Social Impact Project for Engineer to Design Eco-Friendly, Portable Toilet System
How This Works
As part of the TRANSFORM Support Hub, you will learn how to advance your career while getting hands on experience on projects like this one.
Project Description and Impact
Engineer to Design Eco-Friendly, Portable Toilet System
Designing a new protoype for our toilet system
Our social enterprise provides low-income and underserved communities with access to sanitation products at an affordable price. Our eco-friendly, biodigester toilets aim to end open defecation and improve poor sanitation issues in low-income urban communities in Ghana. We produce, supply and install high-quality biodigester toilets using locally available materials and artisans. The toilet technology uses an on-site toilet treatment solution made of a sub-structure known as biodigester and privy (super-structure) which can be built with different materials such as precast slabs, Ferro-cement and blocks.
The technology is easy to maintain as it treats human-waste on-site and does not require piping it off-site for treatment. The treated waste serves as manure and water for agricultural use, creating additional value for customers and for the environment. We aim to become a leading responsible and inclusive sanitation services brand in developing countries.
Surveying customers, we learned that one of the barriers to adoption by the targeted communities is the desire for high low-cost and quality quick-to-install and water-saving flush toilets with visual aesthetic appeals. Due to the low-income nature of our customers, we’re seeking to upgrade the design of our biodigester toilets without compromising on quality, portability and aesthetic appeal. The design will involve both bottom-structure (called biodigester) and superstructure (the privy).
We’re looking for an engineering Experteer with experience in sanitation and hardware development to work with our team to develop the new design. Ideally you’ll be working onsite with us for a minimum of 1 month in Ghana and will continue to advise virtually for a few months as questions come up.
Starting date is flexible. The project can take place anytime between April - December 2020.
Learn social impact frameworks and use it for:
Increasing sanitation within lower income communities
Learning Opportunity
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Gain insight into the critical sanitation issues, social enterprises, and eco-friendly biodigester industry in Ghana
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Gain cross-cultural experience with people of a diverse background including team members
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Gain knowledge of how WASHKing is employing novel PAYGO technology to enhance access to good sanitation for BoP people
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First-hand experience with friendly local people including children
Accommodation
This project is part of the empowering people. Expert program with Siemens Stiftung. The selected candidate will have your housing provided for by the hosting organization. Details will be shared after during the planning process once we have an idea of your starting date and what is available.
Living Stipend
This project is part of the empowering people. Expert program with Siemens Stiftung. The selected candidate will have your flights covered along with visa costs, travel insurance, and most likely a food stipend.
Travel Stipend
This project is part of the empowering people. Expert program with Siemens Stiftung. The selected candidate will have your flights covered along with visa costs, travel insurance, and most likely a food stipend.
Food Stipend
This project is part of the empowering people. Expert program with Siemens Stiftung. The selected candidate will have your flights covered along with visa costs, travel insurance, and most likely a food stipend.
Virtual
This project accepts virtual experteers.
About the Hosting Organization
WASHKING is a For-profit with social mission working on Environmental Services, Facilities Services, Renewables & Environment.
