Public Health Ambassadors Uganda-PHAU

What Public Health Ambassadors Uganda-PHAU does

Public Health Ambassadors Uganda (PHAU) is a youth-led nonprofit organization founded in 2011 in Kampala, Uganda, that operates sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS prevention, youth economic empowerment, and WASH programs across 17 districts. It serves adolescents and young people aged roughly 15–30, with particular focus on Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) affected by HIV, and engages men and community leaders as gatekeepers. Service delivery is anchored by a network of 484 trained peer educators conducting door-to-door mobilization, community dialogues, medical camps, and edutainment-based programming (the proprietary EIPA methodology combining performance arts with health education). The organization also operates a mobile application on Google Play (PHAU App) that provides teenagers and peer educators with sexual wellness content, menstrual cycle tracking, gamified learning, medication reminders, appointment scheduling, and a health facility locator; the app had reached 2,841 users as of last disclosure.

PHAU runs a portfolio of named programmatic brands including YoSpace (with Population Services International), PITCH (with Aidsfonds and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs), PoWER (Commonwealth Foundation), Let Her Shine (Aga Khan Foundation and Global Affairs Canada), E4C (Frontline AIDS consortium spanning Kenya and Uganda), YEAH (vocational and entrepreneurship hub), Bfree Cup (antibacterial menstrual cup piloted in refugee settings with WGHI and WoMena), and Ensonga (menstrual hygiene education). PHAU reports cumulative impact of 11.5M+ young people reached with SRHR information, 3.4M+ condoms distributed, 3.8M+ young people referred for SRHR services, and 3,191 menstrual cups distributed. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Team Leader Lillibet Namakula; it received the Excellence in Leadership for Family Planning (EXCELL) Award at the 2022 International Conference on Family Planning.

The business model is grant-funded: PHAU is a registered Ugandan NGO (registration number 3438) that derives the vast majority of its revenue from institutional donors including Commonwealth Foundation, Aga Khan Foundation, Global Affairs Canada, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PSI, Aidsfonds, and the Frontline AIDS consortium. Services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries; the only revenue mechanism tied to end users is the YoSpace voucher (UGX 1,000 per voucher, sold by peer educators who retain a UGX 500 margin). Individual donations are also accepted via a Flutterwave donation link. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed, and the organization has no parent company, subsidiaries, or paid commercial customers.

Name

Public Health Ambassadors Uganda-PHAU

Legal name

Public Health Ambassadors Uganda

Website

https://phauganda.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Public Health Ambassadors Uganda (PHAU) is a youth-led nonprofit founded in 2011 that delivers sexual and reproductive health, HIV prevention, and youth economic empowerment programs to adolescents and young women across 17 Ugandan districts through a 484-strong peer educator network and donor-funded programmatic portfolio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Services for Youth

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG), Global Health Advocacy, Policy & Rights Organizations (HLAJAKAO)

Keywords

• Sexual reproductive health
• HIV AIDS prevention
• Youth empowerment programs
• Menstrual hygiene management
• Community health outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Kampala

HQ country

Uganda

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donor Funding and Grants: PHAU is a registered NGO that operates primarily through donor-funded projects supported by international organizations including Commonwealth Foundation, Aga Khan Foundation, Global Affairs Canada, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and others. Funding supports specific programs and projects in sexual reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, youth empowerment, and WASH.
2. Donations: Individual donations through Flutterwave platform for supporting PHAU's mission and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Public Health Ambassadors Uganda (PHAU) is a youth-led NGO that champions sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), HIV/AIDS prevention, youth economic empowerment, and WASH programs for adolescents and young people in Uganda. It delivers community-based health education through a network of 484 trained peer educators, complemented by the PHAU mobile app, edutainment programming, vocational training, and voucher-supported reproductive health services.

Product overview

PHAU operates as a youth-led organization offering the PHAU App as its core mobile product for sexual and reproductive health information, combined with multiple programmatic interventions including Yo Space (SRHR services), Bfree Cup (menstrual products), YEAH (youth empowerment hub), PITCH (HIV advocacy), PoWER (women's rights), Let Her Shine (gender equality), E4C (HIV prevention), and Ensonga (menstrual hygiene education). These offerings work together to provide a comprehensive ecosystem addressing youth sexual health, economic empowerment, and gender equity in Uganda.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PHAU App: A mobile application providing a safe and informative platform for teenagers and peer educators to access essential sexual wellness information, connect with experts, track menstrual cycles, schedule clinic appointments, engage in gamified learning, set medication reminders, watch educational videos, stay updated on PHAU events, and find nearby health facilities.
• YEAH (Youth Empowerment and Advocacy Hub)
• EIPA (Edutainment and Informative Performance Arts)

