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Physical
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Physical operations are those that pertain to the development, construction and distribution of Fixed Focus Solar Concentrators, Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks, Rainwater Harvesting Systems, Surface Water Retention Systems and Slow Sand Filters. Operations are detailed at three levels; research level, fabrication level, and individual (end user) level.
Fixed Focus Solar Concentrators
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Fixed Focus Solar Concentrators, are highly reflective geometric surfaces, which concentrate and focus solar radiation on a fixed point. This allows architecture and engineered processes (i.e. steam production, power generation, polymerization, etc.) to incorporate the produced thermal energy without complicated heat transfer technology. Venture Trust uses the Scheffler Reflector, pioneered by Wolfgang Scheffler and mathematically modeled by Anjum Munir.
Researchers (Schools, Universities, NGOs, etc.)
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Venture Trust will lead workshops on constructing Scheffler Fixed Focus Solar Concentrators with groups of interested students. Each workshop will produce 4 operational Fixed Focus Concentrators of varying aperture and thermal output. In Addition to constructing 4 of these concentrators, Venture Trust will make available 50 m2 of highly reflective mirror film, for students to experiment with. Workshops will take place over the course of six weeks, during which, participants will conduct demonstrations to local community members.
Workshop participants will be encouraged to apply the skills demonstrated during workshops to real world opportunities for entrepreneurial activity. These opportunities will evolve from participant identifications of community needs and the orientation of goals with the activities of existing energy and development professionals. Participants, having completed a workshop, will have the opportunity to work with Venture Trust to expand solar thermal capacity across the country.
Fabricators and Manufacturers
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Fabricators and manufacturers are a mix of target customers and subcontractors. In our effort to expand solar thermal capacity, we seek to train local artisans in the construction of fixed focus solar concentrators. Venture Trust will contract local metal workers, welders, and fabricators to construct concentrators for Venture Trust customers.
In the process, fabricators will gain the skills required to construct concentrators, independently. For fabricators who wish to construct the concentrators independently, Venture Trust will provide brokering services for necessary materials such as reflective mirror film. Fabricators will be selected according to history and quality of work, agreeable fees, and willingness to partner with Venture Trust. All fabricators and subcontractors must be legal residents of the United Republic of Tanzania.
Individuals
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Target customers for the Scheffler Reflector are matriarchs, community kitchens, agricultural processors, and process industries requiring mid-range thermal energy. Operations involving individuals will take place at the scale of smallholder farms, remote agricultural processors, and community kitchens. Matriarchs are considered to be potential entrepreneurs, who could generate additional income from operating community kitchens or brewing pombe.
The relationship between Venture Trust and individuals will be established according to results from voluntary capacity surveys conducted in person over a period of time not to exceed two weeks. The Venture Trust capacity survey is used to analyze current performance of activities requiring heat and burning fuel. Additionally it is used to develop an appropriate mechanism for applying solar concentrators to the relative processes included in the capacity survey.
Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks
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Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks are brick-like earthen blocks that can be used in place of bricks in most construction applications. Stabilized by compression, cementation, and interlocks, these blocks have a high soil to cement ratio and are capable of bearing significant loads. In addition to these characteristics, Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks cure at ambient temperatures. Reducing the amount of cement used reduces project costs. Reducing the amount of bricks consumed conserves acres of trees from being cut down and used for a firing process, which generates 20% waste.
Researchers (Schools, Universities, NGOs, etc.)
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Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks will be tested according to standards set by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards. Testing of the blocks will take place with the involvement of fabricators and classrooms, as an example of how standards are set by the government, as well as how to achieve quality and structural standards. Physical tests of the blocks provide a good, hands on example of physical forces such as shear, compression and tension for high school and college students.
Further research and development around the block can be centered on the creation of new interlocking forms, especially forms tailored to specific small and medium scale businesses. An example of this would be a development partnership between Venture Trust and a local school to identify specific set of Interlocking Stabilized Soil Block forms tailored to various components of a rural water utility.
Fabricators and Manufacturers
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Target customers for Interlocking Stabilized Soil Block technology are farming households, brickwork operators, builders, community authorities, and entrepreneurs. Farming households are the target customer for the final block, while brickwork operators, builders, community authorities, and entrepreneurs are the targets for the block making hardware as well as the final block.
