Human Needs Project
Human Needs Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the integrated Kibera Town Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, delivering clean water, sanitation, training, microfinance, and solar lighting to residents of the Kibera slum under a community-managed model. Founded in 2010, it serves 800+ people daily and has facilitated over 2 million customer transactions since 2014.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Human Needs Project does
Human Needs Project (HNP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2010 by Connie Nielsen and David Warner, headquartered in San Rafael, California, with operational headquarters at the Kibera Town Centre in Nairobi, Kenya (opened 2014). HNP operates an integrated "town centre" model that delivers essential infrastructure and social services within a single physical platform in Kibera, the largest slum in East Africa. The infrastructure layer consists of clean water (a 4-step filtration system drawing from a 300-meter-deep well via Grundfos pumps across 5 water points serving 700+ families), sanitation facilities (toilets, showers, handwash stations), laundry, a cafeteria, a water bottling plant, and solar-powered street lighting (108+ solar panels and 2+ miles of lighting). The social services layer includes a cyber lab, a training academy (IT, business, photography, clean technologies, microwork, blockchain education) that has graduated 6,500+ students with ~60% employment placement, a music studio, a Savings and Credit Cooperative, urban farming/hydroponics, and the Voices of Kibera blockchain music initiative.
HNP's business model combines service fees from affordable offerings, charitable donations and grants (from foundations such as Rockefeller and Grundfos, alongside individual giving), training program revenue, and high-impact immersive fundraising events. Services are designed to be community-led: the Kibera Town Centre is managed and run by Kiberans, and residents are treated as customers rather than beneficiaries. Impact metrics reported for 2025 include 21M+ liters of clean water distributed, 150,000 toilet/shower uses, 900 students trained, and 18 tons of fresh produce harvested; cumulative since 2015 the Centre has facilitated 2M+ customer transactions and 50M+ liters of water distributed. Strategic partnerships with the Rockefeller Foundation, Grundfos Foundation, UNEP, the Solana Foundation, Mr. Green Africa, and the Kenya Climate Innovation Center underpin both infrastructure and funding.
Growth is concentrated at the single Kibera site, with no geographic replication evident to date; however, a 2024 Johns Hopkins University impact evaluation was explicitly scoped to position the organization for expansion. Recent initiatives include Light Up Kibera Phase III solar lighting expansion (2026), a PET recycling program launched with Mr. Green Africa in March 2024, and Web3 funding channels including cryptocurrency donations. The Board includes Susan Sarandon, Mikkel Vestergaard (LifeStraw founder), Daniel Kammen (Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Energy at Johns Hopkins), and former Procter & Gamble executive Tom Henrich as Vice Chair, lending operational and reputational capital to the organization's strategic direction.
Human Needs Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Human Needs Project
- Legal name
- Human Needs Project
- Website
- https://humanneedsproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Human Needs Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the integrated Kibera Town Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, delivering clean water, sanitation, training, microfinance, and solar lighting to residents of the Kibera slum under a community-managed model. Founded in 2010, it serves 800+ people daily and has facilitated over 2 million customer transactions since 2014.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Human Needs Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development Services
- NAICS
- Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Facilities Support Services (561210)
- SIC
- Sanitary Services (4950), Services-Social Services (8300), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development (BPAGABAL), Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure (BPADALAL), Waste Management & Smart Sanitation (Facilities) (HSAPAPAM)
Keywords
Where Human Needs Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Human Needs Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Service Fees: Revenue generated from affordable services offered at Kibera Town Centre including clean water, sanitation, laundry, cafeteria. Total revenue of $450K and sales revenue of $70K mentioned historically.
- Donations and Grants: Charitable donations from individuals and institutional funders supporting operations and expansion
- Training and Education Programs: Revenue from training academy services including IT, photography, business skills, and other empowerment programs
- Immersive Events: High-impact partnerships and immersive events for fundraising
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Donation-based support |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Human Needs Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Human Needs Project operates the Kibera Town Centre, an integrated physical facility in Nairobi, Kenya, delivering affordable essential services — clean water (4-step filtration system), toilets and showers, laundry, cafeteria meals, and solar street lighting — alongside empowerment programs including a Training Academy (IT, business, photography, microwork, blockchain), a Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO), urban farming/hydroponics, a music studio, and a PET recycling program. The platform serves over 800 community residents daily and is powered by solar-panel-based independent green infrastructure.
