Thanks to Dan Campbell of USAID’s Environmental Health Project for bringing this to my attention:
A couple of years ago the Global Water Challenge and Ashoka’s Changemakers.net team joined forces on Tapping Local Innovation.
Just last week InnoCentive, GlobalGiving and the Rockefeller Foundation teamed up to build on that earlier crowdsourcing competition. Arguably the most important piece of this latest iteration of water competitions is that the winners receive funding to take the next vital steps toward bringing their solutions to market, whether that means simply getting those solutions to the field or actually developing a business/financial model to bring them to scale in a developing country. Either way, a huge step in the right direction.
Source
Jan 27, 2010 09:03 ET
InnoCentive, GlobalGiving and the Rockefeller Foundation Partner to Find Open Innovation Solutions to World's Water Challenges
WALTHAM, MA--(Marketwire - January 27, 2010) - InnoCentive, Inc., the world leader in open innovation, today announced that it is partnering with GlobalGiving and the Rockefeller Foundation to help several GlobalGiving partner organizations find solutions to dire water-related problems facing their local communities. For the first time, these organizations have combined efforts to crowdsource not only Challenge questions and their solutions, but also the funding to implement the winning solutions. As a part of this new GlobalGiveback Innovation Challenge Set, InnoCentive also achieved its 1,000th Challenge posting, a significant milestone.
According to a 2008 UNICEF/World Health Organization report, 884 million people, or one in eight, lack access to safe water supplies. The WHO reports that over 3.5 million people die each year from water-related disease, and less than 1 percent of the world's fresh water is readily accessible for direct human use.
Through the partnership, GlobalGiving generated a pool of challenge submissions by crowdsourcing ideas from their 800 project leaders representing 80 countries. Most of the pressing issues that met the selection criteria were water-related; GlobalGiving selected four final Challenges to move forward into the post phase with Innocentive.
"The GlobalGiveback Innovation Challenge lets our network of grassroots project leaders get the help of experts globally who can provide innovative solutions to the clean water and hydropower challenges they face in their local communities," said Mari Kuraishi, president and co-founder of GlobalGiving. "These solutions will improve the lives of people in India, Uganda, Bolivia, and Peru."
With support from the Rockefeller Foundation, the GlobalGiveback Innovation Challenge Set offers Solvers cash rewards of up to $40,000 USD for winning solutions. After GlobalGiving selects solution winners for each of the Challenges, it will then use open innovation and crowdsourcing to raise funds to implement the winning designs or methods.
"The Rockefeller Foundation is proud to continue our partnership with Innocentive and GlobalGiving as we give non-profits access to the cutting-edge innovation often reserved for corporate America," said Dr. Judith Rodin, president of the Rockefeller Foundation. "As we enter into the second decade of the 21st century, we are still faced with unimaginable challenges -- with the most startling and basic being that millions still lack clean and accessible water. As a result of this partnership, these organizations will now be able to tackle these fundamental issues facing the developing world by tapping into the expertise of some of the world's brightest problem solvers."
Engineers, technologists, entrepreneurs and creative thinkers are invited to join InnoCentive's Solver network to help GlobalGiving's partner project organizations solve the following GlobalGiveback Innovation Challenges:
1. Drinking Water Purification Method (Uganda's Lake Victoria) -- Design an easy-to-use method to purify water making it safe to drink. Award amount: $20,000 USD
* This is InnoCentive's 1,000th Challenge posting since inception.
2. Sunlight/UV-light Dose Indicator (Bolivia) -- Create an indicator that gives a visual sign of water that has been exposed to a sufficient dose of sunlight or UV-light for disinfection. Award amount: $40,000 USD
3. Rainwater Harvesting Storage Tank (India Wetland Region in Kerala) -- Design a low cost, rainwater harvesting storage tank. Award amount: $20,000 USD
4. Small-scale River Turbines (Peruvian Jungle) -- Design a river turbine to generate power to electrify Peruvian villages, schools and medical centers. Award amount: $20,000 USD
"This initiative expands the reach and impact of our open innovation partnership with GlobalGiving and Rockefeller," said Dwayne Spradlin, CEO of InnoCentive. "By crowdsourcing the Challenges, we identified some of the most difficult problems facing the world. We're confident that our Solvers will come up with innovative solutions to address these problems, and once they go into real-world implementation, will provide a better quality of life for people living in these developing countries."
