Project BLOOM

In 2021, Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for one-fifth of global refugees and is faced with a significant crisis in North-east Nigeria, with 2.2 million displaced, notably youth and adolescents. This demographic group bears a substantial burden on SRHR issues, with one in 20 adolescents contracting STIs annually and half of all HIV infections occurring in those under 25 years old.

According to UNHCR, 2.3 million girls and 1.6 million women need humanitarian assistance in Northeastern Nigeria

A 2018 UNOCHA report estimated 600,000 of these displaced women and girls are of reproductive age and have major needs for SRH services, contraception, and treatment for sexual and gender-based violence

The North West and North East regions have the highest percent of sexually active girls aged 15 to 24 (80 percent and 72 percent, respectively). In both of these regions, median age at first sex is remarkably low, age 16 in both regions.

The motivation for this strategic approach also stems from concerning statistical disparities observed across Nigeria's geopolitical regions, with the North-West showing the highest prevalence at 36%, followed by the North-East at 32%, North-Central at 19%, South-South at 12%, South-East at 8%, and South-West at 8%. These statistics highlight a notable prevalence of child pregnancies in the northern parts of Nigeria, which significantly impacts the overall natality rate in the country.

Furthermore, both the North-West and North-East regions exhibit the highest percentages of sexually active girls aged 15 to 24, standing at 80% and 72%, respectively. Alarmingly, the median age at first sexual activity in these regions is remarkably low, with it occurring at age 16 in both cases.

Limited access to accurate sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information, services, and commodities, combined with cultural norms and stigmatization, pose significant challenges for young people, especially girls and women, in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) like Nigeria. These barriers hinder their ability to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive well-being, exacerbating gender inequalities and restricting their participation in society. The COVID-19 pandemic has further amplified these issues, disproportionately affecting young people.

Given these compelling statistics, it is evident that a comprehensive and innovative approach is imperative to address the complex challenges surrounding sexual and reproductive health rights in Nigeria, particularly in the high-risk regions of the North-West and North-East. Our proposed strategy integrates digital solutions, community mobilization, education, healthcare access, and data-driven decision-making to empower individuals, engage communities, and create sustainable improvements in SRH outcomes.

This is where Project BLOOM comes in. 
Project Bloom is using behavioural change and human-centered design to activate Creators and Youth-Driven SRHR Chatbots to bridge Limited access to accurate SRHR information, commodities and services for young girls and women in Nigeria. 
It focuses on improving the access to SRHR services and products to girls aged between 10-20 years in North-western, North-eastern and North-central states in Nigeria, and ensuring young girls have sufficient information, skills, and support to access care. 

ABOUT BLOOM

Project Bloom is using behavioural change and human-centered design to activate Creators and Youth-Driven SRHR Multilingual Chatbots to bridge Limited access to accurate SRHR information, commodities and services for young girls and women in Nigeria. 
It focuses on improving the access to SRHR services and products to girls aged between 10-20 years in North-western, North-eastern and North-central states in Nigeria, and ensuring young girls have sufficient information, skills, and support to access care. 

BLOOM OBJECTIVES

Project "BLOOM" as an acronym encapsulates the key goals and objectives of the project, which are:

• Breaking Taboos: Overcoming cultural norms, knowledge gap and stigma around SRHR by 50%.

• Leading Access: Empowering a minimum of 100,000 young people to take charge of their SRHR and providing access to affordable and sustainable hygiene products

• Open Conversations: Fostering dialogue about SRHR in communities with relevant stakeholders.

• Outreach and Education: Providing comprehensive SRHR education and awareness through activating over 1000 creators and influencers

• Making Informed Choices: Equipping young individuals with the knowledge to make informed decisions through a minimum of 100,000 young girls engaging with the SRHR Chat Bot in the short term.

IMPACT METRICS
The "BLOOM" project is expected to have a substantial impact in the following areas:

• Increase the proportion of girls aged 10-20 years who have access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education by 25%.
• Decrease the rate of school dropout among adolescent girls by 15% in targeted regions.
• Ensure that gender-responsive facilities and education are integrated into the curricula of at least 500 schools.
• Increase the proportion of girls aged 10–20 who have access to mentorship and guidance for making informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health by 30%.

Expected Outcomes:

• Improved school attendance and academic performance.
• Increased awareness and knowledge of SRHR.
• Greater access to affordable SRHR products and services.
• Enhanced commitment to gender-responsive facilities and education.

Alignment with SDGs:

Contribution to SDG 4: Quality Education

Target 4.1: Ensure that all girls aged 10-18 years have access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education by 25% increase.

Target 4.4: Increase the proportion of girls who complete primary and secondary education and access to quality technical and vocational education and training.

