Safe YOU

Women and girls face a variety of intersecting inequalities which are often compounded when living in poverty. The challenges faced by women are not just ‘women’s issues’, but issues impacting the overall social and economic health and wellbeing of low-income countries. 

The structural barriers that women in poverty face compared to other groups are unique. In particular, GBV and social stereotyping, lack of access to resources and lack of adequate policies for protection and empowerment are the 3 main challenges we will be focusing on with the Safe YOU solution. 

GBV is an issue felt around the globe, no matter a person’s socio-economic status, however women in poverty face higher levels of GBV due to increased stress, more entrenched gender norms and reduced access to resources. According to the WHO, an estimated 37% of women living in the poorest countries have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in their life. GBV is both a cause, and effect of women living in poverty. 

Additionally, women living in poverty face a significant barrier when they require access to services and educational resources i.e. access to medical professionals, social services, legal and economic advice. 

Lastly, many countries lack adequate government policies to provide women with both the protection and opportunities required to achieve real social and economic empowerment. Most times, this is due to the lack of data and statistics which can instigate evidence-based policy making. 

Removing these barriers will allow women and girls to improve their social mobility, both intra- and inter-generationally and provide real, structural change through a bottom up approach to development.

Safe YOU is an innovative technical solution which aims to break down societal structural barriers in order to protect & empower women. It consists of a mobile application which provides immediate emergency help to women at risk of violence, as well as acts as a bridge between women and pre-existing services (i.e. shelters/NGOs, medical professionals, social workers) which struggle to reach their beneficiaries, due to geographical or financial constraints. 

The mobile application has three main functions:

1. Help function: Mobile app users can send a free alert SMS with their geolocation to up to 7 pre-chosen contacts, including Police and service providers. The system also automatically enables an audio recording function, which can later be used as evidence in legal settings.

2. Discussion Forums: A place where users can engage in free, anonymous peer-to-peer discussions, and seek advice on urgent topics from consultants (professionals) such as psychologists, doctors, and lawyers. 

3. Network: A consolidated database of local governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as individual professionals, with tools for users to find and contact them in a secure and anonymous environment.

Safe YOU is also a platform which allows stakeholders access to case management tools and a data analysis system. The data analysis system combines AI and machine learning algorithms to collect non-personally identifiable data (non-PII), identify target issues and patterns and provide evidence-based policy recommendations. 

While one day, our goal is for Safe YOU to be available to all women in every country around the world, currently we are focusing on low-income countries where women and girls do not have access to necessary resources and are at higher risk of GBV.

They are currently underserved as many solutions to GBV focus on in-person support services which those with geographic constraints cannot reach. Additionally, for those women and girls without access to smartphones we are working on a feature phone format of the mobile application that will be available offline to solve many constraints that come with technology. 

We understand the needs of the population we are trying to serve as we are a female-founded and run enterprise targeted at addressing the needs of women. We partner with all relevant stakeholders in the field of women’s rights, safety and empowerment to ensure that we are receiving feedback directly from our beneficiaries. 

An example of what we have done in the past which displays this understanding is introducing a feature on the Safe YOU application which allows users to disguise it on their own mobiles, with additional security through a dual password function. This highlights our understanding of the real needs of our users, some of which are faced with situations of domestic violence so severe their own phones are monitored. 

Our team is made up of young women, each with specific qualifications ensuring their unique ability to help solve the issue of GBV. Our Founder and CEO's background in public health and law was what inspired the inception of the Safe YOU solution, as she noticed gaps in policy and prosecution. Our COO is also a qualified lawyer who has worked in the fields of IT and finance, positioning her perfectly to manage the operations of the enterprise. Additionally, our Global Head of Partnerships has specialised university qualifications in International Development and Gender Studies, allowing her to holistically analyse each different landscape that Safe YOU expands to. The team also consists of a female CFO, and a range of contracted technical staff made up of men and women. Majority of our team has been working together since the launch of the Safe YOU solution in 2020, however our CEO and COO have had a longstanding personal and professional relationship for over 15 years.

30,000 women and girls

60+ Stakeholders including NGOs, IOs and Governments

We hope that by joining the SOLVE program we will be able to overcome our key market barriers, specifically problems that occur with international expansion. 

Safe YOU's international expansion often happens at a slow pace, due to the need to choose the right partners and find the funding and resources required for a new launch. Due to SOLVE's vast network of corporate, foundation, and government partners, we hope to connect and explore partnership opportunities that will allow us to more efficiently achieve our mission of ensuring Safe YOU is available for every woman and girl around the world that needs it. 

