NourishLife
- Tanzania
- Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit
The specific problem NourishLife Tanzania is addressing is the high rates of malnutrition among pregnant and lactating women (PLW) and their children in Tanzania.
In Tanzania, over 3 million women suffer from malnutrition, contributing to high rates of stunting (34%) and underweight (11%) in children under 5. Malnutrition during pregnancy and the first 1,000 days of a child's life can have devastating long-term consequences, including impaired physical and cognitive development, increased risk of disease, and even death.
The factors contributing to this problem in Tanzania include limited access to nutritious foods, lack of nutrition knowledge, and deep-seated cultural beliefs that hinder women's dietary choices. Many rural communities lack affordable, diverse food sources, forcing PLW to rely on nutrient-poor staple crops. Furthermore, ingrained societal norms often dictate that certain nutrient-dense foods are unsuitable or taboo for expectant mothers.
Globally, maternal and child malnutrition remains a pervasive issue, with an estimated 149 million children under 5 affected by stunting and 45 million by wasting. The consequences of this crisis extend beyond individual health, undermining community development and national economic growth. Addressing maternal and child malnutrition is crucial for achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
By tackling this problem in Tanzania, NourishLife aims to not only improve the lives of women and children in the country but also contribute to broader global efforts to end malnutrition and promote sustainable development.
Platform Overview:
NourishLife's innovative solution is a mobile-based platform that provides pregnant and lactating women (PLW) in rural Tanzania with access to locally-sourced nutritious foods, essential supplements, and personalized nutrition education.
The core components of the NourishLife platform include:
1. Nutritious food delivery: PLW can subscribe to receive regular deliveries of fortified, locally-grown food packages at an affordable price of $4.40 per 1kg bag. These nutrient-dense foods are sourced directly from small-scale farmers to ensure freshness and support the local economy.
2. Supplement provision: In addition to the food packages, NourishLife offers essential vitamin and mineral supplements, priced at $4.40 per 100g sachet, to address specific nutritional deficiencies.
3. Nutrition education: The platform provides tailored educational content through in-person workshops and a mobile-compatible e-learning module. This empowers PLW to make informed choices about healthy eating and meal preparation.
4. Personalized recommendations: By analyzing individual dietary needs, preferences, and behaviors, the NourishLife platform can offer personalized product recommendations and guidance to each user, driving sustainable behavior change.
5. Virtual support network: The platform also facilitates a community-based approach, allowing PLW to connect with each other, share experiences, and access additional resources.
Underpinning this integrated solution is NourishLife's use of data analytics and mobile technology. The platform leverages user data to continuously improve its recommendations and user experience, while the mobile accessibility ensures convenience and reach, even in remote rural areas.
Through this comprehensive, technology-enabled approach, NourishLife aims to empower PLW to prioritize their health and nutrition, ultimately improving maternal and child outcomes in Tanzania.
NourishLife's solution directly serves the over 3 million pregnant and lactating women (PLW) in Tanzania who suffer from malnutrition. This group is particularly underserved, as they face significant barriers to accessing the nutritious foods and education necessary for their own health and the development of their children.
Many rural Tanzanian communities lack reliable and affordable sources of diverse, nutrient-rich foods. PLW in these areas are often forced to rely on nutrient-poor staple crops, leading to widespread micronutrient deficiencies. This malnutrition contributes to high rates of stunting (34%) and underweight (11%) in children under 5, with devastating long-term impacts on physical and cognitive development.
By providing PLW with access to affordable, locally-sourced nutritious foods, essential supplements, and personalized nutrition education, NourishLife aims to directly address these pressing needs and empower this population to improve their own health and that of their children.
NourishLife Tanzania is led by a team of passionate individuals with deep roots in the communities they serve, ensuring the solution is designed and delivered with the target population's needs at the forefront.
The CEO, Sarah Makweba, is a seasoned social entrepreneur from Mbeya, Tanzania, with over 10 years of experience in developing community-driven nutrition and agriculture initiatives. Her intimate understanding of the local context and strong relationships with rural communities are invaluable assets.