Contribution to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Target 3.7: By increasing access to accurate SRHR information and services, Project Bloom aims to contribute to ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services.
Target 3.7.2: By reducing school dropout rates among adolescent girls, 

Contribution to SDG 5: Gender Equality

Target 5.6: By integrating gender-responsive facilities and education into curricula, Project Bloom contributes to ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development.

Cheers to a future where over 2million girls can navigate the complexities of adolescence with confidence - and provide a supportive community where girls can find the encouragement and guidance, information, and resources they need through our AI-Enabled ChatBot. 

Project BLOOM is dedicated to directly and profoundly improving the lives of adolescent girls in North-Eastern, North-Western, and North-Central Nigeria, specifically those aged 10 to 20. Adolescent girls in these demographics face sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) challenges because they lack comprehensive knowledge of SRHR and access to SRHR products and services. 

These challenges have contributed in no small measure to the 60% of 10.5 million out-of-school girls in the north (UNICEF). A study by the Population Council revealed that the North West and North East regions have the highest percent of sexually active girls aged 15 to 24 (80 percent and 72 percent, respectively) with North Central following behind. In these regions, the median age at first sex is at age 16, resulting in child pregnancies prevalence of 36%, 32% and 19% respectively (Demographic and Health Surveys). Inadvertently, over 30% of deaths among adolescent girls in Nigeria are related to pregnancy and childbirth (Demographic and Health Surveys).

However, these challenges are mostly reverberations of lack of access to accurate SRHR information, products and services. Project BLOOM is poised to address this by using behavioural change and human-centered design to  activate 1000 Creators and Youth-Driven SRHR Chatbots to bridge Limited access to accurate SRHR information, commodities and services for young girls in Nigeria.  

We will activate 1000 Creators and Influencers to launch a media campaign in these regions using storytelling to advise against early sexual debut, shatter cultural and religious myths, and  educate them on menstrual, sexual, reproductive health rights products and services. 

Our youth-friendly AI Chatbots will serve as discreet and accessible avenues for adolescents to ask questions and access reliable and accurate information on menstrual health, contraception, safe sex, and STI prevention 24/7 from the comfort of their phone in languages they understand. This ensures confidentiality and anonymity, and if the need arises, they can connect users with nearby healthcare facilities and/or health practitioners. 

The project aims to impact 2 million young girls (10-20 years) in North-west, North-east and North-central Nigeria with the agency to take control of their sexual and reproductive health in the mid-term and, in the long term, scale our solution to at least 4 other countries in different regions. This will increase school attendance and better academic performance of adolescent girls, help them gain heightened awareness of their body - menstrual, sexual and reproductive health - and have access to affordable SRHR products and services. 

What would happen if 2-million girls aged 10-20 in Northern-Nigeria had access to SRHR-information, products, and services at their fingertips? What kind of impact could it have on their education, sexual and reproductive health, and economic status?

That is why at DO we work with a Team of 8 that has diverse skills and expertise. 

From our CEO, who is actively researching to produce real-time solutions that can be scaled, to our project manager, who essentially oversees the overall planning, execution, and successful delivery of the project.

Our Community Liaison Officer is deeply connected to our target communities. They bridge the gap between the project and the community, ensuring cultural sensitivity and effective engagement.

Our health experts in sexual and reproductive health, includes professionals with experience in family planning, menstrual health, and STI prevention. 

Our behavioral change specialists help us design campaigns and strategies that resonate with the adolescent girls, encouraging them to adopt healthier practices.

At the core at our technology and IT experts, who develop and maintain our chatbot and technology infrastructure, they have experience in software development, artificial intelligence, and IT-support.

Our Content-Creators team are filled with Skilled writers, graphic designers, creating informative content for media campaigns and chatbot interactions.

Our Monitoring and Evaluation Specialists, help us set up robust systems to measure the project's impact and make data-driven decisions for improvements.

Our Legal and Policy Experts, they understand the legal and policy landscape related to SRHR in Nigeria and they help us navigate these complexities and ensure compliance.

Our approach revolves around nurturing a critical mass of proactive Africans, whom we refer to as Grassroots Development Champions (GDCs). These champions are authentic representatives of their communities who are committed to driving sustainable development within their local communities or immediate spaces by leveraging our innovative model. 

In the past two years, we have cultivated a network of over 1000 GDCs who have executed transformative projects in more than 60 communities. This means we are not outsiders; we are integral members who intimately understand the challenges, aspirations, and the local dynamics at play. 

