Product/Service Development

In emergencies, sanitation infrastructure in camps are often constructed overlooking the long-term needs such as safe containment and disposal of fecal matter. Commonly used pit latrine systems in densely populated camps expose fresh fecal sludge to the ground and pollute the environment and needs continuous desludging which causes high costs. Other conventional systems require high level of resources, time and skilled manpower which is not appropriate for rapid on-set of emergencies.

The development of off-grid power systems for the population in crisis areas is usually done via generators, which is expensive to operate and generates many dependencies, for example on fossil fuels or technicians with specialist knowledge. Although solar battery systems offer more independence, they are either less powerful or more complex in design, less flexible and difficult to expand. Power-Blox addresses these disadvantages of solar battery systems and offers an innovative alternative.

Humanitarian crises hit vulnerable groups hardest, such as people with disabilities. Also, conflicts result in an increase in disabilities caused by injuries or malnutrition. However, only 1 in 10 people in need have access to assistive devices. We propose developing and testing an alternative design for a rubber shoe of mobility aids such as crutches and canes. It will be a cost-effective alternative that would function in challenging environments such as unpaved or wet surfaces.

We seek to address the availability of clean water and electricity in medical facilities in rural, off-grid and stressed populations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Many Congolese hospitals function without sources of potable water and without electricity. Conflict exacerbates the situation, limiting supply chains and infrastructure maintenance. Our innovation addresses the development of renewable off-grid potable water and electricity resources at community medical centers.

Large open wounds accompanied by tissue loss is a huge medical challenge in conflict zones. They result from blunt trauma caused by blasts and building collapse or from bed ulcers in quadriplegic patients. They range from 10 to 50 cm in diameter with penetration down to bone. The wound is left unclosed for several weeks to months until it develops enough blood supply to become ready for closure. It requires daily dressing changes, which is very painful and can easily be infected and complicated.

Post-harvest losses for fruits and vegetables in refugee regions of Kenya are as high as 60% for some fresh produce since the cold‐storage chain is virtually non‐existent due to the high cost of equipment and spotty electricity. Because fresh produce and vaccines can perish in a matter of days under ambient temperatures, temperature control alone can extend the shelf life by weeks or even months.

Needs assessments are inaccurate and slow in multilingual contexts, a poor basis for humanitarian strategies. TWB’s research shows that data collectors often do not speak the languages of affected people, do not understand humanitarian terminology and have limited training. Information is translated 2 or 3 times, making the process slow and error prone. The voices and needs of affected people are lost; aid efforts are designed and continued based on incomplete or inaccurate information.

The predominant occupation for rural Nigeria is agriculture. However, the country is often plagued by food shortages due to lack of electricity for post harvest processing, irrigation farming and storage. Also, lack of access to markets is also a hindering factor to economic viability for small holders. This project aims to bridge this divide by providing power for irrigation farming/post harvest storage and processing for four of the major products in the region (rice, maize, cassava and milk).

Obtaining birth data is challenging even in peacetime Nigeria, so aid workers use census estimates to guide vaccinations. In the penumbra of conflict in Nigeria's northeast, massive demographic disruption renders such estimates inaccurate and unusable at local level, making it difficult to target newborns for vaccination or to measure the performance of vaccination programs. Community-sourced birth reports can provide reliable birth data in settings with large, internally displaced populations.

Integrating evidence-based treatment into a comprehensive intervention package, embedding it within the routine PHC practice in Lagos, Nigeria. The package consists of screening, treatment initiation, follow up and adherence support, clinical supervision and referral if needed, all derived using the WHO’s mental health gap intervention guide (mhGAP-IG) and delivered by trained non-specialist health workers