Daktari360
In Kenya, young women and girls face many sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) challenges. For example, a high unmet need for contraception leads to dire consequences like unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Challenges that limit provision of SRHR services to adolescents and young women include lack of privacy and confidentiality, knowledge gaps, cultural and social stigma, biased service providers, and inconvenience in accessing SRHR services despite their availability. Although there have been improvements in creating a youth-attractive environment for SRHR services and access to tools, more work is needed.
Improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) remains a high priority. Teen pregnancy and motherhood rates in Kenya stand at 18% meaning about one in every five adolescent girls has either had a live birth, or is pregnant with her first child. At the same time, 49% of unmarried girls from 15-19 have unmet needs for family planning, which means that they would use modern contraception if they had access to it, but they don’t. More than 13,000 girls drop out of school annually due to early and unintended pregnancy and almost 30% of all new HIV infections are among adolescents and youth.
While there is empirical evidence that Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) plays a major role in improving SRHR outcomes, there is little data indicating which channels e.g. radio, digital, edu-sport, are the best way to deliver LSE (Life Skills Education) to Kenyan adolescents. The team at APRIC - African Patient Research and Innovation Centre spent the last several months explored the pressing question — how might we use technology to make sexuality education engaging and accessible for Kenyan adolescents? With one focus which aims to discover the most cost effective channels for delivering LSE and SRHR content in Kenya.
We are constantly reminded of the need to provide avenues where young people – including women and girls – can access sexual and reproductive health and rights services that are equitable, appropriate and effective.
After multiple rounds of co-designing and testing with users, using a youth-driven design approach, our team designed and developed a WhatsApp chatbot called Daktari360. Daktari360, means “comprehensive or all-around medical/healthcare service” in Kiswahili. Daktari360, is a natural language processing (NLP) AI-powered counselor for young people seeking advice and services to protect their health.
The two primary user goals are:
Learn life skills including Sex ed. They can either go through the preset topics that are popular among youth, or ask their own questions.
Find nearby healthcare facilities,, and access mental health and gender based violence (GBV) hotlines
Daktari, our doctor chatbot persona, delivers comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education for adolescents based on eight topics ranging from healthy relationships, gender, STI and HIV/AIDS, to future livelihoods in Kiswahili and English. The chatbot uses a mix of youth-friendly conversations, illustrations, photos, and videos to convey these important messages. She also connects them with nearby youth-friendly service providers for free, and answers questions that are popular among young people. Our team chose WhatsApp since it is one of the most used social media platforms, and 96% of Internet users 16-64 reported using WhatsApp the previous month.
Mobile users in Kenya have access to “free WhatsApp”, meaning users can access WhatsApp text and audio for free without depleting any of their purchased data bundles. This presented a design opportunity. The main drivers behind the creation of Daktari360 were the familiarity young people have with using Whatsapp, the free Whatsapp service, and the ability to develop a chatbot on the Whatsapp platform.
We also make sure the Daktari360 chatbot is interacting with young people at a comfortable pace, and Daktari360 checks in with our users every 2-3 messages to confirm comprehension. Daktari360 either asks them e.g. “does this make sense?”, or introduces a mini reflection prompt to engage youth in the learning process. In addition, we incorporate some micro delays (0.1-0.5 second) between the messages to help youth feel more comfortable with the pace of interaction. PRODUCT DEMO LINK
Daktari360 serves girls and young women in Kenya, a large and growing population with over 50% of the population under the age of 35. Young people in Kenya face a number of challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services. These challenges include:
- Lack of awareness: Many young people are not aware of the SRH information and services that are available to them.
- Stigma and discrimination: There is a lot of stigma and discrimination associated with SRH issues in Kenya. This can make it difficult for young people to access the information and services they need.
- Cost: SRH services can be expensive, especially for young people from low-income households.
- Accessibility: SRH services are not always accessible to young people, especially those who live in rural areas.
Daktari360 addresses these challenges by providing young people with access to accurate and reliable SRH information and services in a confidential and affordable way. Daktari360 is also designed to be accessible to girls and young women from all walks of life, regardless of their location or socioeconomic background.
Daktari360 will impact the lives of girls and young women in Kenya:
- Improved knowledge of SRH: Daktari360 provides young people with access to accurate and up-to-date information on a wide range of SRH topics, including puberty, contraception, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and HIV/AIDS. This information will help young people to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.