Specifically, we have also harnessed the power of our GDC network to tackle pressing issues in sexual reproductive health (SRH). We have equipped 27 GDCs with the knowledge and resources to address SRH challenges, resulting in tangible benefits for over 2,400 beneficiaries. These GDCs serve as conduits of insight, facilitating a two-way dialogue between our organization and the communities we serve. This ensures that our initiatives are community-driven, aligning seamlessly with the priorities and cultural preferences of the demographics we aim to support, while nudging them to make a change.

Importantly, our work is underpinned by data and evidence. Through our SRH projects and broader community engagement, we have gathered a wealth of data and statistics from the communities we work in about our target population's demographics and needs. This robust data forms the bedrock of Project BLOOM design, ensuring that our interventions are not only evidence-based but also human-centered and tech-driven using our Chatbot.

Our approach revolves around nurturing a critical mass of proactive Africans, whom we refer to as Grassroots Development Champions (GDCs). These champions are authentic representatives of their communities who are committed to driving sustainable development within their local communities or immediate spaces by leveraging our innovative model. 

In the past two years, we have cultivated a network of over 1000 GDCs who have executed transformative projects in more than 60 communities. This means we are not outsiders; we are integral members who intimately understand the challenges, aspirations, and the local dynamics at play. 

Specifically, we have also harnessed the power of our GDC network to tackle pressing issues in sexual reproductive health (SRH). We have equipped 27 GDCs with the knowledge and resources to address SRH challenges, resulting in tangible benefits for over 2,400 beneficiaries. These GDCs serve as conduits of insight, facilitating a two-way dialogue between our organization and the communities we serve. This ensures that our initiatives are community-driven, aligning seamlessly with the priorities and cultural preferences of the demographics we aim to support, while nudging them to make a change.

Project BLOOM represents a pioneering solution that combines behavioral change strategies, human-centered design, and technology to tackle the pressing issue of limited access to accurate Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information, products and services for young girls aged 10-20 in North-West, North-East and North-Central Nigeria. The project uses Behavioral Change and Human-Centered Design to leverage 1000 Creators and Influencers to lead a media campaign using storytelling to provide access to menstrual, sexual and reproductive health rights information, products and services. This comprehensive approach will effectively engage and empower young girls to understand their unique SRHR needs and preferences.

For remote communities with little or no access to digital information, we will activate 200 educators who will integrate SRHR education in their school’s curricular and extracurricular activities. Also, we will activate 100 health practitioners who will execute communitywide outreaches to educate the regions on SRHR, and provide instant access to SRHR information, products and services to young girls.

With our youth-friendly Chatbots, we offer young girls a discreet and accessible platform for asking questions and accessing reliable information on SRHR topics such as menstrual health, contraception, safe sex, and STI prevention. This tech-driven innovation ensures confidentiality and accessibility, addressing the privacy concerns of young girls when seeking SRHR information and catering to the digital-native generation. . This approach fosters a safe and comfortable environment for them to make informed decisions.

Our AI Chatbots offers an added feature of connecting users with nearby healthcare facilities or practitioners. This feature has the potential to transform SRHR service delivery by facilitating direct access to professional care and support.

Our project’s targeted approach in underserved regions of North-west, North-east, and North-central Nigeria acknowledges and addresses the unique challenges faced by young girls in these areas. This geographical specificity helps to tailor the intervention to local needs and culture, potentially serving as a blueprint for scaling our solution in other underserved regions like Senegal, Mali, Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, and Nigeria .

In essence, Project BLOOM offers an innovative response by amalgamating behavioral change, human-centered design, technology, and targeted outreach to address SRHR challenges among young girls in Nigeria. 

Our impact goals for the next year and the next five years are ambitious yet attainable, focusing on tangible outcomes and lasting change in the field of sexual and reproductive health and education in North-Western, North-Eastern and North-Central Nigeria. Our approach combines innovative strategies and a holistic framework to drive progress, and we are committed to achieving the following goals:

Next Year Impact Goals:

Increased school attendance and academic performance of adolescent girls aged 10-20 in North-west, North-east and North-central Nigeria by 20%. To achieve this, we will empower adolescent girls with our DO reusable pads and teach them how to produce the same.

Increased awareness and knowledge of adolescent girls regarding menstrual, sexual, and reproductive health by 30%. Our approach will involve engaging 1000 local creators and influencers, 100 health practitioners, 200 educators, forging partnerships with local organizations and communities and leveraging our Youth-Driven SRHR AI Chatbots to deliver accurate and accessible SRHR information, products and services to a minimum of 100,000 girls.

Increased access to affordable SRHR products and services to 2 million adolescent girls in our target population. To achieve this, we would activate 200 GDC fashion designers to produce over 100,000 reusable pads and dignity kits for adolescent girls, and teach them how to produce the same using locally sourced materials.

