EMPOWER: Vol 5. Issue 4 – Dec 2024

President’s 2024 Year-End Message

Dear IEEE Smart Village Community,

As we wrap up the year, I am proud to reflect on the progress we’ve made toward our mission of empowering underserved communities through seed funding and technical support of social entrepreneurs. Our goal is to harness technology and cultivate self-sustaining businesses that thrive independently of ISV’s support. We are deeply aligned with key UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on SDG 7 (Clean Energy), SDG 8 (Decent Work), and SDG 4 (Education), while also advancing SDG 11 (Sustainable Communities), SDG 1 (No Poverty), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Over the past 15 years, ISV has proudly supported 54 enterprises and touched the lives of over two million people worldwide. Superstars, like Ifeanyi Orajaka of GVE Projects in Nigeria, Paras Loomba of Global Himalayan Expeditions in India, and Jude Numfor of Renewable Energy Innovators in Cameroon have paved the way. Rising stars such as Monica LaBiche Brown in Rwanda, Kanekwa Kachinga in Zambia, Abiodun Okunola in Nigeria, Irene Samy in Egypt, Ashok Das in India, Haitao Yang in China, Juan Valle in Guatemala, Guillermo Catuogno and Juan Chalba in Argentina, and John Borland in Hawaii, are also making significant impacts.

Together, we are powering transformative projects—from solar mini-grids and eco-tourism to solar cold storage, irrigation, rice milling, gemstone cutting, and telehealth—lighting up not just homes, but futures. Our efforts continue with indigenous communities in the Americas, including the Navajo Nation, native Alaskans, and the Asháninca in Peru.

Founders Ray Larsen and Robin Podmore are the visionary leaders behind IEEE Smart Village. Their efforts, supported by the IEEE Nuclear Plasma Sciences Society and the IEEE Power and Energy Society, along with the IEEE Foundation, were the genesis of ISV. In recent years, several other IEEE Societies, including the Industry Applications Society and the Industrial Electronics Society, have joined, amplifying our mission.

To strengthen engagement with the growing number of societies supporting our work, we are launching a Board of Patrons to create deeper connections with our supporters. Besides making a lasting humanitarian impact, we offer IEEE members valuable opportunities for professional growth and showcase how engineering and technology can benefit society.

Our achievements would not be possible without the dedicated volunteers guided by the Executive Committee and our sole staff member, Mike Wilson. Together, we have reached over two million lives, but with nearly one billion people lacking access to electricity, there is much more to do. Growing ISV is essential to address this pressing need as part of IEEE’s Public Imperatives. With your continued volunteer and financial support, I am confident we can reach even more communities and power brighter futures across the globe.

Over the past four years, we’ve made exciting strides toward achieving greater impact by enhancing our sensitivity to the needs and opportunities of the communities we serve. We created five Regional Working Groups—in Africa, China, Latin America, North America, and South Asia—to foster direct engagement with local enterprises and stakeholders. With growing responsibility in these regions, we are better positioned to support underserved populations.

Nine working committees now harmonize our work, focusing on areas like enterprise monitoring, technology, data management, and marketing. We also participate in four regional conferences annually, providing essential networking and career-advancement opportunities for volunteers, developers, and young professionals.

Despite challenges since COVID, we have grown from supporting six enterprises a year to nearly fifteen. Additionally, six task forces are streamlining our internal processes, ensuring year-round momentum. None of this would be possible without the incredible dedication of our volunteers, staff, developers, and supporters.

As we close out the year, I thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s continue to grow together as a unique part of IEEE’s mission—empowering communities and building sustainable futures through enterprise!

Rajan Kapur
President, IEEE Smart Village

AWG-ISV rolls out Year-End Achievements

The Africa Working Group of IEEE Smart Village (AWG ISV) has increased its coverage of the continent. The recent addition of Burundi to its countries of presence increased its reach to 45 of 54 countries in the continent. AWG ISV looks forward to reaching the remaining countries of Djibouti, Comoros Islands, Cape Verde, Eritrea, Gabon, Sao Tome & Principe, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea.

It also looks to identify individuals, developers, businesses, and ventures within these countries to impact the lives of the people of unserved and underserved communities through the use of technology and education to improve their livelihood.