Workshops and training on using the hardware and blocks will take place over a six week period, after which point, Venture Trust will assist independent block makers in operational matters. Assistance in operational matters will include training for the construction of cisterns and hydrologic infrastructure. In addition to workshops and monitoring, Venture Trust will promote local block makers as sources for ISSBs for the construction of Venture Trust products, which rely on Interlocking Stabilized Soil Block technology.
The capacity survey (outlined in Appendix C) will be used to analyze current construction techniques. Additionally it is used to develop an appropriate mechanism for applying ISSB technology to current and future construction activities.
Individuals
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Operations at the individual level will include the marketing of ISSB based systems to farming households. These systems include Rainwater Harvesting Systems, Surface Water Retention Systems, and Slow Sand Filters. In order to strengthen the local economy, Venture Trust will serve as an agent of the participants of its workshops, establishing contracts between ISSB producers and customers seeking ISSB based technology. Construction of systems for individual farming households takes between 5 and 10 days, depending on the size of the project.
Rainwater Harvesting Systems
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Rainwater Harvesting Systems are a mix of building retrofits and installed structures, which collect rainwater and channel it into storage tanks. Effective systems for irrigating a half-acre farm can be established with as little as 15 m2 of surface area and 7,000 liters of storage. Storage cisterns are constructed with Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks.
Researchers (Schools, Universities, NGOs, etc.)
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Research related to Rainwater Harvesting Systems will take place under a crosscutting research partnership, which develops Rainwater Harvesting Systems in tandem with Surface Water Retention Systems, Slow Sand Filters and ISSB technology applied to water collection and conservation infrastructure.
Fabricators and Manufacturers
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Fabricators and Manufacturers for Rainwater Harvesting Systems will be the same professionals trained through workshops dedicated to the production of and construction with Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks.
Individuals
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The relationship between Venture Trust and individuals will be established according to results from voluntary capacity surveys conducted in person over a period of time not to exceed two weeks. Publicity strategies are used to generate buy-in for Rainwater Harvesting Systems. The capacity survey (outlined in Appendix C) is used to analyze current performance of activities requiring fresh untreated water. Additionally it is used to develop a mechanism for expanding fresh water storage capacity and treatment options.
Surface Water Retention Systems / Slow Sand Filters
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Surface Water Retention Systems utilize ISSB technology to store water, reinforce channels, and create impermeable surfaces, from which surface water is collected. These systems are similar to Rainwater Harvesting Systems; with the exception that Surface Water Retention Systems capture water after it contacts the ground. Systems range from micro damns and terracing, to embankments and landscape interventions.
Slow Sand Filters, are medium to high volume water filters, which use beds of sands, supported by an under drain, to remove low levels of turbidity from surface waters through the action of a biologically active filter layer, which traps turbid particles from passing into the water collected through the under drain. Due to the scale of Slow Sand Filters, their construction only takes place with the significant involvement of a consulting engineer, engagement of local authorities, and input from local educators, community members and professionals.
Researchers (Schools, Universities, NGOs, etc.)
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Research related to Surface Water Retention Systems and Slow Sand Filters will take place under a crosscutting research partnership, which develops Surface Water Retention Systems in tandem with Rainwater Harvesting Systems, Slow Sand Filters and ISSB technology applied to hydrologic infrastructure.
Fabricators and Manufacturers
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Fabricators and Manufacturers for Surface Water Retention Systems and Slow Sand Filters will be the same professionals trained through workshops dedicated to the production of and construction with Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks.
Individuals
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The relationship between Venture Trust and individuals will be established according to results from voluntary capacity surveys conducted in person over a period of time not to exceed two weeks. Publicity strategies are used to generate buy-in for Rainwater Harvesting Systems. The capacity survey (outlined in Appendix C) is used to analyze current performance of activities requiring fresh untreated water. Additionally it is used to develop a mechanism for expanding fresh water storage capacity and treatment options.
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Finances
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In keeping with our overall goal to promote healthy, resilient communities, which prosper in spite of resource scarcity, climate change, and low levels of economic activity, we believe it is essential to provide target customers with flexible, performance-based financing. Similar to other underdeveloped economies, Tanzania faces significant issues with access to credit. The inability to obtain loans, and investment, perpetuates the stymied economic position of smallholder farms and informal market stakeholders.
Financing options are structured on the results of the Capacity Survey. In general, financing is a mix of interest free development grants and forward contracts. Development grants allow target customers to become acquainted with Venture Trust technology and to identify potential economic uses, which we have not documented. Forward contracts allow Venture Trust to serve the immediate needs of target customers, develop local economies, and remain solvent.
