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June 2009
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THIS MONTH'S TOPICS
1. Benin | Converting pig waste into energy
2. Togo | Environmental sensitization based on satellite images
3. Cameroon | Solar energy system design & fundraising project
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1. Benin | Converting pig waste into energy
Combining their expertise in engineering, life sciences and international commerce, seven online volunteers have been helping the NGO Africavenir develop a sustainable solution to environmental pollution caused by pig breeding.
To address the contamination of groundwater, emission of green house gases and odour through pig breeding in Porto Novo, Benin, Africavenir developed the idea to turn pig waste into energy and use that energy to provide electricity for public schools and health centres. For example, left-over waste can be used as compost for organic farming. Through the Online Volunteering service, Africavenir was able to harness expertise from volunteers around the world to materialize their idea.
Contributions
The online volunteers contributed their various specializations and skills to different aspects of the project. First, they developed the project outline to identify the project elements and tasks. Then they produced the technical project document, comprising an analysis of the characteristics of biogas, the environmental impact, a description of the process to generate biogas, the requirements for the power plant, cost estimates, etc. Through Internet research, the volunteers identified the type of generator that was needed and located a potential supplier in China.
Although a big piece of the work has already been accomplished, some important tasks remain before Africavenir can start looking for sponsors to finance the implementation of the project: the financial document needs to be finalized and the legal documents elaborated.
Impact
Africavenir posted the technical document on the Réseau International d’Accès Aux Energies Durables (RIAED), a knowledge and resource-sharing platform for renewable energy. Several companies have already demonstrated interest in investing in this project. In parallel, Africavenir is engaged in negotiations with the supplier of the generator in China. “Through the collaboration with the online volunteers, we learned about the complexity of such a project, the range of tasks and activities involved and the necessary elements to be covered by the project document,” says Megan Stanislaus Afan, the director of Africavenir.
The volunteers
Comlan Tony Kouteh, Benin, is an Energy Engineer who also holds a Masters degree in Project Management.
“This was not only an opportunity to serve others and to contribute to environmental conservation, but also to gain professional experiences and exercise my skills. I very much enjoyed the exchange with volunteers from other countries about various technical and organizational questions of the project.”
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Jean Bosco Utuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, is a rural development specialist with experience in environmental management. “I had already realized a similar project. I am glad that I could share my experiences”. |
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Andrea Rudin Montes de Oca, Costa Rica, is an Industrial Engineer, with experience in purchasing, planning, supply chain and people management. ”I am glad for having had the opportunity of participating in this project and being part of the solution.” |
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Hippolyt Fogaing, Cameroon, holds a diploma of higher technician (University of Technology) in Electrical Engineering with eight years of industrial experience, currently pursuing a degree in Electromechanical Engineering. “This was a rich experience; my research on the use of biogas helped me learn a lot about this renewable energy source.” |
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Koulibaly Kayergué, Côte d’Ivoire, holds a Masters in International Business and Negotiation and is in charge of foreign trade statistics at the General Management of the Customs of Côte d’Ivoire. “My contribution to this project was validated as an online internship required for my PHD in International Relations”. |
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Amandine Hourt, France, lives in Spain and is an agro-development specialist with a Masters degree in Economic and Territorial Development, and is experienced in technical and financial project analysis and management. “We organized our collaboration in such a way that first each of us drafted a proposal with our own ideas, which we then exchanged and discussed. This was a bit challenging at times because of our different schedules and time zones.” |
2. Togo | Environmental sensitization based on satellite images
By collecting, analyzing and interpreting satellite images, a team of four online volunteers - two Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing specialists, a professional in environmental and social impact management, and an economist - helped Africavenir obtain up-to-date information about the state of the environment in 15 Togolese localities, and assess the impact of climate change in this region.
Contributions
The online volunteers began with the elaboration of the project outline, identifying the requirements regarding GIS and remote sensing software, as well as archive images to better analyze the environmental changes. While the remote sensing specialists collected and processed the satellite images, the other two volunteers carried out the environmental analysis to track signs of drought, desertification, biodiversity loss, soil degradation and the depletion of water resources, including the possible effects of the environmental changes on the local population. This information was entered into a GIS database, a key tool for the sensitization campaign Africavenir has planned to conduct as a next step.
To obtain satellite images, remote sensing specialist Myriam Huant contacted Planet Action, a not-for-profit collaborative initiative of providers of earth imagery, and the European Space Agency. Through Planet Action, Africavenir was able to liaise with a GIS software company that provided Africavenir with a free license for their software as well as training. Since it took place in her home country France, Myriam participated in the training, where she made contact with another software firm and negotiated four licenses for image processing software and training. Myriam agreed to participate in the training and then share her knowledge with the other online volunteers as well as the NGO staff.