For more information on the GlobalGiveback Innovation Challenge Set including deadlines visit http://www.innocentive.com/landing/global-giveback.php
About GlobalGiving
GlobalGiving (www.globalgiving.org) is the leading Internet-based network for peer-to-peer philanthropy. Our mission is to sustain a high-powered marketplace for good that connects donors directly to the causes they care most about. Through GlobalGiving, individuals and corporations can maximize the impact of every dollar by efficiently and transparently directing their donations to projects here at home and around the world. Since its launch in 2002, GlobalGiving has helped thousands of donors give more than $25 million to over 1,400 projects.
About the Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation works around the world to ensure that more individuals, institutions, and communities can tap into growth and opportunity while strengthening resistance to risks and challenges, affirming its founding mission to "promote the well-being" of humanity. The Foundation today supports initiatives to mobilize an agricultural revolution in sub-Saharan Africa, bolster economic security for American workers, inform more equitable, sustainable transportation policies in the United States, assure access to affordable, high-quality health systems in developing countries, and help vulnerable communities cope with the impacts of imminent climate change. For more, visit www.rockefellerfoundation.org.
About InnoCentive, Inc.
Since 2001, InnoCentive has helped corporate, government, and non-profit organizations to better innovate through crowdsourcing, strategic consulting services and internal Software-as-a-Service offerings. The company built the first global Web community for open innovation where organizations or "Seekers" submit complex problems or "Challenges" for resolution to a "Solver" community of more than 200,000 engineers, scientists, inventors, business professionals, and research organizations in more than 200 countries. Prizes for winning solutions are financial awards up to US $1,000,000. Committed to unleashing diverse thinking, InnoCentive continues to introduce new products and services exemplifying a new corporate model where return to investors and individual passion go hand in hand with solving mankind's most pressing problems. http://www.innocentive.com/
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Universities and WASH / Capitol Hill Briefing
Capitol Hill briefing on new University WASH Initiative
Prominent university and college leaders working on international water, sanitation and hygiene (“WASH”) issues will participate in a congressional briefing on a new University WASH Initiative from 2:00-4:00 p.m. on March 3, 2010, in Room SVC 203/202 of the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center. Presentations will feature the variety of ways in which U.S. colleges and universities are already addressing the global WASH crisis and will highlight how their role can be enhanced, especially through a new informal WASH collaboration among American institutions of higher education. The presentations and briefing are open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, and interested members of the public. To RSVP, email name and contact information to universities.wash.rsvp@gmail.com.
Prominent university and college leaders working on international water, sanitation and hygiene (“WASH”) issues will participate in a congressional briefing on a new University WASH Initiative from 2:00-4:00 p.m. on March 3, 2010, in Room SVC 203/202 of the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center. Presentations will feature the variety of ways in which U.S. colleges and universities are already addressing the global WASH crisis and will highlight how their role can be enhanced, especially through a new informal WASH collaboration among American institutions of higher education. The presentations and briefing are open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, and interested members of the public. To RSVP, email name and contact information to universities.wash.rsvp@gmail.com.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Haiti / WHO / WatSan specialist (French-speaking) needed urgently
This is a call for a French speaking Water Sanitation generalist to urgently (before 7th February) take up at least 3 months service, preferably longer, with the WHO in Haiti. The task will be to ensure that the water and sanitation activities are implemented with a focus on WatSan in health care settings, and also on water quality monitoring with the WASH cluster lead by the national WatSan institution supported by UNICEF. Experience in low income countries and emergency & reconstruction situations would be of an advantage.
