Afya Research Africa

What Afya Research Africa does

Afya Research Africa (ARA) is a Kenyan non-profit founded in 2009 and headquartered in Nairobi, operating a network of 25 Ubuntu-Afya Kiosks that deliver integrated primary healthcare, sexual and reproductive health, maternal and child health, and epilepsy services to underserved rural populations across multiple Kenyan counties including Kilifi, Siaya, Nandi, Homabay, and Kiambu. By 2023, ARA had reached more than 550,000 individuals through this facility network, with services anchored in a community-health-worker model that includes self-help groups and savings and credit cooperative (SACCO) components.

The organization's core technology asset is STONE-HMIS®, an internally developed health management information system used to digitize clinical workflows, patient records, and reporting at point-of-care. Beyond internal deployment across its kiosk network, STONE-HMIS® has been rolled out to 13 external healthcare facilities, indicating nascent external adoption of the platform and a potential channel for technology-led growth independent of facility ownership.

ARA's revenue model is predominantly grant and donor-funded, with income sourced from international foundations (Pfizer Foundation, Waterloo Foundation), bilateral aid (Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs), corporate donors (Twinings), and consortium partners. Supplementary revenue is generated through modest user fees, community savings schemes, and partner contributions. The end-user customer base is highly fragmented across rural Kenyan populations, while the funder base is concentrated among a small set of international institutional donors.

Name

Afya Research Africa

Legal name

Afya Research Africa

Website

https://afyaresearch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Afya Research Africa is a Kenyan non-profit operating 25 Ubuntu-Afya rural healthcare kiosks serving underserved populations, using its proprietary STONE-HMIS® platform, and funded primarily through international foundation grants and donor partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Primary Healthcare Services

NAICS

Health Care and Social Assistance (62)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Primary Care & General Medicine Virtual Care (HLALAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Remote Diagnostics & Point-of-Care (Connected Testing, Home Lab Devices) (HLACAPAK), Chronic Disease Management IoT (Diabetes, CHF, COPD, Hypertension) (HLACAPAD)

Keywords

• Primary healthcare services
• Health management information system
• Rural community healthcare
• Maternal child health
• Sexual reproductive health

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Healthcare Service Delivery: Revenue generated from providing primary healthcare services at Ubuntu-Afya Kiosks to rural communities. Services include maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, treatment of non-communicable diseases, and vaccination services.
2. Donor and Grant Funding: Funding from foundations and international development partners including Pfizer Foundation, Waterloo Foundation, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Twinings, and others to support specific health programs and initiatives.
3. Donations: Accepts monetary donations and in-kind contributions from individuals and organizations to support healthcare delivery in underserved rural areas.
4. Community Savings and Credit Schemes: Community savings and credit schemes operated by self-help groups that generate revenue to subsidize healthcare costs and enable financial access for community members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Afya Research Africa operates a network of 25 Ubuntu-Afya Kiosks that deliver affordable primary healthcare services to rural and underserved communities in Kenya, including maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, vaccination, HIV, and non-communicable disease management. The organization complements service delivery with STONE-HMIS®, its in-house developed health management information system used to track patient care, manage clinical, laboratory, pharmacy, finance, and community health functions across its own kiosks and 13 external public and faith-based facilities.

Product overview

Afya Research Africa operates a portfolio of healthcare products and services centered around two core offerings: Ubuntu-Afya Kiosks (a network of 25 rural healthcare centers) and STONE-HMIS® (their proprietary health management information system). The Ubuntu-Afya Kiosks provide primary healthcare services while incorporating community savings schemes through Ubuntu SACCO to subsidize costs. STONE-HMIS® is a freeware health management system with specialized modules for registration, clinical operations, laboratory, pharmacy, finance/administration, and community health management. Together, these products form an integrated healthcare delivery model that combines physical clinics with digital health infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ubuntu-Afya Kiosks: Network of 25 rural healthcare centres designed to bring essential healthcare services closer to Kenyan communities.
• STONE-HMIS®

Products and services

• Ubuntu-Afya Kiosks A network of 25 rural healthcare centers in Kenya providing primary healthcare services including treatment for non-communicable and infectious diseases, reproductive/maternal/child health, sexual and reproductive health, and HIV services, managed in partnership with community self-help groups.
• STONE-HMIS® A proprietary freeware health management information system integrating hospital management modules (registration, clinical, laboratory, pharmacy, finance and administration, and community health) to track patient care and operations within the Ubuntu-Afya Kiosk network and external facilities.
• Ubuntu-Afya Kiosk Network SRH Services Sexual and reproductive health services delivered through the Ubuntu-Afya Kiosk Network, including family planning commodities, FP and SRH services, and Participatory Learning Action programs for adolescent girls and young women.
• Access to Vaccines Program Vaccination initiative delivering childhood immunization (KEPI schedule), HPV, RTS,S malaria, and COVID-19 vaccines to underserved rural populations through mobile drives and Ubuntu-Afya Kiosks.

