Nigeria generates more than 34 million tonnes of waste annually, including 20 billion plastic bottles, but less than 10% is collected, sorted and recycled. At the same time, pervasive poverty and poor healthcare financing (less than 3% of Nigeria’s 200 million people have health insurance), have put quality health care out of reach for most Nigerians. Soso Care provides micro-health insurance through waste plastic recycling.
A GSMA grant enabled Soso Care to expand their current offering by purchasing recyclable waste from low-income individuals and selling it to intermediaries and recycling companies. Proceeds are used to provide health insurance premiums for households that register for the scheme. The GSMA funding aimed to increase automation across Soso Care’s systems by introducing digital and mobile apps. In March 2022, Soso Care streamlined their processing to enable more waste to be collected and to increase the value generated from waste collection.
Learn more about the GSMA Innovation Fund here.
Soso Care is one of the start-ups supported by the GSMA Innovation Fund for Digital Urban Services, which was launched in May 2021. It is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and supported by the GSMA and its members.
