Co-creating Lifesaving Innovations for Disaster Relief
By Wayne Chia and Jaya Myler
Imagine if in the wake of disasters, the affected communities were able to design solutions to their most pressing challenges themselves, and create those solutions using materials that were readily available, in order to rescue, rebuild and recover. One initiative, the Nepal Innovation Lab (NLab), born out of the rubble of the 2015 Nepal earthquake, aims to empower communities to do just that.
Christy Davis and Wayne Chia from Asia P3 Hub visited the NLab in January 2019 to see their innovations, meet with the team and resident incubatees and partners, and look at ways that Asia P3 Hub could multiply the impact of the work being done by the lab.
World Vision created the NLab as part of as part of organisation’s Nepal earthquake response after the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in April 2015 that killed nearly 9,000 people in Nepal, injured more than 22,000, and destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes.
The innovation centre was set up with the aim of contributing to the national recovery and to inspire the humanitarian sector to deliver more effective, high-quality and community-driven responses. The innovation centre provides a collaborative working environment and brings together partners to test, prototype and scale breakthrough solutions for humanitarian and development challenges, and solutions are usually co-created with people affected by crises.
These are just some of innovations that have been incubated at the NLab that are already being put to work to help in disaster preparedness and relief efforts.
NLab’s Innovations
Sikka: blockchain-based digital credits
Emergency relief supplies and cash distribution are a large component of the relief efforts of NGOs in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. However, accessing those affected with cash and supplies is challenging when roads become impassable and banking systems are offline. And there is a high cost associated with the deployment of field staff and the administration of the distribution.
Sikka is a blockchain-based system that works through participating agents and merchants (e.g. agri co-ops who are already stationed much closer to the affected communities). Beneficiaries are assigned digital tokens which they can redeem for supplies from the agent through SMS tokens. At the end of the distribution project, the agent just needs to do a one-time financial clearing with the charity. This can reduce the cost of distribution by more than 60 percent (based on initial pilots) and helps charities to reach those in need faster in order to get them the supplies they need.
Early Warning Systems for Disasters
Every year around the same time (July-August) heavy and incessant downpours bring deadly floods across a large part of Nepal causing displacement and loss of lives and property on a massive scale. The NLab has been experimenting with sensors hooked up to solar-powered Raspberry Pis (small, single-board computers) that measures river water height and rainfall to predict whether a flood is imminent. The same system may also be further extended to detect other hazards e.g. landslides. This system may sound rudimentary, but there are commercial operators that are already using the same technology but charging a much higher premium (around 5–6 times more).
3D Printing Spare Parts that Don’t Suck
Fieldready, one of the incubatees of NLab has a range of solutions to rapidly deploy humanitarian supplies by making them in the field. They have creatively used solar or car-battery-powered 3D printers to produce spare parts, tools, medical equipment, pipe fittings and even prosthetics. The ‘Spares and Repairs’ program will come in very handy during disaster management where finding the right connectors to fix broken pipes can be a real challenge. They are now looking at how they can even use a mobile app to dynamically generate the 3D print file.
While our team was there, Wayne got to experience firsthand the benefits of being able to 3D print spare parts on-the-spot. From Wayne Chia: “If the awesome folks at Nepal Innovation Lab and Field Ready could solve in half a day what my vacuum cleaner manufacturer couldn’t in a week (“Sorry sir, this adapter you requested doesn’t exist — would you like to buy a new vacuum cleaner instead?”) by 3D-printing an adapter, imagine what they can do to fix broken pipes and fixtures with solar powered 3D printers during a natural disaster?”
Asia P3 Hub will be working with the NLab to convene transformational partnerships, and support the lab to pilot, adapt and scale its innovations. And we’ll also be bringing you a series of stories in the coming months on how some of their innovations are already changing lives. Stay tuned!
This article was written by Wayne Chia, Asia P3 Hub’s Innovative Programmes Lead, and Jaya Myler, Communications and Marketing Consultant.
Wayne has more than a decade of experience in innovation, product development and digital business modelling, acquired through running start-up businesses in the digital space across US, China and Southeast Asia. After his last venture Techsailor was acquired by TO THE NEW, Wayne was determined that his next steps would be to solve bigger global issues. Today, he leads Innovative Programme at Asia P3 Hub, Asia’s first multi-sector partnership incubator.
Reach out to Wayne via LinkedIn or email.
Jaya Myler is a non-profit manager with more than 12 years of experience working with international NGOs, corporate and consumer brands, in both developed and developing country settings. She has a strong background in managing projects and programs, and advocacy and communications, and experience working in environmental, education, and WASH NGOs. She is passionate about water and sanitation, education and poverty alleviation. She has experience working on multi-sector partnerships with NGOs, corporates, academia and governments, and is a big believer in the power of cross-sector collaboration to drive innovation and achieve impact. She holds a Master of Media Practice. She is currently Asia P3 Hub’s Communications and Marketing Consultant.
