Asante is a Swahili word that means Thank you. Asante Mama is an indigenous social enterprise that provides Women's Groups throughout East Africa with multidimensional solutions, including access to innovative products, health content, financial planning, and entrepreneurship education.

Our mission is to ensure that every woman throughout East Africa has access to affordable products and services that enhance productivity, lower the cost of living, and improve quality of life, thereby building her capacity for Health & Wealth (WHealth™).

Examples of products & services include solar technology, energy efficient cook stoves, water treatment products, micro-insurance, health insurance, financial literacy education, entrepreneurial education, and health awareness campaigns.

Problem

Women are the cornerstone of society. Yet in sub-Saharan Africa many women remain challenged to meet the basic needs of their families. The result is a cycle of poverty that keeps women and their families stuck in the Survival Trap. This Survival Trap is rooted in the tendency to focus on short-term crises at the expense of developing long-term strategies for prosperity.

Solution

Asante Mama is a social enterprise that provides Women Groups throughout East Africa with multidimensional solutions, including access to innovative products, health content, financial planning, and entrepreneurial education. Our approach is both emotional and functional, with the ultimate purpose of appreciating our mothers while also empowering them with essential tools for prosperity.

Exemple

Women are the backbone of Africa and key to instituting systems-wide change at the base of the pyramid. In both Kenya and Uganda, female cooperatives exist as a means for women to come together, share best practices, and collectively increase village wealth. By leveraging this already existing network, Asante Mama connects with women to deliver information and products that foster a virtuous WHEALTH™ cycle. Asante Mama operations include daily sessions with Women Groups to promote financial literacy and initiate sale and distribution of innovative WHEALTH products. Group sales penetration and collective savings are monitored to determine the point at which to layer additional products, such as micro insurance or other financial tools, after which the process is repeated. The education, credit sale, and careful monitoring and evaluation of impact facilitate a virtuous cycle of Whealth that collectively lifts Women Groups out of the Survival Trap. Asante Mama also hosts monthly Leadership Summits and Health Expos, which create opportunities for sharing best practices, links to services, and collaborative partnerships.

Marché

Asante Mama exists in a marketplace of collaborators, not competitors. We believe that creating shared value is key to unlocking community potential and we look forward to partnering with organizations that share our vision and mission. Economic development peers include World Vision, Affirm Kenya, and CIC Insurance. These peers support our efforts by teaming up with us to deliver effective programming and expand our network of women's groups. Suppliers include Barefoot Power, D-Light (Sollatek), The Paradigm Project, and Vestergaard Frandsen. These partners not only supply us with innovative products to distribute to women's groups, but they also support our efforts by sponsoring various events, such as the Asante Mama Leadership Summits. Health partners include Carolina for Kibera and Shining Hope for Communities. These partners support Asante Mama by sharing resources for the Asante Mama Health Expos.