Village X Org

We crowdfund cash transfers for community-led projects in underserved parts of Malawi. #localsknowbest We seek to answer three questions: (1) what do villages want?; (2) why do they want it?; and (3) what's the impact per dollar compared to projects delivered by outsiders. Our project model is innovative. Villages choose projects based on local priorities and conditions. They plan, partially finance (5% in cash, 15% in materials and labor), implement and document small-scale projects (usually between $2,000 and $6,000), building confidence and capacity, with oversight from Village X representatives. Projects must benefit the entire community and present a feasible plan for longterm sustainability. Our outcomes are strong. Projects financed to date (e.g., water wells, teacher houses, nursery schools, goat herds, fertilizer inputs) cost about 50% less than the going NGO price, and communities completed them within 1 month of funding (much faster than the status quo). Thanks to a rapid rise in smartphone penetration in Malawi, donors receive rolling pictures of their impact on the ground. Our impact is real and quantitative. Based on data collected from partner villages and comparison groups of villages interested in partnering with us, we identified statistically significant impacts on boys in nursery school (+10/village), girls in nursery school (+16/village), waterborne illness (-97/village), non-agricultural businesses (+10/village), and girls in secondary school (+21/village). Our pilot was a success. Currently seeking startup funding.