SafeStart Global Inc. is a nonprofit organization focused on improving public health by helping proven, cost-effective health interventions reach underserved communities. The organization works to bridge the gap between scientific evidence and practical implementation by developing delivery models that can be adopted by communities and scaled through government systems.
SafeStart Global Inc. focuses on maternal and child health, safe drinking water, disease prevention, and strengthening community-based health delivery systems. Its approach combines public health research, community engagement, behaviour change communication, reliable access to essential health products, and collaboration with government institutions.
In Nigeria, the organization is implementing a community-based safe water initiative in Kano State. The programme promotes household water treatment through point-of-use chlorination, helping communities access safer drinking water and reduce exposure to waterborne diseases. Its model combines community awareness with reliable access to chlorine treatment products through local distribution points.
SafeStart Global Inc. is a registered nonprofit organization in the United States, with operational presence in Nigeria and South Africa. Its work emphasizes evidence-based interventions, implementation research, cost-effectiveness, and sustainable delivery systems.
Mission
To accelerate the delivery of proven, cost-effective health interventions by developing practical, evidence-based models that improve access to essential services and can be scaled through government systems.
Vision
A world where proven health solutions consistently reach the people who need them most, particularly mothers, children, and underserved communities.
Core Areas of Intervention
1. Safe Drinking Water
- Improving household access to safe drinking water.
- Promoting point-of-use water treatment through chlorination.
- Increasing community awareness of unsafe drinking water and its health risks.
- Improving access to chlorine treatment products.
- Establishing community-based distribution points for water treatment supplies.
- Promoting consistent household water treatment practices.
- Supporting improved water handling and storage.
- Reducing exposure to waterborne pathogens through safer water practices.
2. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
- Promoting safe water practices in rural communities.
- Supporting community education on water safety.
- Encouraging improved household hygiene practices.
- Addressing barriers to accessing water treatment products.
- Engaging community members in sustainable water safety initiatives.
- Strengthening local systems for distributing essential WASH products.
- Supporting behaviour change to improve household health and hygiene.
3. Maternal and Child Health
- Promoting interventions that reduce preventable illness among mothers and children.
- Improving access to essential preventive health solutions.
- Supporting safe water practices for households with young children.
- Promoting awareness of the relationship between water quality and child health.
- Strengthening community-level delivery of evidence-based health interventions.
- Supporting initiatives aimed at reducing childhood illness and preventable deaths.
4. Diarrhoeal Disease Prevention
- Promoting household water treatment to reduce exposure to disease-causing organisms.
- Educating communities about the risks associated with contaminated drinking water.
- Encouraging consistent use of appropriate water disinfection methods.
- Promoting safe water storage and handling.
- Supporting community behaviour change activities.
- Improving access to preventive interventions for vulnerable households.
5. Community-Based Health Delivery
- Developing delivery systems that bring essential health interventions closer to households.
- Establishing reliable local distribution arrangements for health products.
- Engaging trusted community members in health promotion.
- Addressing affordability and accessibility barriers.
- Strengthening community participation in public health initiatives.
- Improving the consistency of access to preventive health products.
- Developing approaches that can be adapted to local needs and scaled sustainably.
6. Behaviour Change Communication
- Raising awareness of public health risks.
- Educating households about the benefits of safe water treatment.
- Addressing misconceptions and barriers to adopting preventive health practices.
- Encouraging consistent use of water treatment products.
- Developing community-based health communication strategies.
- Promoting sustained behaviour change through regular engagement.
- Supporting informed household health decisions.
7. Research and Evidence-Based Programming
- Applying research evidence to practical public health interventions.
- Identifying barriers that prevent communities from accessing proven solutions.
- Testing and improving health product delivery models.
- Assessing the effectiveness of community-based interventions.
- Supporting implementation research and programme learning.
- Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of health interventions.
- Using evidence to improve programme design and delivery.
- Generating lessons that can inform government policy and programme expansion.
8. Health Systems Strengthening
- Collaborating with government institutions to improve health intervention delivery.
- Developing implementation models that can be integrated into public systems.
- Supporting government-led expansion of effective health programmes.
- Strengthening local distribution and service delivery arrangements.
- Promoting sustainable approaches to public health programming.
- Supporting data-informed decisions about intervention delivery.
- Encouraging coordination between communities and public health authorities.
9. Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
- Monitoring programme implementation and community participation.
- Collecting and analysing programme data.
- Assessing access to and use of water treatment products.
- Evaluating changes in household water treatment practices.
- Measuring programme reach and effectiveness.
- Identifying barriers to consistent product use.
- Documenting lessons learned and implementation challenges.
- Using monitoring results to improve programme delivery.
10. Cost-Effective Development Solutions
- Identifying proven interventions with potential for large-scale impact.