Development Grants
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Development grants are intended for the initial capital cost of Venture Trust products. Funds for these grants originate from fundraising activities and charitable giving. As noted above financing options are structured on the results of a Capacity Survey. Every capacity survey provides a Growth Index. The Growth Index is an estimated percentage of growth over a 2 – 5 year period, and is calculated according to a number of parameters including, liquidity ratio, crop failure, marketing, etc. To be eligible for development grants, customers must agree to implement a portion of the recommendations outlined under the Growth Index section of a customer’s Capacity Survey.
Recommendations are intended to help customers achieve the percentage of growth outlined in the Growth Index. Customers who do not agree to implement the recommendations outlined under the Growth Index section will not receive financing in the form of Development Grants, except for in special cases. Customers who experience at least a 155% growth rate will be responsible for the delivery of commodities, outlined under the Growth Index section of his or her Capacity Survey, at a time specified in his or her forward contract.
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Forward Contracts
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Forward contracts allow target customers to own Venture Trust products without going to extremes to make ends meet. We believe in empowering individuals and fostering confidence. Ownership is at the heart of fostering a sense of pride and confidence. Forward contracts are developed according to the results of the Capacity Survey. In general, all forward contracts specify delivery of goods during the months of September and February.
Forward contracts require customers to deliver goods at specified times, however, only require the delivery of such goods, as specified by individual contracts, if a customer experiences growth of at least 155% from the previous year, in which Venture Trust products were not used. A high margin of growth allows for individuals to determine the best way to use their surplus in their communities, however still provides Venture Trust with the revenue needed to advance our mission.
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Sourcing
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Venture Trust aims to allocate the majority of its funds to building local economies. Keeping with this goal, we try to source materials, knowledge, and skill locally. In addition to developing local economies, Venture Trust also links American manufacturers of mid-tech goods to the communities, which can greatly benefit from mid-tech interventions most. Locally unavailable materials are purchased through American manufacturers and transported to Tanzania via air, land, and sea transportation.
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Systems / Controls
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We measure our success by the overall condition of the individuals and communities we serve. Venture Trust activities reduce deforestation, water-borne illness, meager agricultural productivity, poverty, and feelings of inadequacy. Our four major controls, which we measure our success by, are Well Being, Wood Extraction, Water Storage, and Agricultural Productivity.
Each of these parameters is measured in the Capacity Survey, which is completed by every Venture Trust customer. The use of the Capacity Survey allows Venture Trust to customize goals for every customer, in keeping with our promise to uphold a preferential option for the poor.
Well-Being
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Measuring overall well being is not a simple, empirical task. We believe that well-being can be effectively determined by monitoring the points listed below. Effective monitoring is dependent upon our continual interaction with our customers. We understand the consequences of shortcomings on our part, and genuinely believe that promoting a preferential option for the poor requires our commitment to customers from beginning to end.
Days Sick
Caloric Intake
General Outlook
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Wood Extraction
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The rate of wood extraction allows us to monitor our impact on the environment and serves as a proxy for reductions in cases of respiratory illness. Furthermore, wood extraction sometimes represents a financial expense. Therefore reducing wood extraction results in improved environmental, health, and financial conditions.
Wood extraction is monitored in two ways, which relate to the Venture Trust product line. Wood is used as a construction material and as a fuel source. Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks, reduce wood extraction by reducing the need for fired bricks, as well as replacing traditional wood construction. Fixed Focus Solar Concentrators reduce the extraction of fuel wood only, however, when used by target customers, do so at significant rates.
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Water Storage
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Capacity Surveys record existing water storage conditions as well as water conveyance infrastructure on an individual customer basis. After recording these conditions, recommendations for sensible improvements are included under the Growth Index section of the survey. Increases in volume of water storage, area of collection, and area of land under irrigation are all monitored by Venture Trust to determine the impact we have.
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Agricultural Productivity
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Agricultural productivity is measured according to intra- and inter-annual harvest growth. Furthermore agricultural processing is considered to be agricultural productivity. Monitoring will occur at the level of the individual household as well as at the level of individual enterprises and agricultural processors. Major factors in measuring agricultural productivity are the percentage of crop that makes it to market, the amount of crop lost during transport and marketing, and the percentage of crops consumed at home.
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