SEED Care & Support Foundation: Comprehensive Market Research Report

Background

Overview

SEED Care & Support Foundation (SEED) is a non-profit organization established in 2016 as a social impact project of W-Holistic Business Solutions. In 2022, it was fully registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission as a non-profit in Nigeria. The foundation is dedicated to ensuring that the education ecosystem in Nigeria works for all children, with a particular focus on the affordable non-state education sector.

Mission and Vision

Mission: To support the affordable non-state education sector in delivering access to quality education for all children by providing advocacy, evidence, and a learning network.

Vision: A world where all children, regardless of their background, have access to quality education to thrive and succeed.

Primary Area of Focus

SEED focuses on strengthening the affordable non-state education sector, which includes low-fee private schools, faith-based schools, community-based learning centers, and other alternative models. These institutions play a crucial role in expanding access to education and improving learning outcomes, particularly in underserved communities.

Industry Significance

In Nigeria, over 20 million children are out of school, and 70% experience learning poverty. Affordable non-state schools are essential in addressing these challenges by providing quality education to underserved children. SEED's work is pivotal in advocating for policies that support this sector and in enhancing the quality of education provided.

Key Strategic Focus

Core Objectives

Advocacy: Influence national and state-level education policies to recognize and support the role of affordable non-state schools.

Evidence Generation: Design, pilot, monitor, and adapt educational innovations tailored to local contexts, using data to inform strategies.

Capacity Building: Strengthen and grow the affordable non-state sector through collaborative communities, school transformation programs, financial support, and curated learning experiences.

Specific Areas of Specialization

Policy Shaping: Act as Nigeria's pioneer advocate for affordable non-state schools, shaping education policies at national and state levels.

Community Engagement: Bridge grassroots communities, school associations, and policymakers to foster collaboration and collective action.

Impact Amplification: Catalyze collective impact by supporting and amplifying the efforts of other stakeholders in the education sector.

Key Technologies Utilized

While specific technological platforms are not detailed, SEED employs data-driven approaches to monitor and adapt educational innovations, ensuring they are contextually relevant and effective.

Primary Markets or Conditions Targeted

SEED primarily targets underserved communities in Nigeria, focusing on regions with a high prevalence of out-of-school children and learning poverty. The foundation's initiatives are particularly impactful in Lagos State, where non-state schools outnumber state provisions 22:1, with about 70% of these being affordable non-state schools.

Financials and Funding

Funding History

Specific details regarding total funds raised and recent funding rounds are not publicly disclosed. However, SEED has received support from various donors and partners, including the UK's Department for International Development (DFID), now FCDO, and the Developing Effective Private Education Nigeria (DEEPEN) program. In 2018, SEED was awarded for contributing to improving learning outcomes in private schools, especially for children from low-income households in Nigeria.

Notable Investors

While specific investors are not listed, SEED's partnerships with organizations like DFID and DEEPEN highlight its credibility and the trust placed in its mission.

Intended Utilization of Capital

Funds are utilized to support SEED's programs, including advocacy, evidence generation, and capacity building for the affordable non-state education sector. This includes school transformation programs, teacher training, and community engagement initiatives.

Pipeline Development

Key Pipeline Candidates

SEED's initiatives are centered around:

SEED School Transformation Program: A program designed to support low-fee private schools in enhancing the quality of education they offer.

SEED Teachers-in-Training Fellowship: A fellowship aimed at training teachers to improve classroom practices and educational outcomes.

SEED Access to Finance: An initiative to provide financial support and guidance to low-cost private schools, enabling them to sustain and improve their operations.

Stages of Development

These programs are in various stages of implementation, with ongoing monitoring and adaptation to ensure effectiveness and scalability.

Target Conditions

The programs target conditions such as inadequate educational infrastructure, lack of trained teachers, and limited access to quality education in underserved communities.

Anticipated Milestones

SEED aims to have all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Nigeria domesticate and implement the National Policy on Non-State Schools in Nigeria (NPNSN) by 2035. This policy seeks to regulate, recognize, include, support, and engage the affordable non-state sector in providing quality education for 20 million children.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Proprietary Technologies

SEED has developed the SEED Quality Assessment Tool (SQAT), an innovative tool designed to assess and improve the quality of education in low-fee private schools. This tool was tested for "desirability" with low-fee private schools through the SEED School Transformation Program.

Significant Scientific Methods

SEED employs data-driven approaches, including the use of the SQAT, to monitor and adapt educational innovations. This ensures that interventions are contextually relevant and effective in improving educational outcomes.

Leadership Team

Executive Profiles

Olanrewaju Oniyitan: Founder and Executive Director of SEED Care & Support Foundation. With over 20 years of experience across various sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa, she has worked closely with international and local private sector actors, governments, development agencies, academia, membership-based organizations, and nonprofits.

Advisory Board

Bose Paul-Obameso: Chair, Director at ThinkDev Advisory.

Stephen C.K. Opuni: Member, Regional Director, Africa, IDP Foundation.

Oladapo Owo: Member, Strategy & Operations Director, Teach for All.

Seun B. Adebayo, Ph.D.: Member, Education Professional & Researcher.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The Nigerian education sector faces significant challenges, including a high number of out-of-school children and widespread learning poverty. Affordable non-state schools are crucial in addressing these issues by providing quality education to underserved communities.

Competitor Analysis

While specific competitors are not detailed, other organizations working in the Nigerian education sector include:

Developing Effective Private Education Nigeria (DEEPEN): A program that supports low-cost private schools in Nigeria.

Association of Formidable Educational Development (AFED): An association that collaborates with organizations like SEED to improve educational outcomes in private schools.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

SEED collaborates with various stakeholders, including government agencies, development partners, and educational institutions, to strengthen the affordable non-state education sector. These partnerships enhance SEED's capacity to implement its programs effectively.

Operational Insights

SEED's focus on policy advocacy, community engagement, and capacity building differentiates it in the market. Its data-driven approach and innovative tools like the SQAT contribute to its competitive advantage.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

SEED aims to expand its reach across Nigeria, ensuring that all states and the FCT implement the NPNSN by 2035. This strategic direction positions SEED to significantly impact the quality of education for millions of children in Nigeria.