Caleb, congratulations for submitting an innovation idea that has the potential to reach so many women. Could you tell me more about SWEEP's relationship with SEWA? Also, I am curious about the solar and/or wind technologies that SWEEP is considering to replace the diesel pumps. Are any of them technologies whose efficacy has already been tested? Keep up your great work, and thanks for entering.
Sorry for the delay Kirrin, I just got back from India and visiting with SEWA so lots to catch up on. All of the SWEEP beneficiaries are SEWA members and SEWA has been working with this group for about 10 years now. After great programs focused on improving inputs and product value, SEWA finally had to face the reality that the biggest livelihood challenge for these women was not raising value (though this was of course important), but was lowering cost. More than 50% of the potential profits of the women farmers was consumed through the use of diesel fuel and old, inefficient pumps. This is where we were asked to help and when I developed this program. SEWA will remain the most important partner in this program and it is through the SEWA network that all of the coordination, deployment and trainings will be managed. We will oversee the design, technology transfer, partner coordination and training development for SEWA to implement.
As for the technology, we will draw on existing technology with a twist. The field feasibility study is currently underway from which the technology will be determined. The best bet is that we will be looking at a solar generation and electric pumps as opposed to wind (wind technology is currently just too large and sensitive for this application). The twist is that the electric pumps will likely have to modified to improve efficiently and output characteristics. Our plan is to test the modifications and then design a training module so that SEWA members can take on the task of both modifying the pumps and learning about routine maintenance and repair of the system. This will add an additional livelihood benefit for the women who will find work in providing the maintenance and modification services. This is very much in line with the way that SEWA operates where every piece of a program presents an opportunity to create a job for a women. With 30,000 families involved at full scale for this program that is a lot of work for a lot of women.
Along with the SEWA partnership at the field level, we will also likely work with the SEWA Bank (yes that amazing organization even has a bank) to service the loans that the families will need to take to purchase the pups and solar systems. This always makes some people cringe that very poor families would be asked to purchase expensive technology, but ownership has important value, both in promising credit worthiness and assets, but also in creating real ownership over the program. The other side of this is that if we can lower the input costs by even a 1/4 that savings will be more than enough to help payback the loan and still have less costs at the end of a salt season. I go on and on, sorry. I just get very excited about this program because the opportunity is quite large.
On May 27, 2010 the judges reviewed the entries for the Changemakers Women Tools Technology: Building Opportunities and Economic Power competition and would like to pass on the following feedback (listed below) for your entry. Thank you for applying and for your hard work in the field. We are excited to archive your entry to serve as a leading solution for the worldwide community of innovators. We wish you continued luck with your innovative, sustainable, and socially impactful initiatives.
All the best, The Changemakers Team
“Even though this initiative is still in the idea phase, the link with SEWA is a smart move and will increase the potential for greater social impact and innovation. “
“Great idea to shift the social status and economic security of the people in the area. I feel as though there are other places where this idea can be applied. Would you mind providing the strategy for creating the community around this idea?”
“I liked the business plan, it is early but it seems like it could be very impactful. I would like to learn more about how the local government will address the lease and land access issues so as to ensure that people do not get forced off of the land.”
“I thought it was interesting that in this case it was realistic and possible to change the technology to move towards a new and clean solar planet. The innovation is quite good and the social impact is as well because the women themselves can be involved with the technology.”
- Changemakers Women Tools Technology: Building Opportunities and Economic Power Judges
Comentários
Caleb, congratulations for submitting an innovation idea that has the potential to reach so many women. Could you tell me more about SWEEP's relationship with SEWA? Also, I am curious about the solar and/or wind technologies that SWEEP is considering to replace the diesel pumps. Are any of them technologies whose efficacy has already been tested? Keep up your great work, and thanks for entering.
Sorry for the delay Kirrin, I just got back from India and visiting with SEWA so lots to catch up on. All of the SWEEP beneficiaries are SEWA members and SEWA has been working with this group for about 10 years now. After great programs focused on improving inputs and product value, SEWA finally had to face the reality that the biggest livelihood challenge for these women was not raising value (though this was of course important), but was lowering cost. More than 50% of the potential profits of the women farmers was consumed through the use of diesel fuel and old, inefficient pumps. This is where we were asked to help and when I developed this program. SEWA will remain the most important partner in this program and it is through the SEWA network that all of the coordination, deployment and trainings will be managed. We will oversee the design, technology transfer, partner coordination and training development for SEWA to implement.
As for the technology, we will draw on existing technology with a twist. The field feasibility study is currently underway from which the technology will be determined. The best bet is that we will be looking at a solar generation and electric pumps as opposed to wind (wind technology is currently just too large and sensitive for this application). The twist is that the electric pumps will likely have to modified to improve efficiently and output characteristics. Our plan is to test the modifications and then design a training module so that SEWA members can take on the task of both modifying the pumps and learning about routine maintenance and repair of the system. This will add an additional livelihood benefit for the women who will find work in providing the maintenance and modification services. This is very much in line with the way that SEWA operates where every piece of a program presents an opportunity to create a job for a women. With 30,000 families involved at full scale for this program that is a lot of work for a lot of women.
Along with the SEWA partnership at the field level, we will also likely work with the SEWA Bank (yes that amazing organization even has a bank) to service the loans that the families will need to take to purchase the pups and solar systems. This always makes some people cringe that very poor families would be asked to purchase expensive technology, but ownership has important value, both in promising credit worthiness and assets, but also in creating real ownership over the program. The other side of this is that if we can lower the input costs by even a 1/4 that savings will be more than enough to help payback the loan and still have less costs at the end of a salt season. I go on and on, sorry. I just get very excited about this program because the opportunity is quite large.
I hope this helps.
On May 27, 2010 the judges reviewed the entries for the Changemakers Women Tools Technology: Building Opportunities and Economic Power competition and would like to pass on the following feedback (listed below) for your entry. Thank you for applying and for your hard work in the field. We are excited to archive your entry to serve as a leading solution for the worldwide community of innovators. We wish you continued luck with your innovative, sustainable, and socially impactful initiatives.
All the best, The Changemakers Team
“Even though this initiative is still in the idea phase, the link with SEWA is a smart move and will increase the potential for greater social impact and innovation. “
“Great idea to shift the social status and economic security of the people in the area. I feel as though there are other places where this idea can be applied. Would you mind providing the strategy for creating the community around this idea?”
“I liked the business plan, it is early but it seems like it could be very impactful. I would like to learn more about how the local government will address the lease and land access issues so as to ensure that people do not get forced off of the land.”
“I thought it was interesting that in this case it was realistic and possible to change the technology to move towards a new and clean solar planet. The innovation is quite good and the social impact is as well because the women themselves can be involved with the technology.”
- Changemakers Women Tools Technology: Building Opportunities and Economic Power Judges
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