Following the approval for funding of six enterprises within the Working Group, the ISV AWG is pleased to announce the completion and sustained impacts these enterprises are already making within their communities: MEED Renewables: Furana LightUp Project, Kaduna State, Nigeria; WETECH: Establishing an Aquaculture Centre in Malawi; ONE INNOVATION HUB: Connectivity to Uplift Livelihood, Kwara, Nigeria; EPS: Nigeria – Niger Delta – Fixed Energy Rate for Solar Home Systems; Bright Hope Turkana: Natoot Farm Solar Irrigation, Kenya; and Africa Development Promise: Women-led Solar Cold Storage Cooperative, Rwanda.

AWG has received completion and operational notices from the MEED Renewables team, One Innovation Hub team, Bright Hope team and the Africa Development Promise team. These funded projects are recording socio-economic transformation impacts to the communities through the provision of electricity to support improved nighttime illumination, education, businesses, and reduction in the emission of CO2 in Furana community, Kaduna, Nigeria.

The improved crop yield and provision of water in the Natoot community, Kenya for farming and domestic use, to the extended shelf life of agricultural products through the cold room facility in Rwanda, as well as the support of youths in the digital ecosystems through the provision of internet connectivity at an idea incubation hub in Kwara, Nigeria.

Other funded projects such as the Aquaculture center in Malawi and the Fixed Energy rate solar home system project in Nigeria are steadily progressing with the monitoring committee within the Working Group providing the needed support and guidance to the entrepreneurs for success.

It equally received project updates from one of its previously funded projects in DRC. The CAT team is making progress with the Solar Powered Bakery and Milling facility. They shared pictures of the installation of the solar panels and delivery of some other active components for the facility.

The Working Group is also mentoring other young developers who are tackling various challenges within their local communities using technology in different ways. Among the notable entrepreneurs being mentored include:

1. Improving lives through horticulture agribusiness and digital literacy in Senegal
2. Kayoyo wind energy electrification project in Malawi
3. Solar mechanized farming in Ghana
4. Cold chain food storage facility in Liberia
5. Agricultural waste to product using IoT and AI

AWG has also moved to “catch them young” through supporting the establishment of student branches in technical departments of tertiary institutions across Africa and by providing funds to students to execute STEM projects that bring value to humanity and their immediate communities. Some of the beneficiaries and their solutions are listed below:

Project 1:
Title:  Hydrogen Storage System
Description:  Development of a prototype hydrogen storage system in the university laboratory for experimental analysis.
Pillars:  Education, technology/green energy, future enterprise
Branch:  Heliopolis University, Cairo, Egypt

Project 2:
Title: Conversion of a gasoline-powered Tuk Tuk vehicle to an electric vehicle
Description:  Transformation of a traditional gasoline-powered Tuk Tuk into an eco-friendly electric vehicle with the capability of being charged using solar energy. This project touches upon various aspects, contributing to education, entrepreneurship, and sustainable energy solutions.
Pillars: Education, technology/green energy, future enterprise
Branch: University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Project 3:
Title: Development of a solar powered bicycle
Description:  Design and construction of a solar powered bicycle integrated with a battery to store energy during initial cycling stages for later use.
Pillars:  Education, technology/green energy, future enterprise
Branch:  Bayero University Kano, Nigeria

Project 4:
Title: Secondary School Outreach Program: inspiring the future generation to energy systems innovations
Description:  Improvement of biomass innovation to replace traditional open fire technology for cooking: ISV MUBAS SB partnering with MUBAS Innovation Hub to design and develop the energy efficient biomass cooking stove prototype using locally available materials. The prototype will be used for demonstrations during secondary school outreach programs.
Pillars:  Education, technology/green energy, future enterprise
Branch:  Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi

Project 5:
Title: DEER electric scooter project
Description:  Provision of e-scooter sharing service with solar charging stations to make transportation within the residential compounds, touristic cities, resorts, and the universities, smarter, easier and eco-friendly. Pilot stage will be demonstrated within the Nile University campus.
Pillars:  Technology, green energy, future enterprise
Branch:  Nile University, Cairo, Egypt

Project 6:
Title: Aug 26, 2024 – new student branch at Carnegie Mellon University
Branch:  Kigali, Rwanda

In addition to the efforts of the working group, we recently supported in organizing the just concluded 9th IEEE Power Africa Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. Notable activities during the conference include entrepreneurship training workshop, business development workshops, panel sessions with current and previously funded entrepreneurs, presentation sessions by developers and lots of networking sessions for new and prospective developers across the world.