Products and services

• PHAU Mobile App Android mobile application (available on Google Play Store) providing teenagers and peer educators a safe platform for sexual wellness information, expert connections, menstrual cycle tracking, clinic appointment scheduling, gamified learning, medication reminders, educational videos, event updates, and a nearby health facility locator. Users can register as Peer Educators or Clients.
• Bfree Cup Antibacterial menstrual cup that does not require boiling water and lasts more than 10 years, providing a sustainable menstrual hygiene solution for adolescent girls and women, particularly in refugee and rural settings. Distributed as part of PHAU's menstrual health programs.
• YoSpace Project Youth brand implemented by PHAU with support from Population Services International (PSI-Uganda) that creates demand for and utilization of SRHR services, including family planning, HIV counseling and testing, GBV support, and HIV/AIDS services, among girls and women aged 15-24 in Luwero, Jinja, Hoima, Masindi, Kabarole, and Bushenyi districts. Operates through a voucher mechanism at UGX 1,000 per voucher.
• Youth Empowerment and Advocacy Hub (YEAH) Information and resource center offering young people skills and knowledge through training and mentorship programs, including vocational skills building (tailoring, hair dressing, jewelry making), comprehensive SRHR education, leadership training, peer-to-peer support, advocacy, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and business management.
• Let Her Shine Project Gender equality initiative funded by the Aga Khan Foundation and Global Affairs Canada, addressing discriminatory gender norms by empowering out-of-school adolescent girls and young women in Kampala district (Makindye division) and Mukono district through skills training and advocacy.
• PoWER (Propagation of Women Empowerment and Rights) Project Project funded by the Commonwealth Foundation focused on women empowerment and rights, implemented in Luwero district.
• PITCH Project Strategic partnership between Aids Fonds, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aimed at inspiring, transforming, and connecting the HIV response by empowering those most affected by HIV to influence policies and practices. Implemented in Luwero district.
• E4C (Empowered for Change) Project One-year program implemented in Kenya and Uganda through the Frontline AIDS consortium to reduce HIV incidence among Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW), providing intensive advocacy training, mentoring, and skills development.
• Ensonga Project Menstrual Hygiene Management project implemented in schools, teaching students about menstrual health and providing practical skills to make reusable menstrual pads.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11.5M+ young people reached with integrated SRHR information
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Population Services International (PSI-Uganda)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPSI-Uganda supports the YoSpace project, a youth brand aimed at creating demand and utilization of SRHR services such as Family Planning, HIV counseling and testing, GBV, and HIV/AIDS among girls and women aged 15-24 years.
• Aidsfonds / International HIV/AIDS AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners in the PITCH (Partnership to Inspire, Transform and Connect the HIV Response) project, funded by Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focused on empowering those most affected by HIV to influence policies and practices.
• UNFPA UgandacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports youth engagement in national SRHR conferences and initiatives, including the National Sexuality Education Framework dialogue.
• Frontline AIDScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeads the E4C (Empowered for Change) consortium implementing programs in Kenya and Uganda to reduce HIV incidence among AGYW.
• Guttmacher InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on research and advocacy, including data-driven advocacy sessions and participation in the Global Forum on Adolescents.
• Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner for implementing programs in Kampala district, particularly the Let Her Shine project.
• Luwero District Local GovernmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict-level partner for E4C, PITCH, and PoWER projects, including participation in District Health Team meetings.
• Mukono District Local GovernmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict partner for Let Her Shine project implementation.
• AHF Uganda CaresmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing HIV/AIDS services and support.
• Mildmay UgandamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing HIV/AIDS services.
• FIDA-UgandamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal and advocacy partner for gender-based violence issues.
• WoMena UgandamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Bfree Cup menstrual cup pilot project in refugee settings.
• Women's Global Health Innovations (WGHI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSource organization for Bfree Cup project, funded by Fund for Innovative Transformation (FIT), Intercouncil Network (ICN), and Government of Canada.
• CYSRA UgandamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for E4C project in Busia district.
• LVCT KenyamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and implementation partner for E4C qualitative study, providing training and research expertise.
• Youth Equality Centre (YEC) UgandaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for International Youth Day e-Marathon and World Contraceptive Day celebrations.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU): Member association of IPPF providing SRHR information, family planning, and youth-friendly services across Uganda. Most directly comparable to PHAU on target population (adolescents/young women), service mix (FP, HIV, GBV), and clinic/referral model.
• WoMena Uganda: NGO promoting menstrual health solutions including menstrual cups in Uganda and East Africa. Direct peer on Bfree cup distribution, menstrual hygiene management in refugee settings, and donor partner overlap with PHAU.
• Reach Out Mbuya Community Health Initiative: Ugandan community-based NGO providing HIV/AIDS care, SRHR, and economic empowerment to vulnerable populations in Kampala. Comparable on HIV-focused programming, peer-led outreach, and integrated AGYW services.
• Uganda Health Marketing Group (UHMG): Ugandan social marketing and health NGO providing FP, HIV, and maternal health services through clinics and community channels. Comparable on SRHR service delivery, donor-funded program structure, and social-franchise/referral network.
• Marie Stopes Uganda: MSI's Uganda affiliate operating clinics and community SRHR programs including family planning and post-abortion care. Comparable on SRHR service delivery, youth outreach, and voucher models that overlap with PHAU's YoSpace project.
• Straight Talk Foundation Uganda: Youth-focused SRHR communication NGO operating in schools and communities across Uganda. Direct peer on adolescent SRHR information dissemination, peer-education methodology, and use of edutainment for behavior change.
• Naguru Teenage Centre (Naguru Information and Health Centre): Kampala-based adolescent sexual and reproductive health clinic and youth hub. Comparable on adolescent-focused SRHR clinical services, counseling, and youth-friendly service corner model that PHAU also supports.

Broad incumbents

• AMREF Health Africa (Uganda): Large African health NGO with significant Uganda operations spanning SRHR, WASH, and community health. Overlaps with PHAU on thematic areas but operates at much larger scale and with broader geographic mandate.
• Pathfinder International (Uganda): International SRHR organization implementing family planning and adolescent reproductive health programs in Uganda. Comparable on target demographics, donor-funded project model, and youth-friendly service approach.
• Frontline AIDS (E4C Consortium): International alliance leading the E4C consortium reducing HIV incidence among AGYW in Kenya and Uganda. PHAU is a direct consortium partner; comparable on HIV prevention focus, AGYW target segment, and donor-funded project model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/phauganda
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@phauganda
• Facebookfacebook.com/phauganda
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/public-health-ambassadors-uganda

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Public Health Ambassadors Uganda-PHAU