If you or some one who you know speaks French and is a WatSan generalist, we would need your reply as soon as possible to forward to WHO in Haiti. Please send us a CV of a person suitable and available, and when the approximate starting date of that person can be. Please respond urgently to Yves Chartier chartiery@who.int and Dominique Maison, maisond@who.int.
Please see below detailed description:
Urgent request for a French speaking WatSan generalist from WHO for a minimum 3 months contract (paid by WHO) – deadline 7th February.
Responsibility will be to ensure that the water and sanitation activities are implemented with a focus on WatSan in health care settings, and also on water quality monitoring with the WASH cluster. (Posted 28th Jan 2010)
Description of the type of person needed
• The person needs to be a WatSan generalist, and not a (high) technical specialist
• Experiences in low income countries is very desirable
• A knowledge of WHO would be a best, but the person can be briefed while arriving in Haiti
Description of the type of work requested
• The person will work as a water and sanitation engineer
• Responsibility will be to ensure that the water and sanitation activities are implemented with a focus on WatSan in health care settings (lead cluster is WHO for health) and also on water quality monitoring with the WASH cluster lead by the WatSan national institution with support from UNICEF
• The person will be under WHO contract and paid by WHO
• There will be a hand over on site
• The person will work with a WHO Haiti environmental health technician. She is full time coordinating the emergency response but will be a strong support to the staff coming. She knows the work that is needed, knows the right people to talk to for the task, and is knowledgeable about WHO working procedures and structure.
Proposed activities for 3 months
Work area 1: Health care settings
Activity 1 - Water
Activity 2 - Hygiene
Activity 3 - Sanitation
Activity 4 - Health care waste
Activity 5 - Vector control
Expected result: Environmentally safe health care settings allowing access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene to prevent and control the transmission of disease.
Work area 2: Internally displaced people WatSan activities
Activity 1 - Water quality monitoring
Activity 2 - Sanitation
Activity 3 - Water and sanitation equipment and others
Expected result: Water quality delivered to Internal Displaced People is safe and public toilets are available to respond to the needs of the IDPs.
If you or some one who you know speaks French and is a WatSan generalist, we would need your reply as soon as possible to forward to WHO in Haiti. Please send us a CV of a person suitable and available, and when the approximate starting date of that person can be. Please respond urgently to Yves Chartier chartiery@who.int and Dominique Maison, maisond@who.int.
Please see below detailed description:
Urgent request for a French speaking WatSan generalist from WHO for a minimum 3 months contract (paid by WHO) – deadline 7th February.
Responsibility will be to ensure that the water and sanitation activities are implemented with a focus on WatSan in health care settings, and also on water quality monitoring with the WASH cluster. (Posted 28th Jan 2010)
Description of the type of person needed
• The person needs to be a WatSan generalist, and not a (high) technical specialist
• Experiences in low income countries is very desirable
• A knowledge of WHO would be a best, but the person can be briefed while arriving in Haiti
Description of the type of work requested
• The person will work as a water and sanitation engineer
• Responsibility will be to ensure that the water and sanitation activities are implemented with a focus on WatSan in health care settings (lead cluster is WHO for health) and also on water quality monitoring with the WASH cluster lead by the WatSan national institution with support from UNICEF
• The person will be under WHO contract and paid by WHO
• There will be a hand over on site
• The person will work with a WHO Haiti environmental health technician. She is full time coordinating the emergency response but will be a strong support to the staff coming. She knows the work that is needed, knows the right people to talk to for the task, and is knowledgeable about WHO working procedures and structure.
Proposed activities for 3 months
Work area 1: Health care settings
Activity 1 - Water
Activity 2 - Hygiene
Activity 3 - Sanitation
Activity 4 - Health care waste
Activity 5 - Vector control
Expected result: Environmentally safe health care settings allowing access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene to prevent and control the transmission of disease.