A cross section of pictures from the working group:

Empowerment Through Enterprise: Africa Development Promise, Rwanda

GThe vision of IEEE Smart Village (ISV) is “Empowerment through Enterprise.” ISV supports multi-year initiatives built on three pillars: growing local enterprises based on electrification, and productive use of technology, and enhancing education to improve livelihoods in underserved communities. By supporting local, self-governed, self-sustaining, and scalable enterprises, ISV aims to electrify rural economies to address climate change.

Africa Development Promise (ADP) is a catalyst for economic activity in Rwanda, focusing on building strong, vibrant agricultural cooperatives. These cooperatives, owned and controlled by their members, provide benefit to both the cooperative participants and the larger community.

Kooperative Turwanye Imirire Mibi Rilima (KOTMIR) an ADP-supported cooperative in rural Bugesera District of Rwanda, plays a critical role in combating malnutrition and improving members’ economic status. The 36-member cooperative grows and sells mangoes, avocados, and fruit seedlings. Since 2010, 24 female- and 12 male-members have grown fruit and tree seedlings on 8 hectares of land.

However, KOTMIR members faced economic challenges due to a lack of a cold storage facility. Without proper storage, they experienced waste and lost income. Additionally, they were forced to sell fruit immediately upon ripening often at unfavorable prices dictated by middlemen.

Thanks to generous support from the IEEE Industrial Application Society (IAS), and locally raised funds, ADP enabled KOTMIR to build a cold store and packhouse. This facility is powered by a hybrid 4.3kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system and employs open-source technology. The cold room is equipped with an air conditioner and cool bot temperature regulator, both proven effective by Feed the Future’s Horticulture Innovation Labs.

KOTMIR’s members have developed an innovative business model and governance structure. During harvest time, members use the cold store for their produce. Renting out space on a per crate basis during the rest of the year. Notably, KOTMIR has received offers to buy the facility, which they have wisely rejected. And delightfully, ADP is now receiving requests from other cooperatives for guidance to build similar facilities.

Volunteer support from IEEE members and donations from IEEE Society/Council and their members makes this possible. We welcome IAS members to participate as mentors, monitors, and contributors and to participate in back-office work to grow the impact of IAS in underserved communities.

Newly constructed rooftop solar-powered cold storage and packhouse, Rwanda.

For more information please contact:

Volunteering: Salamatu Sani, salamatu.sani@ieee.org
Donations: Edward Rezek, ed.rezek@verizon.net

Empowerment Through Enterprise: Sustainable Agriculture and Solar Thermal Dried Fruits in Peten, Guatemala

Guatemala is the largest economy in Central America and an upper middle-income country, measured by its GDP per capita (US$14,066.5 in 2023). However, the country’s wealth is unequally distributed, with 55% of the general population and 80% of the rural population living in poverty, defined as living on less than US$2.15 per day. Almost 90% of agricultural land in the country is managed by commercial farms dedicated to export crops including bananas, sugar cane, coffee, and rubber and palm oil. The remaining less fertile land is cultivated by peasant farmers who grow the food crops consumed locally. Since the output of subsistence farms is low, food scarcity and high food prices are common. For instance, while the administrative department of Petén (located in northeast Guatemala) produces 40% of Guatemala’s exported palm oil, there is a chronic malnutrition rate of 25.3% in the region.

To combat this food shortage, a team of engineers with leaders including Juan Valle, President Elect, IEEE Guatemala Section, formed the non-governmental group Asociacion De Emprendedores De POPTUN (AEP: POPTUN Entrepreneurs Association). AEP recently received funding from the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (IES) through IEEE Smart Village to design, develop, and implement a hand-made solar-thermal fruit drying equipment and a solar photovoltaic drip-irrigation system for a permaculture farm in Poptun, Petén. During the first phase of the project, ten indigenous agrarian Maya-Queqchí families will be supported. Also, 100 local school students will benefit from more nutritious food at highly affordable prices and 50 school students will be taught computer education.

Overall expected benefits from this initiative include higher agricultural productivity, water conservation, access to safe water, lower energy cost, reduced carbon emission, job creation and improved education. The irrigation system will boost the farming productivity of corn, beans, vegetables, and fruits. The water system will also produce safe drinking water for agrarian families. The dried fruits will decrease post-harvest losses, increasing income generated from the farms. Community ownership will be ensured by training members of the community to service and maintain the equipment. Financial sustainability will be ensured by charging an affordable rental fee for the water services to the community and by the sale of dried fruits to international tourist agencies in Tikal, Peten.