Increased commitment from educators and governments to provide gender-responsive facilities and education. To achieve this, we will activate 200 educators (both in government and private schools) to integrate SRHR education in their curricular and extracurricular activities.  

5-Year Goal

Over the next five years, using our behavioural and human-centered design, we aim to continue to refine and fine-tune our Youth-Driven Chatbot to reflect and meet the unique needs of our target population as they evolve via gathering and analyzing our user feedback bi-monthly for improvements.

We also aim to contribute significantly to the achievement of SDGs 3, 4, 5 and 8, i.e. for good health and wellbeing of adolescent girls, education, gender equality, and economic growth. 

We aim to create 10 safe spaces across Senegal, Mali, Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, and Nigeria where girls can seek guidance, provide gender-positive healthcare services, gain essential life skills, and receive unwavering support to prepare them for the challenges of adolescence and beyond. 

Our overarching impact goals revolve around empowerment, education, and sustainable change for girls and women in underserved communities, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, ultimately fostering a future where every girl is empowered and equipped to face adolescence and beyond with confidence and dignity.

BLOOM Theory Of Change

8 people 

2 years

Project BLOOM is committed to creating a more inclusive and equitable society where everyone, regardless of their background or abilities, can access sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information, products, and services comfortably. 

Throughout the development of Project BLOOM, we used behavioural and human-centered design using data collected by our GDCs in the targeted regions to ensure our solution is inclusive and equitable to the diverse groups in the target region. This includes persons with disabilities, vulnerable groups, and marginalised communities. Their insights have influenced the design of our programs and initiatives to make them more inclusive and accessible.
To ensure that our SRHR information and resources are accessible to all, we have translated our content and toolkits into the major languages spoken in our target regions. This linguistic sensitivity ensures that language is not a barrier to understanding and accessing vital information.
Our communication kits are available in formats that cater to the specific needs of PWDs. This includes providing content in accessible formats such as large print, screen reader, and digital accessibility features for those with visual impairments. 
Our AI Chatbots feature translations in the major languages of the regions, making SRHR information accessible to a wider audience. These Chatbots are designed to be user-friendly and compatible with screen readers and other assistive technologies.
All our media campaigns, training sessions, and targeted outreach efforts, will have the representation and participation of PWDs providing them with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to take agency of their menstrual, sexual and reproductive health. Our goal is to create a more inclusive and equitable society where every citizen, regardless of their background or abilities, can comfortably access SRHR information, products and services.
We place a strong emphasis on community engagement and education. Our programs include awareness campaigns and training sessions that are culturally sensitive and inclusive. We work closely with our GDCs in the targeted regions to foster inclusivity and create safe spaces for dialogue and learning.
We have also set up a framework for reviewing our project to identify areas we can enhance for inclusivity and equity using feedback from the communities we serve.

BLOOM Business Model

To ensure the long-term financial sustainability of Project BLOOM, we have developed a comprehensive plan that leverages a combination of revenue streams, partnerships, and strategic initiatives. Our goal is to create a diversified funding model that not only supports the continuation of our essential programs but also enables us to scale our impact sustainably.

We will continue to seek donations and grants from philanthropic organizations, both local and international, that align with our mission and goals. These funds will be crucial for covering our operational expenses, expanding our reach, and implementing new initiatives.

Project BLOOM has developed a line of gender-positive SRHR products, including reusable pads and dignity kits. We will advertise these products for philanthropic individuals, groups and companies to buy them to sponsor the distribution to girls in these target regions. 

We will explore partnerships with government agencies and ministries responsible for education and healthcare. By offering SRHR education and services as part of government programs, we can secure service contracts that will sponsor our project.

Our Youth-Driven SRHR Chatbot has the potential to be licensed to other organizations and governments aiming to address similar challenges. By monetizing the licensing of our technology, we can create a sustainable income stream.

We will organize fundraising events and campaigns, both online and offline, to engage our community of supporters and donors. These events will serve as opportunities to raise funds while increasing awareness of our project.

Collaborations with corporations, especially those with a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility, can provide financial support through sponsorships and donations. These partnerships can also extend to marketing our products to a wider customer base.

In the long term, we may explore opportunities for impact investment. By attracting investors who share our mission, we can secure capital to scale our initiatives, expand our reach, and further develop our technology infrastructure.

By combining these revenue streams, we aim to achieve financial sustainability for Project BLOOM. These strategies will not only cover our expected expenses but also provide the flexibility and resources needed to adapt to evolving challenges and expand our impact in the field of sexual and reproductive health and education. Ultimately, our sustainability plan ensures that we can continue to empower young girls in underserved communities for years to come.