Alongside Sarah, the NourishLife team includes:
1. Neema Ndeto, the Head of Nutrition, a registered dietitian from Arusha with extensive experience working with pregnant and lactating women in underserved regions.
2. Rajabu Mwamlima, the Head of Farmer Partnerships, a respected agricultural expert from Kilimanjaro who has fostered collaborations between smallholder farmers and social enterprises.
3. Zainabu Kihula, the Lead of Community Engagement, a community organizer from Morogoro with a proven track record of mobilizing women's groups and co-creating solutions.
This diverse, locally-rooted team ensures that the design and implementation of the NourishLife platform are deeply informed by the perspectives, needs, and aspirations of the target population. Through ongoing community engagement, co-creation workshops, and a commitment to local ownership, the team continuously refines the solution to address the evolving challenges faced by pregnant and lactating women in rural Tanzania.
By leveraging their intimate knowledge of the local context and strong community ties, the NourishLife team is uniquely positioned to deliver a highly impactful, sustainable, and culturally-relevant solution to address maternal and child malnutrition.
- Increase access to and quality of health services for medically underserved groups around the world (such as refugees and other displaced people, women and children, older adults, and LGBTQ+ individuals).
- 2. Zero Hunger
- 3. Good Health and Well-Being
- 5. Gender Equality
- Growth
NourishLife Tanzania has already established its solution in several rural communities in the Mbeya and Kilimanjaro regions, demonstrating promising traction and readiness for further growth.
By the end of 2023, NourishLife had sold over 5,000 food packages and 2,500 supplement sachets to pregnant and lactating women (PLW) in these communities, generating a total revenue of $23,000. Each food package is priced at $4.40 for a 1kg bag of locally-sourced, nutrient-dense foods, while the supplement sachets are sold at $4.40 for 100g.
This initial success has allowed NourishLife to refine its model, build strong relationships with local farmers and community organizations, and gather valuable feedback from the target beneficiaries. The consistent design and approach employed across these initial communities have laid a solid foundation for further expansion.
NourishLife has also secured seed-stage investment from local and international impact investors, totaling $150,000. This funding has enabled the team to strengthen its operational capacity, enhance the technology platform, and develop a robust monitoring and evaluation system to track the solution's impact.
With this established track record, NourishLife is now poised to scale its solution to reach more pregnant and lactating women in rural Tanzania, and explore opportunities for expansion into other regions facing similar challenges. The team's deep community ties, technical expertise, and financial resources position them well to drive further growth and impact.
NourishLife Tanzania is applying to Solve to access a diverse set of resources and partnerships that can help us overcome key barriers to scaling our solution and driving greater impact.
While we have made strong progress in establishing our model in several rural communities, we face significant challenges in expanding our reach to serve more pregnant and lactating women (PLW) across Tanzania. Our primary barriers include:
1. Limited access to growth capital: As a social enterprise, we require additional investment to fund our operational expansion, technology development, and marketing efforts. The Solve network and its funding opportunities can help us secure the necessary capital to scale our solution.
2. Gaps in technical expertise: To enhance our mobile platform and data analytics capabilities, we seek technical guidance and potential collaborations with experts in fields like user experience design and data science. Solve's extensive network of partners can provide invaluable support in these areas.
3. Cultural and regulatory hurdles: Navigating the cultural nuances and regulatory landscape of the Tanzanian healthcare system requires specialized knowledge and relationships. Solve's ecosystem of local and global experts can help us better understand and address these context-specific barriers.
4. Barriers to market access: Reaching remote, underserved communities and effectively marketing our solution to the target beneficiaries is an ongoing challenge. Solve's connections to distribution channels, marketing strategies, and community-based organizations can unlock new pathways to scale.
