Empowering Change Makers: The Cova Affiliate Platform

The Cova Project (TCP), founded by CEO Geena Dunne, provides menstrual cups and health education across Africa, aiming to bridge the educational and employment gap caused by menstruation ('period poverty’). Working with local partners on the ground, they accept donations to obtain and distribute cups, as well as tailor educational materials to community needs, emphasising ‘access, education, and dignity’. Since late 2022, I’ve volunteered at TCP as a freelance developer.

What is Period Poverty?

Women's Health Victoria, defines period poverty as

"The lack of access to sanitary products due to financial constraints, as well as the social stigma surrounding menstruation.”

The unaffordability of menstrual products can force womxn to stay home during their periods (i) hindering their access to education, and (ii) limiting their opportunities to participate in the workforce.

Problems Highlighted

• TCP was grappling with an influx of inquiries from individuals and SMEs across Africa, seeking support to establish similar organisations in their local areas to combat period-poverty.
• This was eating into organisational capacity, with staff and volunteers spending hours each week providing free consultations and advice.
• Inversely, given menstruation is such a sensitive and taboo topic in different countries throughout Africa, there was no general guidance available to provide direction for these would-be founders seeking to enter the space.

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In-Depth Research and Discovery:

• Ran kick off meeting to establish a clear understanding of project goals, scope, and core requirements with all stakeholders to ensure alignment and set a foundation for success.
• Conducted thorough research to understand the industry landscape, delving into the specific challenges and pain points faced by non-profit founders in Africa.
• Engaged in insightful interviews with The Cova Project staff, consultants, and non-profit organisation founders to gather firsthand insights and identify core issues.
• Performed a comprehensive evaluation of various software platforms, conducting a cost-benefit analysis to identify the most suitable solution that aligns with project requirements and budget constraints.

Planning and Coordination:

• Instituted regular fortnightly meetings to maintain momentum, track progress, and adapt to emerging insights or challenges.
• Set up an asynchronous WhatsApp group chat for continuous communication among team members, facilitating real-time collaboration and decision-making.
• Embraced an iterative design process, incorporating regular feedback from stakeholders and potential platform users to refine and enhance the solution.

Platform Design, Content Creation and User Journey Mapping

• Established a design library in Figma and Canva, enabling rapid content creation and prototyping to visualize solutions and iterate quickly.
• Planned out user journey from signing up to the platform to completing all quizzes and obtaining permission to all spaces, across the platform + email.
• Mapped out detailed user journeys and platform flows, prioritizing an intuitive and seamless user experience that guides users through educational content and organizational processes effortlessly.
• Journey mapping had to take alongside the development of a practical, milestone-oriented guide we had to develop for start-up founders.
• Developed a comprehensive content strategy, ensuring all materials resonate with the target audience and adhere to an engaging and empathetic tone of voice.

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Tools Used

Core Components of What We Built:

• Collaboration and Community Engagement:
  Established dynamic community channels and collaborative tools within the platform, encouraging ongoing dialogue, knowledge exchange, and peer support among users.
• Custom-Designed Community Platform:
  Developed a mobile-friendly platform optimised for learning and collaboration, tailored specifically for SMEs embarking on menstrual health initiatives.
• The Milestone Program:
  Introduced an innovative, phased approach to guide users through the intricacies of setting up a non-profit. This program meticulously outlines each step, from foundational knowledge about menstrual cups to the logistics of securing supplies and conducting impactful training sessions.
• Assessment Integration for Progressive Unlocking:
  Embedded strategic assessments within the platform to ensure users possess the necessary knowledge before accessing more advanced resources, fostering a responsible and informed community.
• Comprehensive Resource Library:
  Compiled an extensive collection of essential resources, including instructional materials, legal consent forms, supplier contacts, and operational planning tools, to support users in every aspect of their journey.

How it's Going.

• ‍Enhanced Productivity:
  TCP estimate that the platform is saving the team up to a day's worth of productivity each week. This efficiency boost, achieved at a modest cost of $30/month, has allowed the team to allocate more time to impactful work and strategic initiatives.‍
• User Engagement and Success:
  At the time of writing, the platform is boasting 12 daily active users, and more than 30 users have 'graduated' to unlock all resources.
• Community Growth and Management:
  Beyond individual user support, the platform has evolved into a central hub for TCP's broader community. It serves as a dynamic space for running and managing community interactions, events, and collaborations, strengthening the network of change-makers committed to addressing period poverty.‍
• Foundation for Future Expansion:
  The positive outcomes and feedback have laid a strong foundation for future developments. Plans include automating assessment flows for a more seamless user progression and exploring the introduction of forums for enriched community interaction, with due consideration to the need for effective moderation to maintain a supportive and constructive environment.

Check it out!

If you'd like to check the platform out, you can sign up using this link. Alternatively, get in contact and I can send you some testing credentials.