Work area 2: Internally displaced people WatSan activities
Activity 1 - Water quality monitoring
Activity 2 - Sanitation
Activity 3 - Water and sanitation equipment and others
Expected result: Water quality delivered to Internal Displaced People is safe and public toilets are available to respond to the needs of the IDPs.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
State of the Union / Barack Obama / Safe Water
It has been brought to our attention that President Obama has invited a fellow safe water advocate to Capitol Hill as his special guest this evening for the State of the Union address. That special guest is:
Li Boynton (Bellaire, Texas)Great to see this issue is on the President's agenda.
Li is an 18-year-old senior from Bellaire, Texas, whose passion for science and global health has led her to new and potentially groundbreaking methods for testing the quality of drinking water. Almost 1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and 3.5 million people die each year from water-related diseases. Observing the limitations and significant expense of conventional chemical-specific tests, Boynton saw a need for a broader, more efficient assay for testing and developed a bacteria bio-sensor. Li's work, which has the potential to be significant in improving public health worldwide, received the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair award for 2009.
Li has always had a passion for science and invention: in fifth grade, she designed a solar-distillation device after reading Life of Pi in case she ever got stranded in the middle of the ocean. Li is an avid painter and participates in high school debate, which is where she developed her environmental interests.
Water For People: Staffing Up in Denver
I have just learned that Water For People has three positions open in its Denver office.
Water For People is one of the most interesting organizations in the global safe drinking water and sanitation sector currently and I encourage you to take a look:
Main page:
http://www.waterforpeople.org/Careers
Individual pages:
Senior Manager of Corporate Relations
Strategic Partnerships Relationship Manager-Domestic
Resource Development Administrative Assistant
Water For People is one of the most interesting organizations in the global safe drinking water and sanitation sector currently and I encourage you to take a look:
Main page:
http://www.waterforpeople.org/Careers
Individual pages:
Senior Manager of Corporate Relations
Strategic Partnerships Relationship Manager-Domestic
Resource Development Administrative Assistant
Monday, January 25, 2010
Nicholas Institute: Associate in Water Policy position in Washington DC
Job Opening--Associate in Water Policy
Summary: The Nicholas Institute invites applications for a water research associate position.
A major strategic focus of the water program of the Nicholas Institute is on facilitating the creation of the necessary policy environment to secure and sustain effective water supply and sanitation in the developing world. The Institute aims to strengthen its capacity in water supply and sanitation in its Washington, DC office through the appointment of an Associate.
The Associate will be supervised by the Director for Water, Peter G. McCornick, and guided by the Institute’s Senior Fellow in Washington DC, Gordon Binder. The Associate will:
• monitor the water policy environment and other pertinent developments in Washington, D.C., as they relate to improving access to water supply and sanitation in the developing world;
• work with the institute water team, other colleagues at Duke, and other partners to undertake relevant research, and develop papers and policy briefs;
• expand and maintain networks of relevant policymakers, government officials, NGO and corporate leaders, and consultants; and
• support the overall development of this strategic initiative in the Institute.
Requirements: Required qualifications include a Masters degree (Masters in Public Health or equivalent) with experience in water supply and sanitation in the developing world, and an understanding of the policy landscape in Washington, D.C. The role also requires the ability to write well and succinctly, and to manage complex relationships with key constituencies and professional colleagues tactfully and effectively.
Experience: Applicants should have the ability to evaluate and communicate science and policy analysis with stakeholders and policymakers. Applicants should also have proven ability to work effectively and flexibly within interdisciplinary teams on complex projects, and be comfortable taking initiative, and working independently. An understanding of other aspects of water resources management, including agricultural water management and adaptation to climate change would be advantageous.
Start Date: March 1, 2010, negotiable.
To apply, attach a cover letter, resume, three references, and a writing sample, attn: Jessica Sheffield at
Jessica.Sheffield (at) duke.edu with “Water Associate” in the subject line; or mail to Box 903335, Duke
University, Durham, NC 27708.
