to scale our impact and create sustainable change for the communities we serve.

Everybody wants to help vulnerable communities, but we are changing the foreign aid is delivered. We are a trusted digital network reaching over 100 million off-grid citizens across Africa through 56,000+ trusted community leaders. We call ourselves a human Internet, connecting information through trust into off grid and fragmented areas. We connect this trust with innovative financial rails and a transparent distribution model.

Working with communities in disconnected and low-literacy areas has its challenges. That is why we focus on building strong relationships with the communities, make sure they get to voice their concerns and needs, and have community leaders coordinate and manage the demands, as well as making sure they get to define the right way to spend the donation. 

Working as a bridge between aid and vulnerable communities in Africa, we work to optimize every dollar of donation to be used for the communities. We focus on a community-led approach by placing the community at the center of the problem-solving process, empowering them to identify their unique needs and create solutions that are tailored to their context. 

We also continue thriving for transparency, so we work with the community leaders to document and track the donation spending for accountability.

Currently, we are working with 56,000+ community leaders and 100 million engaged citizens. In the next five years, we aim to reaching 250,000 community leaders and 200 million citizens across Africa. 

We aim to reach a constant monthly 5% growth to become the largest grassroots network in Africa by 2025. We do it by:

• Upgrading our platform to allow real-time reporting to donors.

• Upgrading our finance management tool so the fund from donors will be transferred directly to the community leaders.

• Rigorous piloting (Initial test sites show promise, need $3M for rigorous pilot and evaluation)

• Scale-up (Expect flow of funds to reach $100M)

No Poverty

• Ensure that each household has a job that can sustain the whole family
• Equip single mothers and youths with skills for financial stability
• Create employment opportunities for refugee women
• The head of the household must earn a minimum of $5/day
• Train 450 single mothers and youth in tailoring skills
• Start a business of plastic chairs for hire for events like weddings, church services, etc.

Zero Hunger

• Provide food to vulnerable refugee families to improve their health and mitigate malnutrition
• Reduce cases of malnutrition by food distribution
• Distribute cassava flour, beans, bar soap, maize flour, sugar, cooking oil, and liquid soap to reduce cases of malnutrition in the Congolese and Ethiopian refugee communities

Good Health and Well-being

• Improve access to free health facilities and rapid testing for different diseases
• Help pregnant women seek medical solutions
• Fight against infection and restore women and girls' dignity
• Distribute health products such as sanitary pads and washing soap to improve health for disabled Somali women and girls
• Fight malaria among Congolese refugees and help Somali women and girls to fight infections
• Provide clothes to refugees who are unable to clothe themselves, especially those living in slums
• Provide free medicines to refugees who cannot afford them

Quality Education

• Improve children's access to school by providing school requirements and attributes
• Send 200 children to school with full school requirements
• Enable 500 children to attend school

Gender Equality

• Provide sexual education and practical tips for women and young girls to protect themselves
• Empower refugee women and young girls who are victims of sexual abuse

Clean Water and Sanitation

• Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
• Promote hand washing behavior
• Provide clean water to people living in swampy areas and slums to prevent unclean water-related diseases

Affordable and Clean Energy

• Reduce the usage of firewood for cooking meals

Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Provide catering materials to Congolese women to start cooking businesses and generate income for their families

Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

• Promote peace and justice values for youths
• Host youth tournaments, such as a Peace football tournament, to end rivalry among them

Partnerships for the Goals

• Strengthen relationships with local organizations for better community empowerment
• Work with a minimum of 5 local organizations for each country.

• WhatsApp and SMS technology: To communicate with the communities, especially community leaders. This is very helpful, including during emergencies, where they can let us know when they need help and what kind of support they need.

• Software: Informational website, dashboard for project and financial management.

• Blockchain: For all kinds of financial transactions from donor to Relay, and Relay to the community.

1. Diversity in hiring: We actively seek out diverse candidates during the hiring process.

2. Inclusive policies and practices: We implement policies and practices that promote inclusivity and equity, such as flexible work arrangements or accommodations for individuals with special conditions including different time zones.

3. Understanding that diversity, equity, and inclusion requires constant conversations. It is a dynamic concept that needs openness and process.

We are a tech nonprofit. We utilize and improve technology to make sure we get to help as many people as we can, as quickly as possible. We manage fundings and work directly with the communities so they can decide exactly how the money is going to be spent

1. Building strategic partnerships with governments, NGOs, and other organizations that share our values and mission, to access funding opportunities.

2. Developing and promoting premium services that generate revenue and offer unique value to our customers. For example, we could offer a premium service for people searching for lost loved ones, such as personalized support, extended search capabilities, and dedicated case managers.

3. Engaging with impact investors willing to provide long-term funding to social enterprises with a proven track record of impact.

4. Exploring alternative funding models such as crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending, and social impact bonds.

5. Developing and implementing sustainable cost-saving measures to improve operational efficiency and reduce overhead expenses.

1. Partnerships: Refunite has developed partnerships with other non-profit organizations and private sector companies to fund our programs.

2. Crowdfunding: Refunite has also leveraged crowdfunding platforms to fund specific programs and initiatives. 

3. Donations: Refunite has a strong base of individual donors who support our work. We have developed relationships with these donors through our fundraising efforts and by providing regular updates on our programs.