- Improved access to SRH services: Daktari360 connects young people with affordable and confidential SRH services, such as contraception counseling and referral. This will help young people to get the services they need to protect their sexual and reproductive health.
- Reduced stigma and discrimination: Daktari360 helps to reduce stigma and discrimination associated with SRH issues by providing young people with a safe and confidential space to learn about and access SRH information and services.
- Empowerment: Daktari360 empowers young people to take control of their sexual and reproductive health. By providing young people with access to accurate information and services, Daktari360 helps them to make informed decisions about their lives and to achieve their full potential.
Daktari360 is a valuable tool for improving the sexual and reproductive health of young people in Kenya. It is accessible, affordable, confidential, and provides young people with the information and services they need to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.
At APRIC - African Patient Research and Innovation Centre, we are well-positioned to deliver the Daktari360 solution for a number of reasons:
- Proximity to the communities we are serving- We’re a Kenyan-based organization, and our team is made up of Kenyans from all over the country. This gives us a deep understanding of the needs and challenges facing young people in Kenya.
- Team composition- Our team is representative of the communities we are serving. We have team members from different ethnic groups, socioeconomic backgrounds, and educational levels. This ensures that we are able to develop and deliver a solution that meets the needs of all young people in Kenya.
- Needs assessment- We have conducted extensive needs assessments to understand the needs of young people in Kenya. We have spoken to more than 13,000 of young people, as well as parents, teachers, and healthcare providers. This has given us a deep understanding of the challenges that young people are facing, and the information and services that they need.
- Community engagement- We are committed to engaging with the communities we are serving throughout the design and implementation process. We have established a youth advisory board to provide us with feedback and input on the Daktari360 solution. We are also working with partner organizations in the community to deliver the Daktari360 solution.
Here are some specific examples of how we are engaging with the communities we are serving:
- Youth advisory board- We have established a youth advisory board to provide us with feedback and input on the Daktari360 solution. The youth advisory board is made up of 15 young people from all over Kenya. The board meets on a monthly basis to discuss the Daktari360 solution and to provide us with feedback.
- Partner organizations- We are working with partner organizations in the community to deliver the Daktari360 solution. For example, we are working with community-based organizations to provide Daktari360 awareness-raising and training to young people. We are also working with schools and healthcare facilities to integrate Daktari360 into their existing programs and services.
We are committed to ensuring that the Daktari360 solution is meaningfully guided by the communities' input, ideas, and agendas. We are doing this by:
- Involving young people in the design and implementation process - We are involving young people in the design and implementation of the Daktari360 solution through our youth advisory board and our partner organizations.
- Collecting and responding to feedback - We are collecting feedback from young people throughout the design and implementation process. We are using this feedback to improve the Daktari360 solution.
- Making the Daktari360 solution accessible and affordable - We are making the Daktari360 solution accessible and affordable to all young people in Kenya. Daktari360 is free to use, and it is available in both English and Swahili.
We are committed to working with the communities we are serving to ensure that the Daktari360 solution meets their needs and expectations.
- Prioritize infrastructure centered around young people to enhance young people’s access to SRH information, commodities and services.
- Kenya
- Pilot: An organization testing a product, service, or business model with a small number of users
Daktari360 is still under development, but it has already been used by over 10,000 girls and young women in Kenya. We are working to expand the reach of Daktari360 so that more young people can benefit from it.
We are committed to making Daktari360 accessible to all girls and young women in Kenya, regardless of their location, socioeconomic status, or educational level. We are working with partner organizations in the community to deliver the Daktari360 solution. We are also working to make Daktari360 available in multiple languages.
We believe that Daktari360 has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of young people in Kenya. We are committed to working with the communities we are serving to ensure that Daktari360 meets their needs and expectations.
Daktari360 is a WhatsApp chatbot that provides sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services to girls and young people in Kenya. It is designed to be accessible, affordable, and confidential.
Daktari360 is innovative in a number of ways:
- It uses a hybrid AI and human expertise approach - Daktari360 combines the power of artificial intelligence (AI) with human expertise to deliver high-quality information. While AI assists in answering common queries quickly and efficiently, human experts are available to handle more complex and sensitive topics. This fusion ensures accuracy, reliability, and the personal touch of human empathy.
