Turning Gender Costs Into Leverage

Women in South Africa spend an estimated R900 a month on gender-specific costs — from menstrual products to personal safety. Over a reproductive lifespan, that totals R302,400, and could grow to R657,000 if invested monthly. Monalisa Zwambila, founder of Femio, explains how her lived experience as a single mother inspired a femtech platform designed to turn these unavoidable costs into financial power, rewards, and agency. She breaks down FemTracker, the marketplace for women-owned businesses, and the FemUp hub — all built to confront structural inequality. www.kaya959.co.za