SNEHA (Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action) Company Profile

Background

Founded in 1999 by Dr. Armida Fernandez, a neonatologist and former Dean of Lokmanya Tilak General Hospital and Medical College, SNEHA is a secular, Mumbai-based non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and nutrition of women and children in urban informal settlements. The organization's mission is to work in partnership with communities and health systems to build effective and replicable solutions, empowering women and their families to improve their health. SNEHA's vision is to achieve healthy women and children for a healthy urban world.

Key Strategic Focus

SNEHA adopts a life-cycle approach to break the intergenerational cycle of poor health in urban slums, addressing four major areas of public health:

Maternal and Newborn Health: Enhancing public system response to maternal and newborn healthcare and improving coordination across public health facilities for high-risk pregnancies.

Child Health and Nutrition: Identifying, preventing, and treating malnutrition, and building capacity to deliver better public services for child health and nutrition.

Adolescent Health and Gender Equity: Educating adolescents on nutrition, reproductive health, gender equity, and improving emotional resilience.

Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children: Empowering communities and partnering with public systems to respond to gender-based violence, providing mental health and legal services to women facing violence, and improving knowledge and access to planned parenthood.

The organization works to empower women and slum communities to be catalysts of change and collaborates with existing public health systems and healthcare providers to create sustainable improvements in urban health.

Financials and Funding

SNEHA has demonstrated consistent financial growth over recent years:

2018-19: Income of ₹218.92 million; Expenses of ₹203.97 million.

2019-20: Income of ₹202.04 million; Expenses of ₹191.80 million.

2020-21: Income of ₹248.10 million; Expenses of ₹245.60 million.

2021-22: Income of ₹299.26 million; Expenses of ₹274.52 million.

2022-23: Income of ₹315.10 million; Expenses of ₹304.80 million.

Notable donors include the University College of London, Morgan Stanley, Epic Foundation, H T Parekh Foundation, and Cipla Foundation.

Pipeline Development

SNEHA's key programs and their impacts include:

Maternal and Child Health: Assisted 42,595 pregnant women with potential complications.

Child Health and Nutrition: Reduced stunting among children under two years of age by 27% between 2019 and 2022.

Adolescent Health: Reached over 8,000 adolescents to improve physical, reproductive, and mental health.

Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children: Addressed over 13,000 cases of domestic violence across nine counseling centers in Mumbai and Thane.

Technological Platform and Innovation

SNEHA has integrated technology to enhance its field operations:

Team Care Platform: Developed in collaboration with the Koita Foundation, this platform automates field operations, leading to greater efficiencies and better monitoring of high-risk cases.

Leadership Team

Vanessa D'Souza: Chief Executive Officer.

Dr. Shanti Pantvaidya: Executive Director.

Archana Redkar: Chief Operating Officer.

Dr. Jayashree Mondkar: Trustee.

Dr. Armida Fernandez: Trustee.

Mary Patricia Soans: Trustee.

Competitor Profile

In the non-profit sector focusing on urban health and nutrition, SNEHA's key competitors include:

Anudip Foundation: Focuses on skill development and employment for marginalized communities.

Sri Aurobindo Society: Engages in various social initiatives, including education and health.

While these organizations operate in overlapping domains, SNEHA's comprehensive life-cycle approach and strong partnerships with public health systems distinguish it in the sector.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

SNEHA collaborates with various public sector partners, including the World Bank-funded Integrated Child Development Scheme and seven municipal corporations, to scale its interventions and ensure sustainable impact.

Operational Insights

SNEHA's strategic considerations include:

Community Empowerment: Building trust and capacity within communities to take charge of their own health.

Public System Strengthening: Collaborating with public health systems to improve service delivery and quality of care.

Data-Driven Interventions: Utilizing electronic documentation and data analysis to inform decision-making and program outcomes.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

SNEHA aims to:

Scale Interventions: Advocate for its models with state and central governments and NGOs to scale work through partnerships in multiple states over the next five years.