By leveraging Solve's resources, partnerships, and expertise, NourishLife Tanzania aims to overcome these barriers and scale our impactful solution to reach more PLW in need. We believe Solve can be a transformative catalyst for our growth and long-term sustainability.
- Financial (e.g. accounting practices, pitching to investors)
- Product / Service Distribution (e.g. delivery, logistics, expanding client base)
- Technology (e.g. software or hardware, web development/design)
NourishLife Tanzania's solution is innovative in several key ways that can catalyze broader positive impacts in the maternal and child nutrition space:
1. Integrated mobile-based platform: By leveraging mobile technology, NourishLife provides a one-stop-shop solution that seamlessly combines the delivery of nutritious foods and supplements with personalized nutrition education. This integrated approach addresses the multifaceted needs of pregnant and lactating women (PLW) in a convenient, accessible manner.
2. Data-driven personalization: The NourishLife platform uses data analytics to assess individual dietary needs and preferences, allowing it to offer tailored product recommendations and guidance. This personalization drives sustained behavior change and maximizes the impact on each user's health.
3. Community-based model: Rather than a top-down approach, NourishLife partners closely with local community organizations, farmers, and PLW themselves to co-create the solution. This ensures cultural relevance, builds trust, and empowers the target beneficiaries as active participants.
4. Localized, sustainable supply chain: By sourcing nutritious foods directly from small-scale Tanzanian farmers, NourishLife supports the local agricultural economy while ensuring the freshness and affordability of its products. This model can serve as a blueprint for other social enterprises seeking to build sustainable supply chains.
5. Scalable and replicable design: The modular, technology-enabled nature of the NourishLife platform allows for efficient scaling within Tanzania and potential replication in other countries facing similar maternal and child nutrition challenges. This scalability can catalyze broader impact across the sector.
By seamlessly integrating nutrition, technology, and community empowerment, NourishLife's innovative approach has the potential to disrupt the traditional maternal and child health landscape. Its model can inspire and guide other organizations to adopt similarly holistic, user-centric solutions to address malnutrition in underserved regions.
NourishLife Tanzania's theory of change for driving impact on maternal and child malnutrition in rural Tanzania is as follows:
Activities:
- Deliver affordable, nutrient-dense food packages and essential supplements to pregnant and lactating women (PLW)
- Provide personalized nutrition education and counseling through mobile-based learning modules and in-person workshops
- Foster a supportive community network for PLW to share experiences and access additional resources
Outputs:
- Increased access to and consumption of diverse, nutritious foods and supplements by PLW
- Improved knowledge and skills among PLW on optimal nutrition practices during pregnancy and lactation
- Strengthened social support systems and empowerment of PLW
Outcomes:
- Reduced rates of maternal malnutrition, including micronutrient deficiencies
- Improved maternal health, including reduced risk of anemia, pregnancy complications, and mortality
- Enhanced growth and development in children, including reduced stunting and wasting
Evidence supporting this theory of change:
- Studies show that providing nutrient-dense, affordable foods and supplements to PLW can significantly improve their nutritional status and birth outcomes.
- Nutrition education programs have been shown to positively influence dietary behaviors and lead to better maternal and child health indicators.
- Community-based support networks empower women, increase their agency, and contribute to sustained behavior change around nutrition.
By addressing the multifaceted determinants of maternal and child malnutrition through this integrated, evidence-based approach, NourishLife Tanzania expects to drive meaningful and lasting improvements in the health and well-being of the target population. This in turn can contribute to broader community development and national progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
NourishLife Tanzania's key impact goals and the metrics we are using to measure progress are as follows:
Goal 1: Improve the nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women (PLW) in rural Tanzania.
Indicators:
- Increase the percentage of PLW with improved dietary diversity scores from 35% to 70% by 2026.
- Reduce the prevalence of anemia among PLW from 40% to 20% by 2026.
- Increase the percentage of PLW meeting their daily nutrient requirements from 25% to 60% by 2026.
Indicators:
- Decrease the incidence of low birth weight among infants born to NourishLife beneficiaries from 15% to 8% by 2026.
