- change - Mailing Lists

Humanitarian Innovation Fund call for large grant proposals
by Yaw Anokwa 26 Mar '12

26 Mar '12

>From http://www.alnap.org/node/8347.aspx The Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF) has announced its third call for large grant proposals. The Fund’s large grant facility, which provides grants from £75,000 - £150,000 for the development, implementation and testing of an innovation, will be open until the 22nd April 2012. The Fund was established a year ago by ELRHA (Enhancing Learning and Research for Humanitarian Assistance) and ALNAP (The Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance in Humanitarian Action) to support organisations and individuals to identify, nurture and share innovative and scalable solutions to the challenges facing effective humanitarian assistance. The HIF intends to fund 4 - 5 large grant projects in this latest call. The Fund also hosts a small grant facility, which is permanently open for proposals of up to £20,000 for the recognition, invention and dissemination of an innovation. The launch of the third call comes the same week as the announcement by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) of their decision to provide the HIF with $700,000 (£445,000), in order to support more innovations with the potential to revolutionise humanitarian performance. Full details of the Humanitarian Innovation Fund can be found on our website: www.humanitarianinnovation.org. The HIF team will be holding a large grant facility webinar on the website at 14:00 on Wednesday 28th March 2012.

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CORRECTION: Waylon Brunette on portable antenatal ultrasound for village midwifes.
by Nicola Dell 26 Mar '12

26 Mar '12

Sorry, the Change seminar is in CSE 203 (not 205 as I said before). On Mon, Mar 26, 2012 at 9:38 AM, Nicola Dell <nixdell(a)cs.washington.edu>wrote: > This Thursday at Change Waylon Brunette will speak about his research on a > portable antenatal ultrasound platform for village midwifes. Please note > that the seminar will be in the Allen center, CSE 205. The room currently > listed on the MyUW website (MOR 225) is incorrect. > > While ultrasound imaging is an effective tool for identifying > maternal mortality risk factors, it is nearly absent in many rural > healthcare facilities in developing regions. The high costs of both > equipment and required training are major barriers to adopting ultrasound; > to address these barriers we designed an inexpensive ultrasound system > composed of off-the-shelf hardware and custom software. To leverage > existing healthcare systems commonly found in these contexts, we focused > our efforts on increasing the diagnostic capabilities of midwives - > often central medical figures in rural and low-income communities. To > enable local midwives to identify high-risk conditions for referral to > a better-equipped health care facility, we developed a low-cost, > portable, easy-to-use ultrasound system. Compared to currently available > ultrasound devices, we simplified the user workflow and interface while > maintaining adequate functionality to allow midwives to detect three > common obstetrical conditions: placenta previa, multiple gestations, and > breech presentation. Specifically, the midwife's ultrasound system is > designed to: support a solitary work environment, balance cost and > features, present a minimal interface, enable easy customization through a > modular design, provide appropriate scaffolding to assist the user, and > include an integrated teaching help system. Complicated and expensive > medical technologies are unlikely to meet the needs of users with > limited opportunities for formal training and continuing education, so we > created an appropriate integrated help system to supplement a midwife's > conceptual and operational knowledge of diagnostic ultrasound. Through our > fieldwork in Uganda and preliminary evaluations, we have found that in > addition to the contextual reference material accessible during an exam, > midwives need in-depth learning materials that can be accessed outside of a > medical exam scenario. To evaluate whether or system was appropriate for > identifying the three conditions, we tested the accuracy of ultrasound > measurements, image quality, and the usability of our system by Ugandan > midwives. The midwife's ultrasound system is designed to utilize existing > local healthcare resources in order to create a sustainable solution that > does not depend on telemedicine or other continuous foreign assistance. > > Waylon Brunette is a PhD student in the Department of Computer Science and > Engineering at the University of Washington advised by Professor Gaetano > Borriello. His research interests include mobile systems, leveraging > smartphones and sensors to solve problems in healthcare, and designing > systems that improve the lives of underserved populations in low-income > regions. > > What: Waylon Brunette on portable antenatal ultrasound for village > midwifes. > > Where: The Allen Center, CSE 203. > > When: Thursday, March 29th at 12 noon. >

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Job: Startup seeking developer in Nairobi
by Yaw Anokwa 26 Mar '12

26 Mar '12

---------- Forwarded message ---------- Project - mSwali.org | Python Web Application Developer mSwali provides an out-of-the-box, web-based mobile communications solution to organizations and enterprises. The platform enables users to reach out to their existing and potential beneficiaries and customers through SMS-based communications to better understand their needs and interests. Requirements Solid flexible developer with a strong work ethic and an ability to quickly learn and add value to the platform. Skills required: python, webapp development, basic architecture, front-end design a plus but not required. Experience working with Google AppEngine would be extremely useful, but not required. Role The developer will work closely with a small team. Work terms will be contract-based (3 months) with the possibility of extension or transition to full time employment. Expected work schedule is 40 hours/week with competitive pay. If interested, please contact jobs(a)mswali.org.

