SC Johnson Begins Pilot Program in Rwanda

RWANDA: More than four billion people occupy the base of the world’s economic pyramid and live on less than $1,500 a year. These families lack access to basic goods and services, where everyday challenges can be as simple as finding clean water. Given this scale, SC Johnson has been supporting these communities for nearly two decades by providing sustainable business models to raise the standard of living and provide opportunities for a better quality of life. To that end, the company has renewed its efforts in Rwanda with a new pilot program aimed to support female entrepreneurs to bring educational information and affordable mosquito repellents, along with other commerce and services, to families with very limited access.


Since 2007, SC Johnson’s Base of the Pyramid (BoP) efforts in Rwanda alone have ranged from working with local farmers for more effective agricultural and financial management practices, to administering in-field training and user-centered research to drive social change and economic empowerment.


“The company is dedicated to improving lives for families around the world in communities of all sizes as well as socio-economic levels,” said Fisk Johnson, chairman and CEO of SC Johnson. “With this new pilot program in Rwanda, we are enthusiastic to participate in a new business model which supports female entrepreneurs, while at the same time offering affordable products and disease prevention education.”


SC Johnson has teamed with The Coca-Cola Company, Solarkiosk, and Society for Family Health Rwanda as a part of the Ekocenter program, which provides safe drinking water, sanitation, solar energy and wireless communication. Ekocenter are modular retail experiences, run by women operators that provide basic goods including Off! mosquito repellent lotion, Baygon mosquito coils, and Kiwi shoe polish. They also offer a place for community gathering and for entrepreneurs to set up business, according to Solarkiosk.


Additionally, SC Johnson, together with Society for Family Health Rwanda, will implement a communication campaign focused on malaria education and product awareness. Activities will include peer education, community mobilization, and events with product demonstrations and sampling.


“I am witnessing first-hand the positive impact on these Rwandan communities with the addition of SC Johnson’s pest control products,” states Wandera Gihana Manasseh, executive director, Society for Family Health Rwanda. “Together with SC Johnson, we are filling a big gap in malaria prevention in the region. We are glad to be underway with our behavior change communication, as it requires a combination of products and education which provides citizens with insect protection both before going to bed and during sleeping hours.”