For Tech Seekers
How can my organization be part of Kopernik?
Technology seekers interested in becoming part of Kopernik can do so by filling out the registration form downloadable here. Once the registration form is submitted, Kopernik will review the application and conduct due diligence to determine whether the organization meets the requirements of Kopernik. If your organization is accepted, we will let you know and you can then begin submitting proposals.
What is the ceiling of the project budget, or the maximum amount my organization can submit a proposal for?
At this stage we are accepting proposals up to USD5,000 (this includes product and shipping costs). As part of our ongoing pilot we have invited select organizations to submit proposals that exceed that limit.
How do I find out how much shipping will cost?
Once you have completed the proposal you can submit the draft to Kopernik and we will calculate the shipping costs for you.
What can my organization include in the proposal?
Kopernik only finances the cost of the products featured on the Kopernik website as well as international shipping costs. This means that the cost of domestic transportation and other related costs needs to be borne by the organization (e.g. public awareness activities, domestic distribution costs and in some cases additional customs clearance charges). Commodity products, such as ordinary desktop computers, fuel and vehicles will not be funded as Kopernik only helps to distribute break-through technologies.
What are the requirements for a proposal to be included on Kopernik?
Kopernik generally will not support those proposals from tech seekers that simply give products away for free. We encourage all tech seekers to devise a system of distribution, which could include the following:
- Selling the products at a locally appropriate price.
- Renting the products.
- Developing a lease to buy system.
This is not an exhaustive list and we look forward to more creative ways of sustainable use of the technologies.
What if the technology breaks?
Each technology provider has their own maintenance and warranty provisions. These are clearly listed on the downloadable form on the technology provider page.
What if the product doesn’t work as well as I expected?
If the product is faulty, please refer to the maintenance and warranty provisions (above). However, if the product is functioning but just doesn’t work as well as you expected, or is not appropriate to your context, we want to hear about it. Each tech seeker is required to rate, and provide feedback on the usefulness and functionality of the technology. This feedback will be made public so that other tech seekers can see how the product is received. Kopernik will only feature those technologies that truly work in a developing context and your feedback is critical to making this happen.
What kind of reporting requirement is there?
- First, you will need to inform us by email that the products have arrived.
- If the implementation period is longer than 3 months (as outlined in proposal) you will need to submit a report every three months of the duration of the project as well as a final report.
- If the implementation period is less than 3 months, you will need to submit one report within 3 months of receiving the products.
We have a simple reporting format downloadable here.
Individual donors (supporters) who financed your project will rate the quality and timeliness of your progress report. If your supporters are satisfied with your report, you are likely to have a higher rating on your organisation. In other words, failure to provide satisfactory reports would result in lower rating of your organisation, which will affect the prospect of your organisation’s future funding through Kopernik.
Monitoring
- We are selecting local partner organizations in the countries that we are engaged in that will conduct monitoring of Kopernik supported projects.
- We are in the process of establishing a network of Kopernik monitors who will conduct spot-checks of selected technology seekers.
Sustainability review
Kopernik will conduct a sustainability review one to two years after completion of selected projects. We want to know what difference the technologies have made to people’s lives, whether they are still functioning and in use, and if not, why not.
Is there a specific form for project proposal?
Yes, the 2 page project proposal format can be downloadable here.