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Waylon Brunette on portable antenatal ultrasound for village midwifes.
by Nicola Dell 26 Mar '12

26 Mar '12

This Thursday at Change Waylon Brunette will speak about his research on a portable antenatal ultrasound platform for village midwifes. Please note that the seminar will be in the Allen center, CSE 205. The room currently listed on the MyUW website (MOR 225) is incorrect. While ultrasound imaging is an effective tool for identifying maternal mortality risk factors, it is nearly absent in many rural healthcare facilities in developing regions. The high costs of both equipment and required training are major barriers to adopting ultrasound; to address these barriers we designed an inexpensive ultrasound system composed of off-the-shelf hardware and custom software. To leverage existing healthcare systems commonly found in these contexts, we focused our efforts on increasing the diagnostic capabilities of midwives - often central medical figures in rural and low-income communities. To enable local midwives to identify high-risk conditions for referral to a better-equipped health care facility, we developed a low-cost, portable, easy-to-use ultrasound system. Compared to currently available ultrasound devices, we simplified the user workflow and interface while maintaining adequate functionality to allow midwives to detect three common obstetrical conditions: placenta previa, multiple gestations, and breech presentation. Specifically, the midwife's ultrasound system is designed to: support a solitary work environment, balance cost and features, present a minimal interface, enable easy customization through a modular design, provide appropriate scaffolding to assist the user, and include an integrated teaching help system. Complicated and expensive medical technologies are unlikely to meet the needs of users with limited opportunities for formal training and continuing education, so we created an appropriate integrated help system to supplement a midwife's conceptual and operational knowledge of diagnostic ultrasound. Through our fieldwork in Uganda and preliminary evaluations, we have found that in addition to the contextual reference material accessible during an exam, midwives need in-depth learning materials that can be accessed outside of a medical exam scenario. To evaluate whether or system was appropriate for identifying the three conditions, we tested the accuracy of ultrasound measurements, image quality, and the usability of our system by Ugandan midwives. The midwife's ultrasound system is designed to utilize existing local healthcare resources in order to create a sustainable solution that does not depend on telemedicine or other continuous foreign assistance. Waylon Brunette is a PhD student in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington advised by Professor Gaetano Borriello. His research interests include mobile systems, leveraging smartphones and sensors to solve problems in healthcare, and designing systems that improve the lives of underserved populations in low-income regions. What: Waylon Brunette on portable antenatal ultrasound for village midwifes. Where: The Allen Center, CSE 203. When: Thursday, March 29th at 12 noon.

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Code for America?
by Gaetano Borriello 25 Mar '12

25 Mar '12

Coding peace core for US government needs..... http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_c2#/video/tech/2012/03/24/natpkg-orig-idea…

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USAID Higher Education Solutions Network
by Yaw Anokwa 25 Mar '12

25 Mar '12

>From http://universityengagement.usaid.gov "Students, researchers, faculty, and their partners are pioneering inspiring approaches to solving the most challenging development problems. USAID is now looking to expand upon its long tradition of engagement with universities, colleges, research institutes, and other institutes of higher education. We hope that this website (http://universityengagement.usaid.gov/) - the first step in this effort - will serve as a centralized resource for students, faculty, and administration interested in engaging in the field of international development." It looks like the deadline for concept notes for this round passed on March 22nd. This is a new program, so I'm assuming there will be more opportunities. The FAQ is at http://universityengagement.usaidallnet.gov/sites/default/files/rfa-faq.pdf. Yaw

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CFP 3rd International Workshop about research in ICT for Human Development (Peru)
by Carlos Rey-Moreno 23 Mar '12

23 Mar '12

(sorry for cross posting) Dear Colleagues, Thescientificcommitteeofthe3^rd InternationalWorkshopaboutresearchinICTforHumanDevelopment(http://www.tsc.urjc.es/jornadastic4dh)invitestheScientificcommunitytopresentcommunicationsforthiseventthatwilltakeplaceinCuzco(Peru)betweenthe2^th andthe4^th July2012.ThetopicofthisyearlyWorkshopwillbe:"*Sustainability,****maintenance****and****exploitation****models****of****rural****telemedicine****networks****in****remote****areas*". Contributions analysing the sustainability and maintenance strategies of rural networks that are used for applications other than telemedicine (i.e. education, government, etc.) are also welcome. The workshop also includes a day visit to a long distance wireless network providing telemedicine, e-government and e-learning services to the Acomayo and Pomacanchi provinces since 2006 and a keynote from Mr. Michael Best. To accommodate requests from some participants, the deadline for receiving communications has been extended until April 30th. Please, do not hesitate participating and forwarding it to your colleagues. Sincere regards