Impact
The online volunteers’ work laid the basis for a campaign to raise the awareness of the local population and authorities on climate change and its causes and consequences, and to set in motion a decision-taking process at the local, regional and national level about protecting natural resources and taking adaptive measures to climate change. Megan Stanislaus Afan from Africavenir states: “Through the software and training facilitated by the online volunteers we now have the capacity to even extend this project to other areas and countries.”
The volunteers
Myriam Huant, France, holds a Masters degree in Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing, Land Planning and Environment and has eight years professional experience in information project management.
“My interest in Africa, environment and GIS led me to apply to this volunteer opportunity. As I am currently looking for employment, this volunteer opportunity gave me the opportunity to get in contact with relevant professionals -- in short, a win-win situation”.
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Dr. Jacky Talonto, Guinea, has an MSc in Economics and a PhD in Social Sciences. “This was an opportunity for me to make a contribution to development in Africa and to learn to understand, analyze and interpret satellite images”. |
3. Cameroon | Solar energy system design & fundraising project
Three online volunteers supported The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Foundation (LUKMEF), a Cameroonian NGO, in the design of a solar electricity power system for the planned African Peace and Democratic Institute (APDI), an educational institution for peace, democracy, human rights and sustainable development studies in Limbe, Cameroon.
“Adhering to its sustainable development objectives, APDI will be built with local materials and incorporate passive cooling and lighting features, among other attributes. Highlighting this initiative, APDI has set a goal of obtaining 70-100% of the Institute’s electricity via solar energy,” says Tanyi Christian Eselekwe, President of LUKMEF. Through the Online Volunteering service, LUKMEF found three online volunteers whose expertise and experience proved a perfect match for APDI’s sustainability goals.
Contributions
During the first phase of the project, spanning over seven months, the team -- which Christian calls “the dream team” -- kept a steady pace researching, testing, communicating and modelling various approaches for designing a large-scale solar electricity system. To do this, the group utilized a Google Groups webpage where scores of messages, files, and other project-related data were continuously created, shared, and edited. Additionally, weekly Skype meetings supported communication while project schedule charts plotted the distribution of tasks and the path that lay ahead.
The resulting solar electricity system the online volunteers designed will be the first solar power plant of its scope and scale in Central Africa, aiming to supply over 700,000 kW-h/yr of clean solar energy for the Institute, estimated to cost over $2.7 million. The solar panels will be located on 0.3 hectare of land behind the Institute. The volunteers also researched and proposed ways in which the system and installation itself may serve as a training project, building renewable energy capacity and expertise in Central Africa to encourage local involvement. Phase one was capped off with a twenty page technical report written by the volunteer team which included concrete recommendations for advancing APDI’s sustainability initiatives.
The second phase of the project, which is currently underway, involves the “dream team” taking their skills to an entirely new level – to raise awareness and increase the number of donors through a calculated global campaign network to fundraise for the actual construction and development of APDI. The team has enthusiastically embraced this new challenge and has created an executable plan of action. Though new to fund-raising, the volunteer team has made headway in researching appropriate funds and foundations to finance the project, possibilities for credit from carbon emission reductions, and partnerships with universities and NGOs in the areas of renewable energy and the UN’s Millennium Development Goals.
Impact
APDI’s solar electricity power system will be the first, one-of-a-kind plant of its scope and scale in Central Africa and may further serve as a training facility for building renewable energy capacity and expertise in Central Africa to encourage local sustainable development initiatives. The Institute’s adoption of this system will eliminate an estimated 68,660 kg of CO2 emissions per year, or the equivalent of driving a car around the earth ten times.
Volunteers
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Forrest Bradbury, U.S.A., Princeton University, PhD candidate, Electrical Engineering. Forrest has previously volunteered in solar energy design. “I want to work in the field of development when I graduate with my doctorate. I feel honored to be able to help LUKMEF’s African Peace and Democratic Institute in achieving a flexible and sustainable solution to meet its long-term energy needs.” |
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Bruno Coriton, France, Yale University, PhD candidate, Engineering. Bruno,has considerable modeling and design experience. “I would like to contribute to a greater use of renewable energies, especially in developing countries.” |
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Anshu Kar, U.S.A., Harvard University, MA candidate, Sustainability and Environmental Management. Anshu has worked for several years as a financial and economic strategy and management consultant. “I want to leverage my educational background through practical applications by serving sustainability and socially responsible initiatives making a real difference in peoples’ lives.” |
(Photos| Man with pig: UNDP; Hand with rice: UNDP/M. Lutzky)