- It leverages cutting-edge privacy-preserving technology - Daktari360 utilizes cutting-edge privacy-preserving technology to ensure user anonymity. This approach overcomes one of the significant barriers to seeking information on sensitive topics.
- It provides multilingual and culturally sensitive content - Daktari360’s content is available in multiple languages, making it accessible to a global audience. Moreover, the platform takes into account cultural nuances and sensitivities, ensuring that information is not only language-appropriate but culturally relevant.
- It is designed with the user in mind: The platform has been designed with the user in mind. Its intuitive interface and user-friendly design prioritize ease of use, particularly for individuals who may have limited digital literacy.
- Daktari360 is not just a question-and-answer service but an educational platform. It equips users with knowledge and skills to make informed decisions.
Daktari360 has the potential to catalyze broader positive impacts from others in this space and change the market in a number of ways:
- It can significantly reduce the stigma associated with asking sensitive questions. By providing a safe and confidential space for young people to access information on SRH topics, Daktari360 can help to break down taboos and encourage more open and honest conversations.
- It can inspire others in the space to adopt similar approaches. As more people experience the benefits of Daktari360's model, it is likely to inspire other organizations to develop similar platforms that provide reliable, unbiased, and safe information on sensitive topics.
- It can transform the market for health and well-being information services. Traditional sources of information, such as search engines and social media, may not always provide accurate or reliable answers. Daktari360 disrupts this landscape by offering a reliable, unbiased, and safe alternative. Its user-focused approach may challenge existing market players to adapt and provide higher-quality services.
Daktari360 leverages a number of technologies to make its solution innovative:
- Machine learning algorithms: Daktari360 uses machine learning algorithms to continuously refine its responses and adapt to user needs. This ensures that Daktari360 provides the most accurate and up-to-date information possible.
- Data privacy tools: Daktari360 implements cutting-edge data privacy tools to ensure user anonymity. This helps to build trust with users and encourage them to seek information on sensitive topics.
- User-friendly interface: Daktari360's user interface is designed to be easy to use, even for individuals with limited digital literacy skills. This makes Daktari360 accessible to a wider audience and encourages engagement.
Our impact goals for the next year and the next five years are:
Next year:
- Increase the number of active users of Daktari360 to 100,000
- Expand Daktari360 to two new countries in Africa
- Develop and launch new educational content modules on key SRH topics
Next five years:
- Reach 1 million active users of Daktari360
- Expand Daktari360 to five new countries in Africa and Asia
- Become the leading source of SRH information and services for young people in Africa
We plan to achieve these impact goals through the following strategies:
- Partnership building - We will partner with other organizations that are working to improve the sexual and reproductive health of young people. This will help us to reach a wider audience and provide more comprehensive services.
- Community engagement - We will continue to engage with the communities we are serving to get their feedback and input on Daktari360. This will help us to ensure that Daktari360 is meeting their needs and expectations.
- Product development - We will continue to develop and improve Daktari360 based on user feedback. We will also develop new educational content modules on important SRH topics.
- Marketing and outreach - We will raise awareness of Daktari360 through marketing and outreach campaigns. We will also target specific groups of young people, such as students, out-of-school youth, and young people living in rural areas.
We believe that Daktari360 has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of young people in Africa. By providing reliable and sensitive SRH information and services through a user-centered, privacy-preserving, and multilingual platform, we can help young people to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.
We are committed to working with the communities we are serving to achieve our impact goals. We believe that by working together, we can create a world where all young people have the information and services, they need to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.
Theory of Change for Daktari360
Problems:
- 49% of unmarried girls and young women in Kenya lack access to accurate and reliable information and services on sexual and reproductive health (SRH). This can lead to unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and HIV/AIDS.
- Almost 30% of all new HIV infections are among adolescents and youths.
Barriers:
- Youth wants advice on what to do or where to go to receive youth-friendly service when they are in crisis.
- Youths have a hard time determining which SRH information source is trustworthy.
Inputs
- Collaboration with local Influencers & CHV (community health volunteers) to generate online & offline awareness for platform
- Collaboration with local influencers & CH (community health volunteers) to generate online & offline awareness for platform
- SRH curriculum and linkage to support
- Human touch that reassures: referral hotline integration
- Collaboration with service delivery points to ensure consistency in youth-friendly services
- Directory of youth-friendly healthcare centers
Solution: Daktari360 is a WhatsApp chatbot that provides young people in Kenya with accurate and reliable information and services on SRH. It is designed to be accessible, affordable, and confidential.