Quantifiable outcome

• 550,000+ individuals served across Kenya by 2023
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• WomenLift HealthminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Selected ARA's Director of Programs and Operations for 2025 Leadership Journey cohort bringing together 30 women leaders from East and Southern Africa to advance leadership in family planning and contraceptive access.
• Cheshire Disability Services Kenya (CDSK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Local implementing partner for the Make Way program facilitating inclusive SRHR for young people with disabilities. CDSK represents Liliane Fonds in Kenya and is part of a consortium including WEMOO, VSO International, FAWE, and others. Project located in Nairobi's Kibera and Mukuru informal settlements.
• Make Way ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Consortium funded by Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs including WEMOO (lead), Liliane Fonds (represented by CDSK), VSO International, FAWE, Circle of Concerned Women Theologians, and Akina Mama wa Afrika implementing inclusive SRHR programs in Kenya.
• Nandi County Government Ministry of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020MOU partnership to support Chepsire Dispensary with additional staff, 24-hour operations, and deployment of permanent clinical staff. County government provides oversight and integration with public health system.
• SHOPS PlusminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnered with SHOPS Plus to implement community co-managed primary healthcare delivery model at Chepsire Dispensary in Nandi County.
• EPK Savani Tea FactoryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Tea factory partner in Chepsire area that engaged with ARA and county government to support healthcare access for tea farm workers and surrounding communities.
• Buriet Chepkiwen Women GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Community self-help group that manages Chepsire Dispensary alongside ARA and county government. Developed savings and credit scheme linked to Ubuntu SACCO to cross-subsidize healthcare costs. Members incorporated in facility management team.
• Cheshire Disability Services KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Funded and partnered on epilepsy care and rehabilitation program in Kilifi and Siaya providing treatment, medication, diagnosis, therapy services, and social inclusion interventions for children and youth with epilepsy.
• Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccredited trainer Elizabeth Ombech completed JBI systematic review training from University of Adelaide. JBI provides evidence implementation training and resources.
• Ubuntu SACCOminorOthersSavings and credit cooperative connecting various self-help groups in the Ubuntu-Afya model. Linked to community groups to provide financial services and generate revenue to cross-subsidize healthcare costs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Dimagi (CommCare): Provider of CommCare, a widely deployed open-source data collection and service delivery platform for community health workers globally—comparable as an emerging HIS/CHT platform competitor to STONE-HMIS® in low-resource settings.
• Medic (formerly Medic Mobile): Open-source community health technology platform deployed across Africa and Asia for CHW workflows—comparable as an emerging digital health player competing for the same county-level digital health deployments as STONE-HMIS®.

Direct peers

• Penda Health: Kenyan primary care chain operating affordable outpatient clinics with digital records—comparable in primary care delivery model and use of technology (EMR) for patient management in Kenya.
• Muso: Mali-based nonprofit that builds community-led health systems with rapid primary care delivery and proactive outreach in rural areas—closely comparable in combining community co-management with measured health outcomes.
• Last Mile Health: Global nonprofit that recruits, trains, and equips community health workers to deliver primary care in remote African settings, with proprietary digital data systems—comparable mission, target population, and tech-enabled service delivery.
• Living Goods: Kenya/Uganda-based nonprofit operating a community health worker network with digital tools to deliver primary care and impact measurement in low-income settings—directly comparable operating model to ARA's Ubuntu-Afya Kiosks.
• Jacaranda Health: Kenyan nonprofit leveraging digital tools (SMS, AI) to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes in public hospitals—comparable in Kenyan geography, maternal health focus, and tech-enabled care model.
• Lwala Community Alliance: Kenyan nonprofit running community-owned health facilities with maternal, child, and reproductive health services in rural Migori County—directly comparable in mission, geography, and community co-management model.

Broad incumbents

• Partners In Health: Global nonprofit providing healthcare in resource-limited settings with integrated digital systems and community health worker programs—comparable as a broad incumbent operating in the same community primary care space.
• Amref Health Africa: Largest African health NGO with training, community health, and digital health programs across 35+ countries—comparable as an incumbent in the same primary healthcare delivery and health systems strengthening space in East Africa.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AfyaResearch
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@afyaresearchafrica3099
• Facebookfacebook.com/AfyaResearch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afya-research-africa
• Instagraminstagram.com/afyaresearchafrica

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Afya Research Africa