Thanks to the generous support from the IES that makes this possible. We welcome IES members to participate as enterprise mentors, monitors, and contributors and to participate in back-office work to grow the impact of IES in Peten, Guatemala and other underserved communities.

IEEE Smart Village Activities Summary – IEEE Power Africa Conference

Overview

The IEEE Smart Village (ISV), at the IEEE PES & IAS PowerAfrica Conference in Johannesburg, hosted a series of interactive workshops, presentations, and discussions throughout the week. The activities aimed to foster community-driven entrepreneurship, enhance project development, and strengthen partnerships to advance rural electrification across Africa all geared towards powering villages and empowering lives. Each day’s events focused on crucial themes ranging from governance and scale-up strategies for enterprises to community engagement and technical site tours, providing a complete view of ISV’s impact and initiatives.

Summary of Activities

Monday: IEEE Entrepreneurship Workshop Series

The opening day featured a series of advanced entrepreneurship workshops designed to equip attendees with knowledge on community-centered business strategies for rural energy projects. This covered themes included governance and community ownership for enterprises, an in-depth look at term sheets, negotiation tactics and contract considerations, partnerships, mergers, acquisitions, and value chains and the all-day workshop concluded with critical insights into scaling operations, HR management, and ensuring business continuity through effective cybersecurity and resilience practices.

Tuesday: Presentations from ISV Funded Developers

ISV-funded developers showcased their projects, highlighting the progress, impact, and challenges faced in implementing rural electrification initiatives. The presentations from over 14 enterprises fully underscored ISV’s three pillars, i.e. education, enterprise, and productive use of technology, while showing its commitment to supporting sustainable, community-led energy solutions.

Wednesday: Panel and ISV Committee Presentation

Keynote Presentation by IEEE Smart Village President: Dr. Rajan Kapur, ISV President, gave a keynote speech on ISV’s mandates, goals and vision and encouraged all to be a part of the community.

Panel Session on Rural Electrification – Challenges and Opportunities: An interactive discussion addressing the obstacles and prospects in rural electrification, with contributions from sector experts and community representatives.

ISV Committee Presentations: Presentations from various ISV committees offered insights into ongoing projects and strategic areas:

• Project Development Committee: Highlighted current projects and plans for new rural energy initiatives.
• Education Committee: Presented efforts to integrate energy literacy and STEM education into community programs.
• Standards, Quality, Reliability, and Safety (SQRS): Discussed protocols ensuring that projects meet international safety and quality standards.
• Regional Working Groups: Shared regional projects, adaptations, and collaborations to tackle local challenges effectively.
• Marketing Committee: Explained strategies for raising awareness of ISV’s mission and expanding its reach.
• HealthTech (ad hoc): Explored applications in healthcare such as telemedicine and reliable power for medical facilities as well as the importance of community resource centers in rural areas.
• Operations Committee: Provided updates on ISV’s operational support and resources to ensure project sustainability.

Thursday: Keynote and Special Presentations

Keynote by IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board (HTB) Chair: The Chair of IEEE HTB, Lwanga Herbert, provided an inspiring keynote on humanitarian technologies, underscoring the transformative role of IEEE in global development.

Special presentations from invited guests and potential partners and invited organizations presented their missions, exploring opportunities for collaboration with ISV. These discussions set the groundwork for future partnerships aimed at expanding energy access in underserved regions, including RePower and Mobility for Africa.

The representatives of RePower, Moritz Brauchle of Africa GreenTec and Carl Kies from Blue Nova, focused on a new electrification approach for unserved regions, highlighting their unique approach, challenges and other lessons learnt during the microgrid project in Madagascar.

Shantha Bloemen, CEO of Mobility for Africa, focused on the deployment of electric vehicles called Hamba in rural areas in Zambia and other parts of southern Africa to aid transportation in rural areas whilst also serving as a means of empowerment for women in those areas.

Friday: Technical Tour to CSIR

The ISV delegates visited the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to observe cutting-edge research and development projects in renewable energy and sustainable technologies. This tour offered attendees practical insights into technological advancements and innovations in energy.

Saturday: Workshops and Technical Tour

Morning Workshops by Project Development and SQRS Committees
These workshops allowed participants to engage directly with project planning, quality assurance, and safety measures essential for rural energy projects.

Presentations from Potential ISV Developers/Volunteers
Prospective ISV developers and volunteers shared their ideas and experiences, fostering a collaborative environment for future ISV projects.