Impact: Daktari360 will have a positive impact on the lives of young people in Kenya by providing them with the information and services they need to make informed decisions about their SRH. This will lead to a reduction in unintended pregnancies, STIs, and HIV/AIDS.
Activities:
- Develop and maintain the Daktari360 chatbot
- Partner with other organizations to reach a wider audience
- Engage with the community to get feedback and input
- Market and promote Daktari360 to young people
Outputs:
- A fully functional and user-friendly Daktari360 chatbot
- Partnerships with other organizations
- A community of engaged users
- Increased awareness of Daktari360 among young people
Short-term Outcomes:
- Girls and young women are aware of the platform and its resources
- Girls and young women are supported to access how to best address their health issues
- Girls and young women understand where to seek youth-friendly.
- Girls and young women are aware of a quality source of SRH information
- Girls and young women recognize the benefit of the platform
Service
- Girls and young women have access to accurate and reliable information and services on SRH
- Girls and young women make informed decisions about their SRH
Long-term Outcome
- Increase access to SRH services
- Platform becomes the go-to SRH source of truth
- Increase SRH knowledge
- There is a reduction in unintended pregnancies, STIs, and HIV/AIDS among Girls and young women
Evidence:
- A study by the World Health Organization found that WhatsApp chatbots can be effective in providing SRH information and services to more than 1Million young people.
- A pilot study of Daktari360 found that it was effective in increasing young people's knowledge of SRH and their confidence in making informed decisions about their SRH.
- As a platform, WhatsApp is the most popular and trusted, and while Facebook is popular, youth do not perceive it to be a safe SRH platform. In both counties, youth’s most preferred prototypes are Faya Digital (44%) and Faya WhatsApp (49%).
- Kenya
- Kenya
- Nonprofit
There are currently 12 people working on the Daktari360 solution team:
- 7 full-time staff
- 2 part-time staff
- 3 contractors or other workers
The team is made up of a diverse group of individuals with a variety of skills and experience, including:
- Software developers
- User experience designers
- Content writers
- Public health professionals
- Community engagement specialists
We are committed to building a team that is representative of the communities we are serving. We believe that diversity of thought and experience is essential for developing innovative and effective solutions.
Daktari360 solution has been in development for the past two years. The team at APRIC - African Patient Research and Innovation Centre began working on the idea in 2021, and the chatbot was launched in early 2023. Since then, the team has been working to improve the chatbot and expand its reach.
We are committed to building a sustainable solution that will make a long-term difference in the lives of young people in Kenya. We are grateful for the support of our partners and donors, and we look forward to continuing to develop Daktari360 in the years to come.
At APRIC - African Patient Research and Innovation Centre, we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in our work. We believe that DEI is essential for creating innovative and effective solutions to the problems facing our world.
Our leadership team is diverse in terms of gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, and educational experience. We are also committed to building a team that is representative of the communities we are serving.
We have a number of goals for becoming more diverse, equitable, and inclusive in our work. These goals include:
- Increasing the diversity of our team in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic background, and educational experience.
- Creating a more inclusive work environment where everyone feels welcome, respected, supported, and valued.
- Ensuring that our solutions are designed with the needs of all communities in mind.
We have taken a number of actions to achieve our DEI goals. These actions include:
- Developing and implementing a DEI policy.
- Offering unconscious bias training to all employees.
- Partnering with organizations that are working to promote DEI in the workplace.
- Creating a culture of inclusion and respect at APRIC
We are committed to continuous learning and improvement in our DEI efforts. We are always looking for new ways to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace and to develop solutions that meet the needs of all communities.
Here are some specific examples of how we are incorporating DEI into our work on Daktari360:
- Our team is made up of a diverse group of individuals from different backgrounds and experiences.
- We are working to develop Daktari360 content that is inclusive and culturally relevant.
- We are partnering with organizations that are working to promote SRH among marginalized groups.
- We are collecting feedback from users from different backgrounds to ensure that Daktari360 is meeting their needs.