Product overview
Human Needs Project (HNP) operates the Kibera Town Centre in Nairobi, Kenya — a single integrated platform providing both essential infrastructure services and social empowerment services within one 'town centre' model. The infrastructure layer includes clean water (4-step filtration system from a 300-meter-deep well), sanitation (toilets, showers, handwash stations), laundry services, a cafeteria, and a water bottling plant — all powered by cutting-edge green infrastructure including solar panels. The empowerment layer includes a Cyber Lab, Training Academy, Music Studio, Photography Classes, a Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO), urban farming/hydroponics, microwork training, and blockchain education. Cross-cutting initiatives include the Light Up Kibera solar street lighting program, a PET plastic recycling program with Mr. Green Africa, and the Voices of Kibera blockchain music initiative with the Solana Foundation. Over 800 people per day use the centre, which has facilitated more than 2 million customer transactions since opening in 2014.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Voices of Kibera: A special initiative by Human Needs Project to generate recognition, income and opportunity for musicians in the Kibera community, producing 20 unique songs by talented Kibera artists in partnership with Octopizzo and Solana Foundation.
- Light Up Kibera
Products and services
- Clean Water Filtered clean drinking water distributed through a 4-step filtration system drawing from a 300-meter-deep well with Grundfos pumps, serving 5 water points in Kibera and providing clean water to 700+ families. Over 21 million liters distributed in 2025.
- Toilets and Showers Sanitation facilities providing toilet and shower access at the Kibera Town Centre, with 150,000 uses recorded in 2025, supporting hygiene and public health in the Kibera slum.
- Laundry Services Commercial laundry facility at the Kibera Town Centre providing affordable laundry services to community residents.
- Cafeteria Food service operation at the Kibera Town Centre providing meals and food access to residents, identified as a key strength in the Johns Hopkins evaluation.
- Training Academy Skills training program offering courses in IT, Business, Clean Technologies, and capacity development, with over 6,500 graduates and approximately 60% accessing employment after completing courses.
- Cyber Lab Computer lab providing internet access, digital literacy, and IT training at the Kibera Town Centre.
- Music Studio Recording studio facility at the Kibera Town Centre supporting music production and creative development for local artists.
- Photography Classes Photography training program teaching technical skills and creative storytelling, with graduates going on to work as professional photographers and content creators.
- Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO) Microcredit and savings program providing financial access and empowerment services to Kibera residents, identified as a strength in the Johns Hopkins evaluation.
- Urban Farming / Hydroponics Climate-smart urban agriculture initiative producing fresh vegetables through hydroponic farming, with 18 tons of produce harvested and distributed in 2025.
- Light Up Kibera Solar street lighting initiative installing solar-powered lights throughout Kibera's streets, having installed more than two miles of solar lights and preparing Phase III with an additional mile.
- PET Plastic Recycling Program Partnership with Mr. Green Africa featuring a PET plastic collection cage at the Kibera Town Centre, where community members earn Green Points for depositing plastic waste, redeemable for HNP services.
- Voices of Kibera Music initiative in partnership with Octopizzo and the Solana Foundation producing 20 unique songs by Kibera artists, released on the blockchain to generate income and recognition for musicians in the community.
- Water Bottling Plant Facility for bottling filtered clean water for distribution to the Kibera community and beyond.
Quantifiable outcome
- 21+ million liters of clean water distributed in 2025
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Human Needs Project
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Human Needs Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Human Needs Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Livelihood Impact Fund (LIF)corePartnership with Billclinton Achar from Livelihood Impact Fund (LIF) for expanding access to safe lighting in Kibera. Collaborating on Phase III of Light Up Kibera project, adding another mile of solar lighting.
- Mr. Green AfricacoreFirst recycling company to be Certified B Corporation on African continent. Partnership introduced PET plastic collection cage at Kibera Town Center. Community members earn 15 Green Points per kg of plastic deposited, redeemable for services.
- Grundfos FoundationcoreGrundfos Foundation provides pumps for the water system. System runs on Grundfos pumps drawing water from 300-meter-deep well. Core infrastructure partner for water delivery services.
- Water HopecoreWater Hope helped expand reach with water truck and build-out of three additional water points, increasing water access across Kibera community.
- UC BerkeleycoreCalifornia-Africa Forum collaboration, hosting delegation visits. Partnership with UC Davis and Bay Area Council ongoing.