- Reduce the prevalence of stunting and wasting among children under 5 in NourishLife communities from 34% and 11% respectively to 20% and 6% by 2026.
- Decrease the maternal mortality ratio within NourishLife's target areas from 524 per 100,000 live births to 400 per 100,000 live births by 2026.
Indicators:
- Increase the percentage of PLW who demonstrate improved knowledge of optimal nutrition and health practices from 40% to 75% by 2026.
- Increase the percentage of PLW who report feeling confident and in control of their nutritional choices from 30% to 60% by 2026.
- Increase the percentage of PLW who actively participate in community-based nutrition support groups from 20% to 45% by 2026.
To track progress towards these goals, NourishLife collects data through a combination of household surveys, health facility records, and community-level focus group discussions. We also utilize mobile-based data collection tools to monitor real-time usage and feedback from our platform users.
By continuously measuring and evaluating our impact across these key indicators, we can refine our solution, optimize our delivery model, and ensure we are driving meaningful, lasting improvements in the lives of pregnant and lactating women and their families in rural Tanzania by 2026.
The core technology powering NourishLife Tanzania's solution is a mobile-based platform that integrates several key components:
1. Digital nutrition assessment and personalization:
The NourishLife app uses a data-driven approach to assess the nutritional needs and preferences of each pregnant and lactating woman (PLW) user. Through a series of surveys and interactions, the platform collects information on the user's dietary intake, health status, and personal circumstances. Using this data, the app's algorithms generate personalized recommendations for nutritious food packages and supplements tailored to the individual's requirements.
2. Mobile-enabled food and supplement delivery:
Leveraging partnerships with local food producers and logistics providers, the NourishLife platform facilitates the ordering, payment, and delivery of the personalized food packages and supplement sachets directly to the homes of PLW users. This convenient, on-demand model ensures timely access to the necessary nutrients.
3. Nutrition education and behavior change content:
The NourishLife app also hosts a digital library of multimedia educational content, including video lessons, interactive quizzes, and virtual consultations with nutritionists. This content is designed to empower PLW with the knowledge and skills to adopt optimal nutrition practices during pregnancy and lactation.
4. Community engagement and support features:
To foster a supportive network, the NourishLife platform includes features for PLW to connect with their peers, share experiences, and access additional resources from local health and community organizations. This social support component complements the nutrition-focused services.
By integrating these innovative technological components, NourishLife creates a holistic, user-centric solution that addresses the multifaceted barriers to good maternal and child nutrition in rural Tanzania. The platform's data-driven, mobile-enabled approach is key to driving sustained behavior change and improving health outcomes at scale.
- A new application of an existing technology
- Behavioral Technology
- Big Data
- Manufacturing Technology
- Software and Mobile Applications
- Tanzania
- Uganda
NourishLife Tanzania's solution team comprises 9 members with the following breakdown:
Full-time staff:
- 1 Chief Executive Officer
- 1 Chief Operations Officer
- 1 Head of Product and Technology
- 1 Nutrition and Community Engagement Manager
- 2 Community Mobilizers
- 1 Farmer Relationship Coordinator
- 1 Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist
- 1 Finance and Accounting Associate
- 1 Marketing and Communications Coordinator
NourishLife Tanzania has been working on its solution for the past 2 years. The organization was founded in 2021 by a team of social entrepreneurs and public health professionals who identified the need to address maternal and child malnutrition in rural Tanzania. Over the past 2 years, the NourishLife team has conducted research, developed the mobile-based platform, established partnerships, and piloted the solution in several rural communities, refining the model based on user feedback and initial impact data. This foundational work has prepared NourishLife for further scaling and growth to reach more pregnant and lactating women in need across Tanzania.
NourishLife Tanzania is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve and enables us to deliver the most impactful solution.