We believe that DEI is essential for the success of Daktari360. We are committed to creating a solution that is accessible and beneficial to all young people in Kenya.
Daktari360 is a free-to-use WhatsApp chatbot that provides sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services to young people in Kenya. It is designed to be accessible, affordable, and confidential.
Daktari360's business model is based on the following key components:
- Target market: Daktari360's target market is Girls and young women in Kenya. This is a large and growing population, with over 50% of the population under the age of 35.
- Value proposition: Daktari360 provides young people with access to accurate and reliable information and services on SRH. This information is essential for young people to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.
- Revenue model: Daktari360 generates revenue from a variety of sources, including:
- Grants from foundations and other organizations
- Corporate sponsorships
- User donations
Here is a more detailed overview of how Daktari360 provides value to our customers and beneficiaries:
Customers: Daktari360's customers are girls and young women in Kenya who are looking for information and services on SRH. Daktari360's provides these customers with the following value:
- Accessibility: Daktari360 is accessible to young people through WhatsApp, which is a popular messaging app in Kenya. This makes it easy for young people to get the information and services they need, without having to go to a clinic or other health facility.
- Affordability: Daktari360 is free to use. This makes it accessible to all young people, regardless of their socioeconomic background.
- Confidentiality: Daktari360 is confidential. This means that young people can ask questions and get information without having to worry about their privacy.
Beneficiaries: The beneficiaries of Daktari360 are girls and young women in Kenya who use the service to learn about and access SRH information and services. Daktari360 provides these beneficiaries with the following value:
- Improved knowledge of SRH: Daktari360 provides young people with accurate and up-to-date information on a wide range of SRH topics, including puberty, contraception, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and HIV/AIDS. This information helps young people to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.
- Improved access to SRH services: Daktari360 provides young people with access to affordable and confidential SRH services, such as contraception counseling and referral. This helps young people to get the services they need to protect their sexual and reproductive health.
Daktari360 is a valuable tool for improving the sexual and reproductive health of young people in Kenya. It is accessible, affordable, confidential, and provides young people with the information and services they need to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.
- Individual consumers or stakeholders (B2C)
Daktari360 is a social enterprise, which means that it is primarily focused on achieving its social impact goals. However, Daktari360 also needs to be financially sustainable in order to continue providing its services. Daktari360 generates revenue from a variety of sources, including:
- Grants from foundations and other organizations: Daktari360 has received grants from a number of foundations and other organizations, including the GIZ. These grants have helped Daktari360 to develop and launch its service, and to expand its reach.
- Corporate sponsorships: Daktari360 has also received sponsorships from a number of corporations, including Google and Facebook. These sponsorships have helped Daktari360 to cover its operating costs and to continue to develop its service.
- User donations: Daktari360 accepts donations from users who are grateful for the service it provides. These donations help Daktari360 to cover its operating costs and to continue to develop its service.
- Advertising: Daktari360 may also generate revenue from advertising in the future. However, Daktari360 is committed to ensuring that any advertising is relevant and respectful to its users.
Daktari360's long-term goal is to become financially sustainable through a combination of the revenue streams described above. We believe that it is important to diversify its revenue streams in order to reduce its reliance on any one source of funding. This will help Daktari360 to remain sustainable in the long term and to continue to provide its services to young people in Kenya.
Detailed overview of how Daktari360 plans to become financially sustainable:
- Grants from foundations and other organizations: Daktari360 will continue to seek grants from foundations and other organizations to support its work. Daktari360 has a strong track record of success in securing grants, and it is confident that it will be able to continue to do so in the future.
- Corporate sponsorships: Daktari360 will continue to seek sponsorships from corporations. Daktari360 is a valuable partner for corporations that are looking to support social impact initiatives. Daktari360 offers corporations a number of sponsorship opportunities, including branding opportunities, employee engagement opportunities, and social media promotion.
- User donations: Daktari360 will continue to accept donations from users. Daktari360 is grateful for the support of its users, and it is committed to using their donations wisely. Daktari360 will use donations to cover its operating costs and to develop new features and services.
- Advertising: Daktari360 may generate revenue from advertising in the future. However, Daktari360 is committed to ensuring that any advertising is relevant and respectful to its users. Daktari360 will only work with advertisers who share its values and who are committed to promoting the sexual and reproductive health of young people.
Team Lead