Youth groups from Western Kenya have won Sh102 million for generating ideas to improve menstrual hygiene in the region.
They were selected from among 100 groups that presented various ideas on health and sanitation management through USAID Hackathon Competition.
USAID-Western Kenya Sanitation Project, (USAID-WKSP), had called for Concept Papers for grant funding to manage menstrual health.
The grant attracted thousands of youth groups who pitched for funding, but only seven made it to the winning table.
The winners included Centre for Advisory Counselling and Support Services, Inteco Kenya, Sunwise Technologies, and Opero Services.
Others are Arumloo East Africa and Kenya Water for Health Organisation, (Kwaho). They won Sh10 million each.
Then there were special categories of organisations or foundations that dealt in health and sanitation management that got more than Sh10 million.
They included Inua Dada Foundation run by Media personality Janet Mbugua (pictured) which won Sh15,523,420 and Nyanza Sep Youth Project Sh18,389,000.
According to USAID-WKSP Chief of Party Dr Paul Orengo, the competition was very stiff and it was hard to pick the best from many good presentations.
Hackathon’s method of selection, he explained uses an open competition to incentivise local entrepreneurs and civil society.