Monitoring power availability in healthcare facilities in low-resource settings

Sections : EL, MT, Energy, IC, PH, MTE

Place : Kenya or some partnering low-resource country of EssentialMed (such as Bangalore, India)

Duration : 2-6 months

Hosting structure :

EssentialMed – https://essentialmed.org/situation.htm

The availability of power in many low and middle-income countries (LMICs) is known to be a major challenge. This challenge is particularly crucial in health care facilities, where life-saving medical devices rely on this availability to enable patient care. And beyond the availability itself, the quality of the electrical is also critical, since voltage fluctuations, power spikes, harmonics and other disturbances are one of the main causes of medical devices failure. However, although the poor availability and quality of electrical power in these facilities is a well-known fact, it is still mostly reported via qualitative, subjective interviews, rather than through quantitative, objective measurements.

Project description :

The goal of this project is to implement a quantitative data collection on electrical power availability and quality in rural health care facilities in low and middle-income countries.
To do this, the first step will be to find the most appropriate device to be plugged into these facilities: many different types of network analyzers exist, and it is important to find the right balance between the device features, cost, robustness and ease of implementation in the context of this project.
The next step will be to identify a local partner in the targeted country/area (medical or technological partner). This partnership will allow to access the targeted facilities more easily, both on a cultural aspect and for administrative reasons, and to follow-up data collection, device retrieval etc… beyond the student’s stay in the country.
Once these preliminary steps are done, a field trip will be necessary to visit each facility, install the devices, make sure the devices work properly and the facility staff is aware of what the devices do.
Data collection could continue for up to one year (beyond the scope of this project).

Remark: Should travel to the targeted country be impossible due to covid, the student will have to rely more on the local partner. If enough devices are available, the study could be run in two (or more) countries in parallel. More time would be devoted to the identification of local partners and on the agreements with these partners, while the time needed to visit the facilities and to install the devices might be reduced (especially if the number of participating facilities in each country is reduced due to limited availability of measuring devices).

Required skills :

• Electrical engineering: Power, voltage, current measurement; design of simple electronic systems
• ICT: Data collection, storage, transmission and analysis
• Experience of developing countries, and their health system/market in particular

Accommodation : To discuss with local partners

Meals: To discuss with local partners

Contact :  Matthieu Gani – mga@essentialmed.org

UI design for E-commerce – Smart Agriculture Machinery

Sections : IC

Place : Ghana

Duration : 6 months

Hosting structure :

Sayetech Company Limited – https://sayetech.io/

Sayetech makes smart agriculture machinery for smallholder farmers.

Project description :

Build an E-Commerce platform to trade in both SAYeTECH machines and other agricultural machines. This platform will later be extended to trade in farm products

Required skills :

• Programming languages are Python and Javascript.
• Frameworks are NodeJs with Express and Flask.
• Understanding in building API’s.

Some level of understanding in building of Microservices will be a plus. Understanding of E-Commerce system works and also payment systems.
UI design.

Accommodation : No

Meals: No

Contact :  Jeffrey Appiagyei – jeffrey@sayetech.io

Microbial assessment of water quality – Swoxid prototype

Sections : SV, CGC, SIE…

Place : Stellenbosch – South Africa

Duration : 2-6 months

Hosting structure :

Stellenbosch University Water Institute – South Africa, in collaboration with Swoxid.

Swoxid is a pre-launched EPFL startup.

Project description :

The project consists on a gravitational solar-thermal water purifier which filters and sterilizes contaminated water with sunlight. It does not require electricity, nor dosage of chemical agents to provide the sterilization effect. The technology is based on an innovative nanoporous aerogel composite membrane which – upon solar irradiation – is able to render contaminated water safe by removing and inactivating infectious disease-causing biological agents such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa and worms. Unlike the conventional water purification technologies this system does not require the use of electricity or chemical compounds to provide disinfection and solve the unwanted “breeding ground” problem (bacterial regrowth) of many ordinary filters.

The short-term project outcome will be a successful microbiological validation of this technology under real conditions. The gathered data about functionality and operation will be the basis of certifying or approving the future product (e.g. a Swoxid Water Kiosk) to indicate that it meets regulatory standards and specifications, such as safety and technical requirements.

Required skills :

• BSc or MSc student: Biologist, Bioengineering, Chemist, Environmental scientist etc.
• Required tasks would be related to microbiology. Water sampling, Gel plating, Photochemistry.
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of water analysis, microbiological, organic and inorganic components would be a plus.

Accommodation : No

Meals: No

Contact :  Dr. Endre Horvath – EPFL : endre.horvath@epfl.ch

IoT GPS tracker – Smart Agriculture Machinery

Sections : IC, EL

Place : Ejisu Adadentem, Kumasi, Ghana

Duration : 3 months

Hosting structure :

Sayetech Company Limited – https://sayetech.io/

Sayetech makes smart agriculture machinery for smallholder farmers.