Our leadership team is composed of individuals from varied backgrounds, with a balance of gender, age, and ethnic representation. This diversity of perspectives and experiences is crucial for understanding the unique needs and challenges faced by our target beneficiaries, and developing culturally-appropriate, user-centric solutions.
To further strengthen the diversity of our workforce, we have implemented the following practices:
1. Inclusive hiring: Our job postings and recruitment efforts explicitly encourage applications from women, youth, and marginalized groups. We also partner with local community organizations to reach a broader pool of candidates.
2. Equitable compensation and career development: We ensure fair and competitive compensation for all team members, regardless of gender or background. We also provide mentorship, training, and opportunities for professional growth to support the career advancement of our staff.
3. Inclusive work culture: We foster a welcoming environment where all team members feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their ideas. This includes regular team-building activities, open communication channels, and a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination or harassment.
4. Partnerships with local organizations: We collaborate with women-led, youth-focused, and community-based organizations to leverage their expertise, networks, and resources in serving our target population.
By prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion, NourishLife Tanzania aims to build a high-performing, representative team that can truly understand and address the needs of pregnant and lactating women in rural Tanzania. This commitment is fundamental to our mission of driving sustainable, equitable impact.
NourishLife Tanzania's business model is designed to provide affordable, high-impact nutrition solutions to pregnant and lactating women (PLW) in rural communities, while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the organization.
Key Customers and Beneficiaries:
- Primary Beneficiaries: Pregnant and lactating women in rural Tanzania facing malnutrition and associated health risks.
- Secondary Customers: Local and national government agencies, non-profit organizations, and development programs that can partner with NourishLife to reach their target populations.
- Personalized food packages: NourishLife sources and assembles nutrient-dense, locally-sourced foods into affordable 1kg packages tailored to the dietary needs of each PLW user, priced at $4.40 per package.
- Nutrition supplement sachets: NourishLife procures and distributes essential vitamin and mineral supplements in convenient 100g sachets to complement the food packages, priced at $4.40 per sachet.
- Nutrition education and counseling: The NourishLife mobile platform provides multimedia educational content and virtual consultations with nutritionists to empower PLW with knowledge and skills.
- Community engagement: NourishLife facilitates support groups and connections to local health services to foster a holistic support network for PLW.
- Direct sales to PLW users: NourishLife sells the food packages and supplement sachets directly to PLW at an affordable, subsidized price, with the option for mobile payment.
- Partnerships and grants: NourishLife secures funding and in-kind support from government agencies, non-profits, and impact investors to further subsidize the solutions and expand the reach.
- Data licensing: NourishLife generates valuable data insights on maternal and child nutrition that can be licensed to research institutions and development programs.
- Individual consumers or stakeholders (B2C)
NourishLife Tanzania's plan for financial sustainability is centered around a diversified revenue model that includes direct sales, strategic partnerships, and data licensing.
Direct Sales:
- NourishLife has already established a strong customer base, having sold over 5,000 food packages and 2,500 supplement sachets to pregnant and lactating women (PLW) in its initial target communities by the end of 2023.
- Each food package is priced at $4.40 for a 1kg bag of locally-sourced, nutrient-dense foods, while the supplement sachets are sold at $4.40 for 100g.
- This direct sales revenue, combined with mobile payment options, has generated $23,000 in total revenue for NourishLife to date.
Partnerships and Grants:
- NourishLife has secured $150,000 in seed-stage investment from local and international impact investors, which has enabled the organization to strengthen its operational capacity and technology platform.
- The organization is also actively pursuing additional grant funding and in-kind support from government agencies, non-profit organizations, and development programs that share its mission of improving maternal and child nutrition.
- These partnerships allow NourishLife to further subsidize the cost of its solutions, ensuring affordability for the target beneficiaries.
Data Licensing:
- As NourishLife scales its operations, it will generate valuable data insights on maternal and child nutrition trends, behaviors, and outcomes.
- NourishLife plans to license this data to research institutions, government entities, and other development programs, providing an additional revenue stream to support the long-term sustainability of the organization.