Pink Power Kehkeh: testing inclusive business models to provide decent jobs and deliver safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport at scale in Sierra Leone

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"The Pink Power kehkeh initiative aims to establish a women-run transport service in Sierra Leone, providing cleaner and safer affordable transport, especially for women and other vulnerable passengers, contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities. The initiative will provide decent jobs for women trying to escape from the abusive sex industry in Freetown, contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.The estimated 26,000 women and girls in Sierra Leone's sex industry are trapped in a life violence and exploitation. They are forced into sex work because of poverty. 73% are orphans. 50% were raped before they were 14\. 74% started sex work as a child. Child and young adult sex workers die each week from HIV/AIDS, cold, bronchitis, pneumonia or violence. Men often demand sex without protection. They earn $1-3 per client and see up to ten a night. Much of their income is taken by pimps or stolen by clients.Pink Power is a women-run charity in Sierra Leone that provides safe accommodation, training and decent job opportunities for women and girls trying to escape from the sex industry. This project builds on one of their initiatives, a three-wheel autorickshaw, or ""kehkeh"" as they are known in Sierra Leone. Pink Power's kehkeh is painted pink and driven by women they support. It carries sexual health education material for passengers.Kehkeh's provide crucial affordable transport in Freetown. However, the market is unregulated, vehicles are poorly maintained and polluting, and women and vulnerable passengers risk sexual harassment, violence and theft. Kehkeh financing models are tried and tested in Sierra Leone. Our partners, 3B Impact and Brighter Horizons, are working with Pink Power to develop a self-sustaining financing model to buy a fleet of pink kehkeh.Mobile Power is a Sheffield-based battery technology company that specialises in low-cost battery rentals for developing country markets, including Sierra Leone. It is developing a battery system for kehkehs. Electric kehkeh, driven by Pink Power women, have the potential to provide safer transport for passengers and reduce local pollution. The battery system means that drivers can swap batteries at secure hubs rather which can improve safety and efficiency for drivers.The feasibility study will test:1. the feasibility of importing and operating and women-led electric kehkeh fleet in Freetown2. the financial model to scale the initiative, and3. how to address safety and security risks to female drivers."