Project description :

• Designing a reliable GPS tracker 
• Designing components of a GPS tracker 
• Designing real-time grain quantity monitoring device
• Designing real-time grain quality monitoring device

February 2021 will be an ideal start date but remote can start in January 2021

Required skills :

• Background in Electrical Engineering
• Proficiency in IoT systems
• Skill in C++
• PCB board designs

Accommodation : No

Meals: No

Contact :  Jeffrey Appiagyei – jeffrey@sayetech.io

Agricad Africa

Sections : IC

Place : Ghana

Duration : 6 months

Hosting structure :

Sayetech Company Limited – https://sayetech.io/

Sayetech makes smart agriculture machinery for smallholder farmers.

Project description :

Build an e-learning/SAAS platform to serve local fabricators, educational institutions and individuals that need CAD services.

Required skills :

• Programming languages are Python and Javascript.
• Frameworks are NodeJs with Express and Flask.
• Understanding in building API’s.
• Some level of understanding in building of Microservices will be a plus. Understanding of video streaming technology eg WebRtc.

Accommodation : No

Meals: No

Contact :  Jeffrey Appiagyei – jeffrey@sayetech.io

Design of smart agriculture machinery

Sections : GM, MT

Place : Ejisu Adadentem, Ghana

Duration : 3 months

Hosting structure :

Sayetech Company Limited – https://sayetech.io/

Sayetech makes smart agriculture machinery for smallholder farmers.

Project description :

The intern’s job will include:

• Product manual update – ensure that the company’s product manual is up to date.  
• Designing Operating procedure for SAYeTECH products. 
• Designing Facility layout

Required skills :

• Highly skilled in graphic design 
• Background in Mechanical engineering/industrial engineering 
• Machine Designing skills

Accommodation : No

Meals: No

Contact :  Theodore Ohene-Botchway – theodore@sayetech.io

Smart solar & energy storage system for off-grid households in rural Africa

Sections : EL, GM, Energy, MT, IC

Place : Arusha, Tanzania

Duration : 4-6 months

Hosting structure :

HiLyte – http://hilyte-power.com/

In emerging countries, more than a billion people do not have access to clean electricity and clean cooking system. To address this challenge, hiLyte, a Swiss & Tanzanian start-up develops and commercialize affordable energy system targeting off-grid areas in rural Africa. hiLyte is already developing & commercializing small-scale, smart power system, charged with solar energy in kiosks that are powerful enough to charge phones and to provide light for a family. The renting business model in place in Tanzania, enables people to live on a daily basis depending on their earnings and as the product belongs to the company, the end of life can be taken with care.

hiLyte system enables the rent or leasing of a solar + storage system at an affordable price, allowing the poorest people to have clean and affordable energy. Beside having system that are recharged in hiLyte solar kiosk and rent daily, we are also planning to extend the possibilities for households to have a full PV+battery storage system that individuals could keep at home and become fully independent energy wise. A payment & activation system allowing them to pay back the system month after month (PAYGo) would guaranty both affordability for users and sustainable business model for hiLyte.

Project description :

• Develop, realize and test electronic circuits targeting our energy applications
• Embedded programming (Arduino and/or Android)
• Photovoltaic systems analysis and improvement
• Battery cell/pack integration and testing
• Mechanical design and 3D Printing

Required skills :

• Student in electronics, microengineering, computer science, mechanics, etc.
• Interested in energy systems, batteries and product development
• Highly motivated, independent and proactive

Accommodation : Yes

Meals: No

Contact :  contact@hiylte-power.com; David Lambelet (CTO – Switzerland) : david.lambelet@hilyte-power.com; Briac Barthes (CEO – Tanzania) : briac.barthes@hilyte-power.com

Business Strategy and  Strategic Partnerships in Guatemala

Sections : MTE

Place : Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

Duration : 2 – 12 months (ideally 6)

Hosting structure :

Alterna https://www.alterna.pro

We are a platform for social innovation that designs, proposes and activates transformative entrepreneurial  solutions from the ground up. Since 2011, we have worked with more than 1,800 entrepreneurs to help  strengthen and scale the region’s most disruptive and high-impact businesses, impacting more than 2.5  million people worldwide

Project description :

The Fellowship Program provides a competitive advantage in your professional trajectory and a comprehensive, real-world foundation in social impact through a  hands-on experience with a pioneer organization. Through a complete professional and personal development experience, Fellows acquire the critical skills,  contextual insights and global network access to advance their careers and catalyze impact.

We are currently offer Fellowship Opportunities on the following tracks:

• Business Strategy Fellow: Directly support and collaborate with a wide and diverse range of regional entrepreneurs, granting exposure to a variety of business  models, sectors and industries, allowing for a comprehensive and deep understanding of the tools, strategies and best practices to develop and scale ventures in  an emerging market.

• Strategic Partnerships Fellow: Identify, develop, and lead strategic initiatives that enable Alterna to address sector gaps and opportunities, meet social and  environmental needs, and strengthen Alterna’s positioning and growth in the region.

