Final Report: Testing Scale Models for Healthy and Affordable Flooring

The organization's core objective of replacing dirt floors with healthier alternatives remained unchanged throughout the project. EarthEnable successfully implemented the micro-franchise model, scaling from 5 to 38 districts by 2022, and entering a new country. The current micro-franchising model empowers community-based masons to become earthen construction entrepreneurs and independently build housing products in their communities. EarthEnable developed additional housing solutions, such as earthen plaster and improved adobe blocks, tailored to different contexts, and introduced financing options through cooperatives and microfinance institutions. Evaluation efforts were carried out with a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) in three phases: Phase 1 (House Identification), Phase 2 (Biological Plausibility Study), and Phase 3 (Behavioral Change). Phase 2 confirmed a significant reduction in children's exposure to dust indoors and re-infection with hookworms. Phase 3 was disrupted by COVID-19 and not completed, but qualitative behavioral change findings from another study demonstrated positive behavior changes associated with replacing dirt floors. Between 2018 and 2022, EarthEnable positively transformed the living conditions of 18,533 households and 2,862 Early Childhood Development centers, benefiting 132,953 individuals, including 51,320 children. The organization aims to capitalize on this momentum to catalyze an affordable and sustainable earthen housing industry in Africa. Plans involve expanding to new regions, establishing strategic partnerships, and training more local masons as earthen construction entrepreneurs. EarthEnable is also piloting the development of affordable and sustainable full houses to address the needs of families living in extremely unsafe and unhealthy conditions. The project's main goals were to assess the health impact, organically expand, and experiment and test different scale models in Rwanda, Uganda, and other countries. EarthEnable's flagship floor is 80% more affordable and emits 96% less CO2 compared to concrete. The organization has also developed earthen plasters and adobe blocks, and is piloting an affordable and sustainable full house for families living in extremely unsafe and unhealthy housing conditions. EarthEnable operates in Rwanda, Uganda, and recently launched in Kenya, with plans to expand to new regions and establish strategic partnerships. EarthEnable's products are made from local natural materials that can be found everywhere, making the solution easily replicable. The organization's approach to addressing the problem of unsafe and unhealthy living conditions affecting rural families living in poverty is to build on ancient construction techniques to develop and provide affordable and sustainable housing solutions. The organization was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Nyamata, Rwanda. EarthEnable's progress has been significant, with the organization transforming the living conditions of thousands of individuals by providing them with healthier and more sustainable housing options. The project's evaluation efforts demonstrated the effectiveness of the micro-franchise model in scaling while maintaining quality and profitably reaching the base of the pyramid. EarthEnable successfully implemented the micro-franchise model across Rwanda and Eastern Uganda, scaling from 5 districts in 2018 to 38 districts in 2022 across both countries. The organization also piloted master franchising in Western Uganda and Western Kenya. The project's findings have been used to inform EarthEnable's future plans and strategies, including expanding to new regions, establishing strategic partnerships, and training more local masons as earthen construction entrepreneurs.