Duke University/Health System is an Equal Opportunity Affirimative Action Employer
Summary: The Nicholas Institute invites applications for a water research associate position.
A major strategic focus of the water program of the Nicholas Institute is on facilitating the creation of the necessary policy environment to secure and sustain effective water supply and sanitation in the developing world. The Institute aims to strengthen its capacity in water supply and sanitation in its Washington, DC office through the appointment of an Associate.
The Associate will be supervised by the Director for Water, Peter G. McCornick, and guided by the Institute’s Senior Fellow in Washington DC, Gordon Binder. The Associate will:
• monitor the water policy environment and other pertinent developments in Washington, D.C., as they relate to improving access to water supply and sanitation in the developing world;
• work with the institute water team, other colleagues at Duke, and other partners to undertake relevant research, and develop papers and policy briefs;
• expand and maintain networks of relevant policymakers, government officials, NGO and corporate leaders, and consultants; and
• support the overall development of this strategic initiative in the Institute.
Requirements: Required qualifications include a Masters degree (Masters in Public Health or equivalent) with experience in water supply and sanitation in the developing world, and an understanding of the policy landscape in Washington, D.C. The role also requires the ability to write well and succinctly, and to manage complex relationships with key constituencies and professional colleagues tactfully and effectively.
Experience: Applicants should have the ability to evaluate and communicate science and policy analysis with stakeholders and policymakers. Applicants should also have proven ability to work effectively and flexibly within interdisciplinary teams on complex projects, and be comfortable taking initiative, and working independently. An understanding of other aspects of water resources management, including agricultural water management and adaptation to climate change would be advantageous.
Start Date: March 1, 2010, negotiable.
To apply, attach a cover letter, resume, three references, and a writing sample, attn: Jessica Sheffield at
Jessica.Sheffield (at) duke.edu with “Water Associate” in the subject line; or mail to Box 903335, Duke
University, Durham, NC 27708.
Duke University/Health System is an Equal Opportunity Affirimative Action Employer
Friday, January 22, 2010
National Ground Water Association - Developing World Projects Fund
** March 1 2010 deadline
From our friends at the National Ground Water Association:
The Developing World Projects Fund provides small assistance grants to benefit the quality of life for people around the world without access to plentiful supplies of potable groundwater. (View a map of where these NGWREF-funded projects are taking place.)
Read the Grant Making Evaluation Criteria (PDF).* (Please note that while the PDF states the grant proposal deadline as January 15, in light of the Haiti earthquake, NGWREF is extending this year's proposal deadline to March 1, 2010 in order to also entertain proposals from groups* considering equipping small community [village] water well systems in Haiti with either replacement components or for equipping entirely new wells.)
Proposals may be mailed to:
Kevin McCray, Executive Director
National Ground Water Research and Educational Foundation
601 Dempsey Rd.
Westerville, OH 43081
USA
Proposals may also be sent via e-mail to kmccray [at] ngwa.org.
* NGWREF will only consider grant proposals received from United States of America-domiciled organizations filing 990 informational tax returns with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
From our friends at the National Ground Water Association:
The Developing World Projects Fund provides small assistance grants to benefit the quality of life for people around the world without access to plentiful supplies of potable groundwater. (View a map of where these NGWREF-funded projects are taking place.)
Read the Grant Making Evaluation Criteria (PDF).* (Please note that while the PDF states the grant proposal deadline as January 15, in light of the Haiti earthquake, NGWREF is extending this year's proposal deadline to March 1, 2010 in order to also entertain proposals from groups* considering equipping small community [village] water well systems in Haiti with either replacement components or for equipping entirely new wells.)
Proposals may be mailed to:
Kevin McCray, Executive Director
National Ground Water Research and Educational Foundation
601 Dempsey Rd.
Westerville, OH 43081
USA
Proposals may also be sent via e-mail to kmccray [at] ngwa.org.
* NGWREF will only consider grant proposals received from United States of America-domiciled organizations filing 990 informational tax returns with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
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