Additionally, we hope that the exposure that we gain from being a part of SOLVE will allow us to raise further awareness on the issue of GBV, as well as connect and collaborate with other impact entrepreneurs to create longer term, sustainable change. 

Through combining an innovative technical solution to a global social problem, Safe YOU is a completely novel approach to reducing Gender-Based Violence (GBV). There are no other solutions on the global market which provide the same functionality, or will have the same long-term results on reducing GBV. 

Safe YOU has the potential to catalyze broader positive impacts from others in this space by creating a more collaborative and comprehensive approach to addressing the problem of GBV. By bringing together all relevant actors and stakeholders in the field, including local NGOs, state authorities, international authorities, diplomatic missions, and more, Safe YOU can create a more cohesive and coordinated response to GBV.

The most novel component of the Safe YOU solution is its use of data science to detect and prevent cases of GBV. Through a data analysis system which combines AI and machine learning algorithms to identify target issues and patterns, Safe YOU is able to present policy recommendations to change-makers based on these findings. 

In terms of changing the market, Safe YOU's innovative approach and use of this data science can set a new standard for addressing GBV. As more organizations and actors in the field recognize the potential of data-driven solutions, Safe YOU's approach can become a model for others to follow. This can lead to a more comprehensive and effective response to GBV, ultimately leading to a reduction in the prevalence of these issues.

Safe YOU's impact goals for the next 5 years are ambitious and focused on reducing gender-based violence (GBV) and improving stakeholder collaboration. 

Firstly, our goal is to impact the lives of 3,000,000 women and girls in the next 5 years through providing access to safety and educational resources through the Safe YOU mobile application. We will do this through launching our Safe YOU application in at least 20 countries in the next 5 years, and working with the right partners to promote the app to women and girls throughout these countries. Currently we are on track to be live in 8 countries by the end of next year, so we know this goal is reachable. 

Our second impact goal is to foster and create a collaborative ecosystem in the space of GBV and gender equality. We are planning on onboarding all relevant NGOs, IOs, and state authorities in all countries we launch in to build this ecosystem further. 

Our third impact goal is to increase reporting and accountability, and work towards prevention of GBV. Through improving our AI based data analysis, we are collecting all relevant non-personally identifiable data and will provide concrete policy recommendations to governments and international organisations in the countries we are live in. 

1. B2C channel: How many users do we have on the Safe YOU application? How many times have these users activated the emergency help function? How many times have they engaged in forums?

Currently we have 28,000 users of the Safe YOU app, the emergency help function has been activated 14,000 times and 8,000 comments have been sent in forums. 

2. B2B/B2G channels: Number of partners on the Safe YOU application

Currently, just over 60 partners.

3. Number of countries with an implementing partner administering the
Safe YOU platform

3 countries so far, 2 more will be launched in the next 3 months.

Our Theory of Change is grounded on the recognition that the epidemic of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cannot be solved without a combined innovative approach to addressing its root structural causes, namely harmful stigmas and gender norms, lack of social provisions and power imbalances. 

Key assumptions for this ToC are that GBV is underreported due to negative social stigma surrounding survivors of GBV (Koss 1993). In addition, it is widely recognized that harmful gender norms perpetuate acts of violence and reduce women’s social and economic capacity. Additionally, women who are more economically empowered are less at risk of GBV (Tauchen, Witte and Long, 1991), meaning that social provisions have a key role to play. Furthermore, power imbalances are perpetuated by violence, as violence is used as a tool of power by men to assert social control and dominance over women (e.g. Pratto, 1996). It is also important to note that GBV is increased in conflict settings and during humanitarian crises (White & Post, 2003).

Analysis of the actors involved in the GBV space has shown that there is a lack of cohesion and collaboration in approaches to solving GBV. Additionally, each stakeholder group struggles with their own distinct issues. NGOs that work directly with beneficiaries to provide essential services such as a safe space to stay, or psychological or social support often have trouble reaching who they need, or promoting their services amongst women. International Organizations who work on the ground in different countries often fail to comprehensively work with all important local actors. Governments often do not have the necessary data or information to create effective policies. In turn, each of these stakeholders activities could be carried out more efficiently through better and more innovative collaboration methods. 

Our method of solving this variety of problems is multifaceted.

In the short term, we need immediate assistance and services provided to women to protect themselves from GBV. If we equip women with access to immediate emergency help when required, then there would be a reduction in cases of GBV. Additionally, if we provide women and girls with free access to social services and professional consultations, it would improve their physical and mental health outcomes and improve their capacity for social and financial advancement, thereby reducing their risk of GBV. 

