What SaCoDé does

SaCoDé (Association pour la Promotion de la Santé des Communautés pour le Développement) is a Burundian non-profit organization founded in 2010 in Bujumbura that addresses period poverty through an integrated model spanning reusable menstrual products, a Kirundi-language digital health tool, school-based education, household economic empowerment, and vocational training. It serves school girls, women in vulnerable households, and women seeking vocational skills across all provinces of Burundi. The organization operates with 188 team members, 70% of whom are women, with deliberate inclusion of staff with disabilities and graduates of its own programs.

The organization's core offerings are: (1) Agateka reusable sanitary pads, locally manufactured with a 36–48 month lifespan, employing 130+ women in production and distributed both free to beneficiaries and sold commercially at BIF 15,000 (~USD 5) per pack; (2) the OKY-Burundi mobile application, the first Kirundi-language period-tracking app with offline functionality, used by 6,000+ users; (3) Ishure ry'Inyenyeri, a schools program structured on UNICEF's 3-Star School Approach; (4) Iterambere, a household economic empowerment program based on BRAC's Graduation Approach; and (5) Menya Umwuga, a vocational training program whose graduates feed into SaCoDé's own workforce and small-business pipeline. Agateka pads are also sold in bulk to NGOs, humanitarian organizations, and government institutions.

Revenue is generated through three mechanisms: philanthropic donations processed via Every.org with Myriad USA as fiscal sponsor enabling US tax-deductible giving; direct commercial sales of Agateka pads to individuals and institutional buyers; and program-specific sponsorship donations (BIF 250,000 / ~USD 85 per vocational trainee; BIF 300,000 / ~USD 100 per business support package). Cumulative impact metrics include 500,000+ Agateka packs sold, 220,417 girls receiving free pads, 8,000+ small businesses launched, 440 graduates, and 110 graduates employed in Agateka production. Partnerships include UNICEF, BRAC, Every.org, Myriad USA, and Burundi Ministries of Health and Education.

Name

SaCoDé

Legal name

Association pour la Promotion de la Santé des Communautés pour le Développement (SaCoDé)

Website

https://sacode.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SaCoDé is a Burundian non-profit founded in 2010 that addresses period poverty through locally produced Agateka reusable pads, the OKY-Burundi period-tracking app, school-based programs, household economic empowerment, and vocational training serving girls and women across Burundi.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Menstrual Health and Women's Empowerment Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Women's, Misses', Children's & Infants' Undergarments (2340), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA), Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC), Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) Partnerships (HLAJAOAG)

Keywords

• Menstrual health products
• Reusable sanitary pads
• Period poverty programs
• Vocational training women
• Community health education

Headquarters

HQ city

Bujumbura, Bujumbura

HQ country

Burundi

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropic Funding: Primary revenue stream from individual and institutional donations processed through Every.org platform. Donors can make one-time, monthly, or yearly donations with ability to direct funds to specific programs.
2. Agateka Reusable Pads Sales: Sale of locally produced reusable sanitary pads to organizations, schools, humanitarian programs, and community initiatives. Products sold in bulk to institutional buyers and trusted by organizations across Burundi.
3. Vocational Training Sponsorship: 250,000 BIF (approx. US$85) can cover a woman's full vocational training curriculum including lunch, healthcare and therapy. Funded through donations directed to Menya Umwuga program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SaCoDé is a Burundian non-profit organization that produces and distributes Agateka reusable sanitary pads, operates the OKY-Burundi period-tracking mobile app, and delivers integrated community programs — school-based menstrual health education (Ishure ry'Inyenyeri), household economic empowerment (Iterambere), and vocational training for women (Menya Umwuga). The organization links immediate access to reusable menstrual products with long-term investments in education, sanitation, income generation, and community support to eliminate period poverty in Burundi.

Product overview

SaCoDé operates an integrated model addressing period poverty in Burundi through complementary programs and products. The core offerings include Agateka Reusable Pads (locally manufactured reusable sanitary products lasting 3-4 years) and the OKY-Burundi App (a Kirundi/French period-tracking mobile application with offline capability). These are supported by three interconnected programs: Ishure ry'Inyenyeri (school-based intervention providing menstrual health education, products, and WASH facilities), Iterambere (household-level economic empowerment combining health education, savings groups, and livelihood support), and Menya Umwuga (vocational training in tailoring and crochet with employment pathways into Agateka production). The model connects immediate product access with long-term systemic solutions across education, sanitation, income generation, and community support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Agateka: Reusable sanitary pads produced locally by trained women in Burundi. Agateka means 'Dignity' in Kirundi. Each pack lasts 36-48 months with proper care.
• OKY-Burundi
• Iterambere
• Menya Umwuga
• Ishure ry'Inyenyeri