Afternoon Technical Tour to Square Mall, Midstream Estate
The day concluded with a tour of Square Mall, where attendees observed sustainable design and energy-efficient installations that can inspire future projects geared towards building smart communities.

Conclusion

ISV’s comprehensive program at the PowerAfrica Conference offered ISV delegates, old friends and new talent alike in-depth knowledge and valuable connections to advance rural electrification and community development. It also showcased the impacts of ISV to general public and IAS Participants. The week-long event demonstrated ISV’s dedication to fostering sustainable, resilient, and community-centered solutions that address energy access across Africa. The collaborations, knowledge sharing, and hands-on experiences from this conference lay a strong foundation for impactful initiatives in the years to come.

ISV Photos from the PowerAfrica Conference:

IEEE Smart Village – #IEEEGivingTuesday Campaign

We are raising funds to support IEEE Smart Village this Giving Tuesday. Will you join us in empowering communities worldwide through sustainable energy and education?

IEEE Smart Village (ISV) has a unique approach to support the world’s energy-impoverished communities by providing a comprehensive solution combining renewable energy, community-based education, and entrepreneurial opportunities. ISV provides seed-funding to carefully selected community entrepreneurs based upon a credible business plan that will impact a significant number of people with electricity, education, and jobs.

Our initiatives have transformed countless lives by providing renewable energy solutions, fostering education, and driving entrepreneurship in off-grid and underserved communities. With initiatives spanning Africa, Asia, and beyond, the program combines electrification with skills training to create lasting change.

ISV entrepreneurs are true heroes. They have learned to build the confidence and support of their local communities. But this heroic team is incomplete without you. By donating, you can help bring energy, technology and learning to those who need it most, enabling families to thrive, children to study after dark, and entrepreneurs to grow their businesses—all while promoting sustainable development.

Together, we can advance our mission of changing lives, powering villages and empowering communities. Join us in making a difference!

Visit: https://secure.ieeefoundation.org/goto/ISV24

See Upcoming Meetings & Conferences where ISV is participating

IEEE Smart Village (ISV) is a public charity that has a unique approach to support the world’s energy-impoverished communities by providing a comprehensive solution combining renewable energy, community-based education, and entrepreneurial opportunities. It provides seed-funding to carefully selected community entrepreneurs based upon a credible business plan that will impact a significant number of people with electricity, education, and jobs.

See the upcoming activities of the organization below:

• IEEE Meeting Series
  November 20-23, 2024 – Dallas, TX
  February 12-17, 2025 – Bellevue, WA
  June 25-30, 2025 – Chicago, IL
  November 19-24, 2025 – New York, NY

The IEEE Meeting Series takes place three times per year and comprises a series of administrative meetings of the IEEE Board of Directors, the major organizational unit (OU) boards, and the various standing committees of both the IEEE Board and OUs. Announcement of the Series and its opportunity to register for attendance are distributed via an electronic invitation process to the volunteer leadership and staff whose attendance is requested.

IEEE Conferences, Events & Experiences (CEE) is responsible for the overall event management, the invitation distribution process as provided by the individual OU and IEEE Board staff liaisons, as well as the registration and hotel accommodations process.

Please contact IEEE Conferences, Events & Experiences (CEE) for any inquiries pertaining to the Series at

ieeemeetingseries@ieee.org or via phone at +1 732 562 6873, Jacqueline Armstrong, Director, CEE.

• IEEE PES Grid Edge Technologies
  January 21-23, 2025 – San Diego, CA

IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) Grid Edge Technologies Conference & Exposition will be returning to San Diego, California for the 2025 edition.  Building on the success of the inaugural 2023 event, it will once again host a collaborative forum, connecting leading organizations essential to enhancing the productivity, efficiency, and interoperability of the grid.

Please contact pes-gridedge@ieee.org for any questions.

• IEEE PES General Meeting
  July 27-31 –  Austin, TX

The premier power engineering conference, IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting, will bring together practicing power engineers and academics from all over the world. The aim of the conference is to provide an international forum for experts to promote, share, and discuss various issues and developments in the field of electrical power engineering.

• ISV at PowerAfrica Conference 2025
  September 28 – October 4 – Cairo, Egypt

The PowerAfrica Conference is dedicated to addressing the unique challenges and opportunities present on the African continent, focusing on power systems integration, business models, technological advances, policies, and regulatory frameworks.