- Improving the efficiency of health product distribution.
- Reducing practical barriers to accessing preventive health services.
- Developing affordable delivery models.
- Assessing the cost-effectiveness of public health interventions.
- Supporting sustainable approaches that maximize health benefits.
- Promoting government adoption of effective delivery systems.
Geographic Reach
SafeStart Global Inc. has an international presence, with operations in the United States, South Africa, and Nigeria.
In Nigeria, its current focus includes:
- Kano State: Community-based chlorine access, household water treatment, safe drinking water education, and prevention of waterborne diseases.
- Rural communities in Kano: Engagement with households and trusted community members to improve access to chlorine products and encourage consistent water treatment practices.
The organization’s safe water initiative has reported reaching approximately 135,500 people in Kano State through access to safer drinking water using chlorine treatment. Its programme has been designed to expand access through community-based distribution and behaviour change activities.
Further geographical expansion may depend on programme results, funding, and partnerships with government institutions.
Target Beneficiaries and Stakeholders
SafeStart Global Inc. primarily focuses on supporting:
- Mothers and caregivers.
- Infants and children under five.
- Rural households without reliable access to safe drinking water.
- Communities exposed to waterborne diseases.
- Low-income and underserved populations.
- Households in communities with limited access to water treatment products.
- Community health workers and local health promoters.
- Community leaders and local distribution partners.
- Government health and water authorities.
- Public health researchers and development partners.
Partnerships and Collaboration
SafeStart Global Inc. works with researchers, government institutions, public health professionals, and development partners to improve the delivery of proven health interventions.
Its work draws on evidence from public health research and implementation science. The organization has been associated with the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and research efforts focused on expanding access to safe drinking water in Africa.
Its safe water initiative has also received support from organizations associated with evidence-based development, including Coefficient, D-Prize, GiveWell, and Charity Entrepreneurship. These organizations have different roles in funding, research, or supporting the development of effective interventions.
In Nigeria, collaboration with government authorities and community stakeholders is central to its approach to establishing reliable distribution systems and supporting the long-term adoption of household water treatment.
Careers and Opportunities
SafeStart Global Inc. may offer employment, consultancy, research, and project-based opportunities depending on its operational needs and programme expansion.
Potential career areas include:
- Public Health: Public Health Officers, Public Health Specialists, and Health Programme Officers.
- WASH: WASH Officers, Water Safety Specialists, Hygiene Promotion Officers, and Community Water Programme Personnel.
- Community Engagement: Community Mobilizers, Field Officers, Community Engagement Officers, and Behaviour Change Facilitators.
- Programme Implementation: Programme Officers, Project Coordinators, Field Coordinators, and Implementation Specialists.
- Research: Research Assistants, Research Officers, Implementation Research Specialists, and Public Health Researchers.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: Monitoring and Evaluation Officers, MEAL Specialists, Data Collectors, and Data Analysts.
- Supply Chain and Distribution: Supply Chain Officers, Distribution Coordinators, Logistics Officers, and Operations Personnel.
- Behaviour Change Communication: Health Promotion Officers, Communications Specialists, and Behaviour Change Communication Officers.
- Health Systems Strengthening: Health Systems Officers, Government Partnerships Officers, and Technical Assistance Specialists.
- Data and Information Management: Data Management Officers, Information Management Specialists, and Research Data Analysts.
- Finance and Administration: Finance Officers, Accountants, Administrative Assistants, and Human Resources Personnel.
- Partnerships and Programme Development: Partnership Officers, Grant Management Personnel, and Programme Development Specialists.
Qualifications and Skills
Depending on the position, relevant qualifications may include public health, environmental health, water and sanitation engineering, social sciences, economics, statistics, development studies, research methods, or project management.
Useful skills may include:
- Community mobilization and stakeholder engagement.
- Public health programme implementation.
- Data collection and analysis.
- Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.
- Research and evidence synthesis.
- Supply chain and distribution management.
- Behaviour change communication.
- Government and community partnership management.
- Technical report writing.
- Knowledge of local languages and community contexts.
Important: These are potential career areas based on the organization’s activities, not confirmation of current vacancies. Applicants should review individual recruitment announcements for specific qualifications, experience, location, and application requirements.
Focus Areas – SafeStart Global Inc.
Public Health • Safe Drinking Water • Water, Sanitation and Hygiene • Point-of-Use Chlorination • Maternal and Child Health • Diarrhoeal Disease Prevention • Community-Based Health Delivery • Behaviour Change Communication • Water Safety • Research and Evidence • Implementation Science • Health Systems Strengthening • Monitoring and Evaluation • Supply Chain Development • Community Engagement • Cost-Effective Interventions • Government Partnerships • Sustainable Development • Disease Prevention • Health Impact Measurement