In the long term, our ultimate goal is a drastic reduction in GBV worldwide and significant advancement of gender equality. This cannot happen without a cohesive and coordinated approach carried out by all necessary actors. If we equip stakeholders with a tool to more effectively reach their beneficiaries as well as each other, then there will be more knowledge and resource sharing which will ultimately unite these actors and ensure a unified approach to reducing GBV. 

Overall, the core technology that powers the Safe YOU solution is a combination of mobile app development, data analysis, AI and machine learning algorithms, and web platform development. These technologies work together to provide a comprehensive and innovative approach to preventing and combatting gender-based violence and violence against women and girls.

Firstly, Safe YOU is a free mobile application available both on Android and iOS systems. The app incorporates a user-friendly interface, allowing users to easily access and navigate the various features of the app.

Safe YOU also incorporates a multistakeholder web platform that better connects stakeholders including local NGOs, state authorities, international authorities to their beneficiaries. This platform is designed to be scalable and can be adapted to suit the needs of each new country or implementing partner.

Finally, the most innovative technology of the Safe YOU solution is its data analysis system, which utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms to detect and prevent cases of gender-based violence (GBV). This system analyzes data from various sources, including user-generated data from the Safe YOU mobile app and data from partner organizations. The system can identify target issues and patterns related to GBV and can make policy recommendations to changemakers based on these findings. As the system is further enhanced during the scope of the project, it is expected to become even more sophisticated in its analysis and recommendations.

At Safe YOU, we incorporate DEI into every level of our company policy and team structure. 

Firstly, we ensure diversity at all levels through hiring a diverse workforce with a mix of people from different backgrounds, genders, and ages. Our Safe YOU leadership team has a 60-40 gender ratio of women to men, which is important to us as working on a solution for women and girls should be led by those same women impacted by the problem. 

Additionally, we our team consists of people who live all over Armenia, specifically those outside of our capital city to ensure equal opportunities no matter the geographic or socio-economic barriers. 

We also ensure that our leadership team is held accountable and are actively engaged in promoting DEI within the company. 

We work through both B2B and B2G pathways. The mobile app is free for our users, however we charge different amounts to our partners for access to content/case management tools and our AI based data analysis system via the web platform.

In small, low-middle income countries, our customer is 1 implementing partner i.e. NGO, Government entity or International Organisation. They
pay a one-off localisation fee of approximately $10,000 and monthly fee of $2000-$7000 depending on capacity and number of beneficiaries that will be reached.

In medium, middle-high income countries, we engage with multiple partners to ensure effective reach. The cost depends on the size and capacity of the partner partner from $500-$5000/month after localisation fee.

In large, high-income countries (e.g. US) we engage with all relevant stakeholders i.e. police stations, NGOs, and universities/sororities. Universities pay $5000/month, or sororities pay $500/month. In our B2G model, we sell to national/regional governments to allow them the possibility to engage directly with their constituents. Depending on their size they pay between $20-100,000 a month.

Safe YOU’s hidden value is its potential for scale. The Safe YOU solution is highly adaptive to each new context for a variety of reasons. When launching the application and platform in a new city or country, there are many features that can be adjusted for the new context. 

As Safe YOU grows larger, demand for the platform to be available in new countries will increase, thus we will come to a point where our monthly income received from our new partners in each country is greater than our expenses. 

Safe YOU platform’s core value is Data analysis system which enables data-driven policy making, this ensures the sustainability of the project in the long term perspective as the governments who struggle with GBV issue and usually lacking accurate data on GBV will potentially fully adopt the technology as an important part for the prevention policies as well as adequate response to GBV in their respective countries.

The Safe YOU team also runs a foundation based locally in Armenia. Through this foundation, local projects are carried out which are funded by international donors. This funding stream also contributes to the sustainability of the solution. 

Currently, we have been successful in receiving initial grants and non-equity investments to sustain our solution until we are live in enough countries with enough partners to cover our expenses. Some of our current and past funders include UN agencies, Embassies in Armenia, World Bank, Foundations (L'Oreal, Cartier), the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the US Department of State. 

However we are also receiving income streams from our two partners in Georgia and Iraq which is covering the costs of some of the technical work and upgrades. 

Our runway due to these grants, non-equity investments and income streams is 2 and a half years, which will allow us time to build up to at least 10 partners in different countries. Over the next two years as we expand our partnerships we will become sustainable solely on income from these partners.