3 key innovations from PIND that are saving lives and improving the livelihoods of people in the Niger Delta region.

Non Profits will play a critical role in shaping the future, we will need more Non-profits who are willing to go after tough problems in ingenious ways, that is why today I will be  highlighting 3 remarkable solutions that PIND has deployed in her bid to improve the livelihood and peaceful existence of thousands of Niger Deltans.

PIND fully known as Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta is a not-for-profit organization established in 2010 with a mission offering to build partnerships that can drive peace, human capital development and wealth creation across the nine states of the region.

Here are 3 Key remarkable innovations from PIND’s that is improving the Livelihoods thousands of Niger Deltans.

1. The Chorkor Oven – Improving Fish processing and combating climate change.

In the Niger Delta, a common delicacy is the dry fish which typically requires long amounts of time spent smoking the fish, human exposure to smoke and contribution to emissions, the Chorkor oven is a practicable solution to increasing efficiency and quality of fish smoked as well as reducing health risk of exposure to smoke/burns.  Made up of a smoke chamber, which is the oven, and a smoke tray where the fishes are laid and dried over the oven, the Chorkor oven is a low fuel consumption oven when compared to traditional smoke pits or ovens and is suitable for processing fish and poultry alike.
Constructed using materials such as kneaded clay (clay balls), cement bricks, clay or stabilized earth bricks, burnt clay bricks or hydra form compressed bricks, wood, wire mesh and nails (fish trays), using the Chorkor oven contributes to climate change adaptation because forest depletion is reduced. In addition, its processing time and quantity is faster and higher with up to 200-300 kg of fish at a time (depending on number of chambers and tray) compared to traditional ovens that can take less than 50-70 kg. it’s also very durable with a lifespan of at least 5 years of use.

2 : ATED Center –  Sustainable housing infrastructure

Housing needs will always be an inevitable part of human existence as societies evolve but an emerging conversation that requires direction is the conversation of the types of houses that are being built and how safe and sustainable they are for the future. This is where PIND comes in.

To proffer a solution that improves construction practices as well as provides cost-effective housing infrastructure models, PIND introduced the Appropriate Technology Enabled Development (ATED) demonstration center- a pilot housing innovation that seeks to promote the adoption of energy-efficient homes in the Niger Delta region. A primary characteristic of the ATED project is the drive for sustainability which is why the pilot building is set up as a training center to teach stakeholders who can then replicate in the local community.

Using multiple locally-appropriate technologies, methods and construction materials, the ATED building is characterized by reduced energy consumption, a brilliant air exchange system, controlled internal and external heat, water saving and waste management facilities which ultimately provides the remarkable combination of comfort and efficient energy homes.

3: BioSand Filter – Water processing technology providing access to clean drinking water.

Water is a premium commodity in the region as a result of the pollution of water bodies caused by oil exploration activities, to combat this problem, PIND innovated a low-cost solution called the Biosand filter. This filter ensures access to clean and safe water sources. It is a 1m tall and 0.3m wide container made up of concrete or plastic. Filled with layers of specially selected prepared sand and gravel, it works by a filtration technique which is a simple and effective means of removing disease-causing microorganisms from contaminated water. This is a practicable Point-of-Use water treatment technology effective at the household level.

The filter has undergone intensive experimentation both on the field and in labs. It has been proven to remove up to 100% of helminths or worms as we call them, up to 100% of protozoa, 98.5% of bacteria and between 70-99% of viruses! The filter can also remove up to 95% of dirt and cloudiness, and up to 95% of iron which most people dislike because of its discoloration effect.

I do believe that PIND’s work is powerful in the potential it holds for widespread impact on sustainable livelihoods if replicated in communities outside the Niger Delta region and is quite inspirational for individuals, organizations and even governments that want to shape the future.