09 Apr SEAF Announces Dawa Mkononi as Inaugural Recipient of Daraja Impact Funding, Pioneering Health-Tech Advancement in Tanzania
Dar es Salaam (April 2024) – SEAF, a global impact investing firm has today announced that it has selected Dawa Mkononi, a Dar es Salaam-based health-tech company, as the first recipient of its impact-linked funding, under Daraja Impact, to scale its business and improve the company’s impact monitoring systems and practices. Daraja Impact is a 5-year project that seeks to support enterprises through the provision of capital and technical assistance to advance inclusion and empowerment for women and youth in Tanzania. The project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (“SDC”) through the Embassy of Switzerland in Tanzania and implemented by SEAF, in partnership with AlphaMundi Foundation.
Established in 2022, Dawa Mkononi is a data-driven company that delivers pharmaceutical goods to increase access to medicine across Tanzania. The company’s technology allows health facilities and pharmacies to spend less time on logistics and inventory management and more time meeting the needs of patients and customers. By improving access and availability of medicines, Dawa Mkononi is helping improve the quality of life and health of underserved communities in Tanzania.
The company’s mission is to improve access to medicinal distribution and make medicines more available to health facilities across the country. By 2025, Dawa Mkononi plans to reach over 3500 health facilities and pharmacies. Through this funding, Dawa Mkononi will be positioned to improve the company’s operations, including collecting, managing, and reporting impact data by upgrading its technology and administrative capacity. In addition to financial support, Dawa Mkononi will also receive technical assistance through Daraja Impact, specifically participation in Impact Measurement and Management training sessions offered by CEED Tanzania, a SEAF entrepreneurship development program. This holistic approach will ensure sustainable growth and long-term impact of the company’s innovative solutions.
Joseph Paul Manda, Founder of Dawa Mkononi expressed enthusiasm about this development, stating, “We are immensely grateful and excited to be the first recipient of impact-linked funding from Daraja Impact. This partnership is not just a validation of our work; it’s a catalyst for profound change, bringing us closer to a future where every Tanzanian has immediate access to life-saving medicines.”
Ezra Musoke, SEAF’s Managing Director for Tanzania, commented, “Our partnership with Dawa Mkononi is evidence of our continued commitment to supporting innovative and impactful SMEs in Tanzania that improve the livelihood of women and youth. We are excited to be a part of the company’s mission and growth journey.”
Daraja Impact remains committed to providing funding to innovative Tanzanian enterprises in the upcoming months and years.
Media Contacts:
For more information on this release, contact: Nokuthula Nkhoma | nnkhoma@seaf.com
For more information on Daraja Impact, contact: Peter Righi | prighi@seaf.com
About SEAF
SEAF is a global impact organization with a mission to improve lives and communities through entrepreneurship and small businesses. We invest debt and equity capital and provide advisory and mentorship to serve SMEs in underserved markets to create jobs and build sustainable communities. Since 1989, SEAF has made more than 433 investments across 46 funds in more than 31 countries globally.