- UC DaviscoreCA-Africa Forum collaboration. Led to MOU signing between California and Kenya at UN General Assembly.
- Kenya First Lady (Mama Rachel Ruto)flagshipMeeting in NYC with founder Connie Nielsen, board members. February 2024 visit to Kibera Town Centre. Partnership for women's empowerment and community development in informal settlements.
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)coreUNEA 5.2 summit partnership. Nearly 40-ft art installation displayed at UN headquarters in Nairobi. Historic plastic treaty adopted.
- Solana FoundationcorePartner in Voices of Kibera initiative to generate recognition, income and opportunity for musicians. Produced 20 unique songs by Kibera artists on blockchain.
- OctopizzocorePartnership with Octopizzo for Voices of Kibera music production initiative.
- World Food ProgrammecoreInstitutional partner listed on partners page.
- Kenya Climate Innovation CentercoreInstitutional partner listed on partners page.
- OSIENALAcoreAtieno Asiyo, Deputy Director at OSIENALA, visited KTC. Organization focuses on environmental protection, community empowerment, and sustainable development.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Human Needs Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO): Operates integrated community services in Kibera and other Kenyan informal settlements, including water/sanitation, schools, and health clinics, making it the closest operational analogue to HNP's town-centre model.
- Sanergy: Kenya-based social enterprise building sanitation infrastructure in informal urban settlements, including fresh waste collection and fertilizer production, addressing the same WASH-and-empowerment overlap as HNP.
Broad incumbents
- Water.org: Global WASH-focused nonprofit financing household water and sanitation access through microfinance partnerships, operating at much greater scale than HNP but tackling a shared water/sanitation mission in low-income communities.
- WaterAid: Established international NGO focused exclusively on WASH access in low-income countries, providing a benchmark for how HNP could scale integrated infrastructure programming globally.
- BRAC: One of the world's largest development organizations delivering integrated poverty programs (health, education, microfinance, water/sanitation), the closest large-scale analogue to HNP's integrated-service model.
- LifeStraw (Vestergaard): Global clean-water product company founded by HNP board member Mikkel Vestergaard, addressing household water purification in low-income markets and highly comparable on water-access mission and Africa footprint.
- Habitat for Humanity: Large nonprofit focused on housing and basic infrastructure for low-income families, overlapping with HNP on integrated community-development infrastructure delivery in slum and informal-settlement contexts.
Emerging players
- EarthEnable: Social enterprise building affordable, hygienic flooring and housing infrastructure in East African rural and peri-urban communities, overlapping with HNP on integrated infrastructure for low-income African communities.
- Sistema.bio: Mexico-headquartered social enterprise deploying biogas sanitation systems for smallholder farmers, comparable to HNP in providing distributed sanitation/clean-tech infrastructure with a hybrid social-enterprise model.
- Slum2School Africa: Nonprofit supporting education and basic services for children in African slums, overlapping with HNP's training academy and empowerment pillar for Kibera youth and adjacent informal-settlement populations.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Human Needs Project social profiles
Digital presenceHuman Needs Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Human Needs Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles20 records
Human Needs Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Human Needs Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Human Needs Project
What does Human Needs Project do?
Human Needs Project operates the Kibera Town Centre, an integrated physical facility in Nairobi, Kenya, delivering affordable essential services — clean water (4-step filtration system), toilets and showers, laundry, cafeteria meals, and solar street lighting — alongside empowerment programs including a Training Academy (IT, business, photography, microwork, blockchain), a Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO), urban farming/hydroponics, a music studio, and a PET recycling program. The platform serves over 800 community residents daily and is powered by solar-panel-based independent green infrastructure.
Is Human Needs Project a public or private company?
Human Needs Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Human Needs Project founded?
Human Needs Project was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Human Needs Project based?
Human Needs Project is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Human Needs Project make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Service Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and Grants, training and Education Programs and immersive Events.
Who are Human Needs Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) and Sanergy. Broad incumbents are Water.org, WaterAid, BRAC, LifeStraw (Vestergaard) and Habitat for Humanity. Emerging players are EarthEnable, Sistema.bio and Slum2School Africa.
Does Human Needs Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Human Needs Project.
What industry is Human Needs Project in?
Human Needs Project's product category is Community Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAC, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), with a secondary code of BPAGABAL, Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development. Its NAICS code is 624230 and its SIC code is 4950.