Products and services

• Agateka Reusable Pads Reusable sanitary pads produced locally in Burundi by trained women. Each pack lasts 36–48 months with proper care, providing a durable menstrual health solution for girls and women.
• OKY-Burundi Mobile App Free period-tracking and menstrual health education mobile application available in Kirundi and French, designed for Burundian adolescent girls with offline capability and encrypted data storage.
• Ishure ry'Inyenyeri School Program School-based program built on UNICEF's 3-Star School Approach, providing menstrual health education, free Agateka reusable pads, and improved WASH facilities to help girls manage menstruation with dignity and stay in school.
• Iterambere Household Empowerment Program Household economic empowerment program inspired by BRAC's Graduation Approach, combining health education, income-generation support, healthcare referrals, sanitation improvements, and access to menstrual products for women and families.
• Menya Umwuga Vocational Training Vocational training program teaching women practical, marketable trades such as tailoring and crochet, with pathways to employment in Agateka production or independent business ownership.

Quantifiable outcome

• +90% consistent use of appropriate menstrual products among participants
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Every.orgcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEvery.org provides secure online fundraising platform for SaCoDé, processing donations from individuals globally. Donations are tax-deductible through Every.org's US 501(c)(3) status.
• Myriad USAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAmerican Friends Fund fiscal sponsor for SaCoDé, enabling US tax-deductible donations through Every.org platform.
• UNICEFflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOKY was originally developed through global partnership led by UNICEF. SaCoDé adapted the platform to local realities, language, and needs in Burundi. Content validated with relevant experts and ratified by Burundi's Ministries of Health and Education.
• Local Clinics and Health CentrescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local healthcare providers for family planning services and healthcare referrals for Iterambere program participants.
• BRACcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIterambere program inspired by BRAC's Graduation Approach, adapted to realities of Burundi. BRAC's model provides framework for combining health education, income-generation, and livelihood support.
• Partner SchoolsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchools across Burundi implementing Ishure ry'Inyenyeri program, receiving support for menstrual health education, pad distribution, and WASH facility improvements.
• Burundi Ministry of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for health programs, content validation and ratification of OKY-Burundi app educational materials.
• Burundi Ministry of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for school programs, content validation and ratification of OKY-Burundi app educational materials.

Scale indicators21 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ruby Cup: Social enterprise providing menstrual cups and education across Africa and Europe. Comparable to SaCoDé in mission (ending period poverty) and distribution model (partnering with NGOs, schools, and humanitarian programs) but offers a different product format.
• Irise International: UK-registered NGO focused on menstrual health education and product access in East Africa. Comparable to SaCoDé's school-based menstrual health work and educational research outputs.
• AFRIpads: Uganda-based social enterprise manufacturing reusable sanitary pads for African markets, including humanitarian distribution. Direct comparable to SaCoDé's Agateka manufacturing arm, with overlapping institutional buyer channels and product design philosophy.
• Days for Girls International: Global nonprofit producing reusable menstrual pads and delivering menstrual health education in low-income communities. Direct comparable to SaCoDé's Agateka pads and Ishure ry'Inyenyeri school program, with similar education-plus-product distribution model.
• Huru International: Kenya-based nonprofit distributing reusable pads and delivering menstrual health education to schoolgirls. Closest geographic and operational peer to SaCoDé, with overlapping school-based distribution model and reusable pad product.
• Be Girl Inc. Social enterprise designing reusable menstrual products and dignity kits for girls in low-income settings. Direct peer to Agateka with similar product-plus-education bundling.
• Mwezi Foundation: Swiss-based nonprofit producing and distributing reusable sanitary pads across East Africa including Burundi-region operations. Comparable product and mission alignment with Agateka, with established distribution in neighboring countries.

Emerging players

• WoMena Uganda: East African NGO implementing menstrual health programs and research. Comparable to SaCoDé's research-driven MH programming and country-level implementation, with regional focus.

Others

• BRAC International: Large international development organization whose Graduation Approach inspired SaCoDé's Iterambere program. Provides the methodological backbone SaCoDé has adapted; comparable as a thought leader in integrated livelihoods-plus-health programming.
• UNICEF (Adolescent Health): Originated the global OKY partnership that SaCoDé localized into OKY-Burundi and ratifies SaCoDé's MH educational content. Comparable as the upstream partner and broader menstrual health ecosystem actor, not a competitor but a co-developer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SacodeBdi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sacode-burundi
• Instagraminstagram.com/sacodebdi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 SaCoDé