WHAT ARE THE MOST
COST-EFFECTIVE
WAYS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE POOREST?

We invest in targeted interventions designed to drive a high return on investment and lasting change

About

OUR STORY

We seek the most cost-effective ways to create impact for the world’s poorest. That means doing the right thing –

and doing it right

Our work started in 2008 in the Kwitanda catchment area of the Balaka district in Malawi.
By working in cooperation with the Malawian government and local partners, we explored how to build a more resilient health system while maximizing long-term impact. Since then, we have continued to center our work around sustainable interventions and scalable solutions to improve access to health services and quality education, serving the people who need it most.

Learn More

OUR JOURNEY

2021 -
beyond

2000

JBJF is created to promote and foster the education of underprivileged youth in the United States resulting in becoming an “I Have a Dream” Program sponsor

2018

2008 - ongoing

JBJF expands to a global focus and starts a long-lasting engagement with VillageReach to strengthen the health system at a community level in the Kwitanda catchment area in Malawi

JBJF pivots to a larger-scale focus, through initiatives such as Malawi Priorities Project and ProjectEd to drive impact at scale more cost-effectively

JBJF adds to its portfolio to focus on nutrition in Malawi as well as explore expansion to other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa

Our work

OUR WORK

JBJ Foundation works with partners both locally and globally to identify, co-design, and drive the interventions bringing the most impact from available resources. The following cases are examples of our work that illustrate how we seek solutions to some of the most pressing development challenges and our approach to do so together with our partners.

Kwitanda Community Health Project

How can we leverage community health workers to extend access to care? Since 2008, we have been supporting the delivery of essential primary health services to the Kwitanda catchment area in Balaka in partnership with the Malawian government and local partners.

Malawi Priorities

What is the most good you can do per kwacha spent? This intervention seeks to provide the Malawian government with a systematic process to help prioritize the most effective policy solutions to maximize social, environmental, and economic benefits on every kwacha invested.

ProjectEd

Building on Malawi's success increasing access to primary education, how can quality of education be improved at scale? We are testing an intervention to increase numeracy and literacy by delivering proven educational content through solar-powered projectors.

Innovation: Africa

Since 2019, we have partnered with Innovation: Africa and local teams on implementation of cutting-edge technology that can bring clean water and light in the Kwitanda catchment area. The work has positively impacted the lives of over 50,000 community members by improving educational results and access to health services.

Ubongo

Scalable and affordable innovations are needed to face the learning crisis in Malawi. Together with Ubongo, we are improving the early learning of young children through edutainment – the combination of stimulation, play and learning at home and in the community.

Patners

OUR PARTNERS

We work alongside our partners to provide financial resources, access to networks and thought partnership so they can in turn deliver change that transforms lives.