Required skills :

Previous professional experience in related functions a plus

• Studying or with a degree in related field; Master’s a plus

• Experience with the Spanish language; professional competency a plus

• Strong interpersonal skills, complemented by humility, empathy, and cultural sensitivity – A proven balance of autonomy and self-motivation with strong team collaboration skills – Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, manage complexity, and adapt to challenges with minimal  resources

• Knowledge and passion for the social entrepreneurship and impact investment sectors

Accommodation : no

Contact : Rachel Murphy rachel@alterna.pro

Design and implementation of a Big Data platform

Sections : IC

Place : Nairobi, Kenya

Duration : Volunteering internship (2-6 months) or a Master Project (up to 6 months)

Hosting structure :

eProd Solutions Ltd (www.eprod-solutions.com)

eProd Solutions Ltd is a Kenyan ICT start-up company with a highly dynamic professional team of 12 that offers an ERP to manage sourcing from small scale farmers. It is currently used by 75 clients in 10 African countries, over 20 agricultural sectors and linking about 1/4 million farmers to markets.

extra: Nairobi is a pleasant city in Kenya with lots of opportunities to socialize and explore Africa.

Project description :

Background: eProd offers an ERP to manage sourcing produce from small scale farmers. The platform has unique data that is relevant for, for example, loan application assessments (KYC) or impact monitoring, and banks and NGOs are an important gate way provider to scale as they make introductions to their commercial clients and development partners respectively.

The design and construction of an “umbrella platform” that allows easy information sharing between off takers (e.g. food processors, agricultural commodity traders and farmer cooperatives) that use eProd as an ERP to source from small scale farmers, and parties interested in the information. The Big Data plaftorm should be generic (i.e. suitable for many different users) and optimized for data analytics. It should be cost-effective to ensure eProd remains affordable.

Some background information about the ERP: Both back-end and front-end are built in Delphi. It is typically installed as a desktop (LAN/WAN) version (even though the data can be hosted in the cloud). The mobile app is also built in Delphi (for Android devices) and synchronize via FTP in the cloud. I have attached some brief descriptions of some of the selected topics.

Required skills :

• Technical university study with major or specialization in Computer Science and Engineering, Data Science, Cyber security, or: Agrotechnology, global supply chain, earth Sciences, or other closely related field of study with clear record of passion for computer languages and coding;
• Passionate about Big Data;
• Basic knowledge and interest in value chain development, agriculture, economic development;
• Quick learner and strong conceptualizing skills have a broad interest;
• Excellent analytical skills and highly organized, high abstract theoretical thinking level is essential, basic knowledge of and some practical experience with advanced statistical tools;
• Basic computer hardware, software skills and programming experience an advantage;
• Team player and can build interdisciplinary collaborations;
• An entrepreneur and a good networker, and a pro-active approach towards the market and appreciates a challenge;
• Excellent English language skills, both speaking and writing.
• Willingness to travel occasionally within in the region.

Accommodation : Yes, no meals.

Contact : Jan Willem van Casteren  janwillem@eprod-solutions.com

Projet d’accès à l’eau pour les jardins agroécologiques et les villages de brousse de Kouma au Togo

Sections : SIE, …

Place : Kouma, Togo

Duration : 2+ months

Hosting structure :

Les PERma-Jardins du Togo(PERJAT) est une association togolaise de développement à but non lucratif, basée au Togo, qui capitalise une dizaine d’année d’expérience dans les zones rurales du Togo (les communes de Kouma et Kpélé). Elle intervient sur les problématiques de développement en agriculture durable (agroécologie, agroforesterie, plantes médicinales, élevage familial) et sur les projets humanitaires (Eau et Assainissement, Education).Tous nos projets tendent vers l’objectif commun: contribuer à l’amélioration durable des conditions de vie des populations rurales.

Project description :

L’association les Perma-Jardins du Togo (PERJAT) qui soutient depuis quelques années les villageois de Kouma-Tokpli et Kouma-Konda dans leurs initiatives locales et plus précisément dans celui de mettre en place une réserve communautaire pour le bénéfice de tous et de la nature en développant la culture biologique via les techniques de la permaculture et de l’Agroforesterie, ainsi que la promotion de la médecine traditionnelle grâce aux plantes médicinales. Mais l’accès en eau est difficile  pour réaliser les activités sur le site et aussi pour les villages de brousse tout proche. Pour l’instant seule une source situé en fond de vallon est utilisée et l’eau est monté à dos d’hommes dans des bidons. Le projet consiste à la création d’un forage d’eau et l’installation d’un système de pompage solaire en vue d’améliorer l’accès à l’eau de la réserve communautaire de Kouma et des villages brousse tout proche.

Activités prévues :

• Appuyer le suivi de réalisation des études géophysiques;
• Appuyer le suivi de la réalisation du forage;
• Assister le partenaire local dans les prises de décisions techniques.

Required skills :

Etudiant en Science et ingénierie de l’environnement avec si possible des qualités personnelles suivantes: autonome, sens de l’organisation, créatif, dynamique, motivé, flexible.

Accommodation : L’Association s’engage à aider le stagiaire dans la recherche de logement. Les membres de l’Association aideront le stagiaire à trouver de bons endroits pour manger.

Contact : Si vous ètes interessé(e) par ce stage, merci d’envoyer votre CV et une lettre de motivation à la coordination du projet au Togo sur l’adresse : todjo6@gmail.com