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Spring quarter CSE590F - Reading and Research in Computing for Development
by Gaetano Borriello 23 Mar '12

23 Mar '12

Join us for the CSE 590F (ICTD Seminar - Computing for Development) on Tuesdays at 1:30 in CSE 203. This quarter we will be discussing papers from the recent DEV and ICTD conferences held in Atlanta in March 2012. The first day's paper is already set: Shreddr: pipelined paper digitization for low-resource organizations. Nicki Dell will be leading the discussion with help from others. After that, we'll get volunteers for the other 9 papers and possibly re-arrange them. See http://www.cs.washington.edu/education/courses/590f/ for the list of papers for this quarter (unordered except for the first). If you have any interest in applying computing, information, and communication technology to real-world problems, please consider attending. Gaetano Borriello and Richard Anderson

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Scholarships available for Masters in ICT4D from Royal Holloway
by Yaw Anokwa 23 Mar '12

23 Mar '12

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <techbridgeworld-students-request(a)lists.andrew.cmu.edu> Date: Mon, Mar 19, 2012 at 04:23 Subject: TechBridgeWorld-Students Digest, Vol 61, Issue 4 To: techbridgeworld-students(a)lists.andrew.cmu.edu Scholarships available for Masters in ICT4D ************************************************************************ Scholarships are now available for a 1-year Masters in Practising Sustainable Development (ICT4D specialism) The UNESCO Chair/Centre in ICT4D at Royal Holloway, University of London, is offering an exciting ICT4D specialism within its reputed Practising Sustainable Development Masters. It is designed for IT-experts, designers, students, professionals and development practitioners who want to develop their skills specifically in the area of ICT4D. The degree prepares you for work in the public, private or NGO-sector or can be a stepping-stone towards a PhD. KEY FACTS Intake: Sept 2012 - Sept 2013 (12 month full-time, or 24 months part-time) Class sizes: 5 - 20 Teaching team includes: Dorothea Kleine, Tim Unwin, Yingqin Zheng, G Harindranath, David Grimshaw, Kostas Stathis, David Simon, Katie Willis, Vandana Desai, Jay Mistry For full details, visit www.rhul.ac.uk/msc_psd/ict4d. Informal enquiries welcome, by email or skype: dorothea.kleine(a)rhul.ac.uk (Between March 17 - 31: katie.willis(a)rhul.ac.uk)

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Job: Twitter Research Coordinator for Global Pulse
by Yaw Anokwa 23 Mar '12

23 Mar '12

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Robert Kirkpatrick <rgkirkpatrick(a)gmail.com> Date: Tue, Mar 20, 2012 at 4:38 PM Subject: [CrisisMappers] Vacancy announcement: Twitter Research Coordinator for Global Pulse To: crisismappers <crisismappers(a)googlegroups.com> Cc: Robert Kirkpatrick <kirkpatrick(a)unglobalpulse.org>, Anoush Tatevossian < Anoush(a)unglobalpulse.org> Dear Global Pulse friends & colleagues, We are hiring an individual consultant to work at our New York office, for a 3-month contract (with possibility for extension) as lead research coordinator on a Twitter data-mining project. Background in quantitative data analysis, as well as strong organization/communication skills are critical as there will be many stakeholders and partners to coordinate with. Indonesian language skills would be a plus, but not required. Details and info on how to apply here: http://unglobalpulse.org/participate/vacancies *Please note the deadline to apply will be extended to March 30!* Feel free to circulate through appropriate networks. (Applicants should apply online, not to me.) Thank you, Robert Robert Kirkpatrick Director, UN Global Pulse Executive Office of the Secretary-General United Nations 370 Lexington Ave, Suite 1707 New York, NY 10017 +1 650.796.5709 kirkpatrick(a)un.org robertkirkpatrick {skype} @rgkirkpatrick http://linkd.in/rgkirkpatrick * **A brief introduction to Global Pulse http://youtu.be/kYg80Op2whM*** Follow us: http://unglobalpulse.org | http://twitter.com/unglobalpulse | http://facebook.com/unglobalpulse

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