Projects Uganda

Zambikes – Uganda:

Up and coming! We need you! It will cost $70k to get Uganda to become a sustainable social business.

Project Summary:

In order to overcome the price barrier for the poorest entrepreneurs and clinic patients in Africa, Akerfa consultants will arrange the sourcing and shipment of Bolt Kits through Asia for the ambulance and cargo trailers. Distribution will begin in Zambia and Uganda with the intent to expand following the project’s initial pilot phase. Expansion will spread through the surrounding regions and through international partnerships with organizational partners (beginning with Catholic Relief Services, World Vision and Seeds of Hope).

Background:

To date, Akerfa affiliate, Zambikes, has been welding Zambulance and Zamcart trailers within country to provide jobs and produce more than 750 trailers to be distributed. But, increased interest in the carts by the World Bank, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and others, coupled with the recognition of the price point burden on the end user, magnify the need to find a way to make these carts in larger quantities for a cheaper price.

The World Bank, through their research using the Zambulances in the field, discovered that each cart was saving on average one life every five days! That’s nearly 75 people each year per cart! Last year, Catholic Relief Services used the 200+ carts they purchased this past year in their projects throughout Zambia and have realized their need for similar carts in many of the nearly 100 countries they serve.

However, problems exist with doing steel production in Zambia and all over the developing world. Raw materials are available at more than double the price found in other parts of the world and the level of quality is often sacrificed.

Through that method, the ultimate cost carried to the end user is much higher ($200 or more) than most can afford. Even more, as demand increases for the Zambulance trailers, the capacity to manufacture the products within country becomes more limited and more taxing on Akerfa and its affiliates.

Solution:

In order to provide the relief that bicycles and bicycle trailers are capable of, and to get them into the hands of more people, Akerfa proposes to create Zambulance and Zamcart Bolt Kits in Asia.

These kits will be built in Taiwan and then assembled by trained individuals at the final destination. Each kit will include all parts for the cart, a tool kit with instructions to build it, spare parts and extra tubes for the tires.

Benefits:

Price: 50% cost cut to end-user (would now only cost a little over $100)

Quantity: Produce and send out more carts in more places

Impact: Save more lives and produce more jobs

Quality: Added features to the carts without added cost (stronger, lighter material, extra railings, handles and holding stands)

Partnership: Will be able to partner with more organizations to help meet their needs

Financial Gain for Affiliate: Zambikes will be able to put more manpower behind their export of bamboo bicycles and expansion into more communities with variety of partners.

To download a copy of the Zambikes – Uganda Project Proposal click the button below:

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