Kopernik

How can my organization be part of Kopernik?

Technology seekers interested in becoming part of Kopernik can do so by filling out the proposal and registration form downloadable here. Kopernik will review the application and conduct due diligence to determine whether your organization meets the requirements of Kopernik.

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 USD 5,000 for technology cost. Additional cost such as international shipping will be added to the project budget by Kopernik.

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 obtain a quote and 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. Proposals requesting technologies not featured on the Kopernik website will not be funded.

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:

1. Selling the products at a locally appropriate price, with locally appropriate payment scheme.
2. Renting the products.
3. 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 warranty and returns policy. These are clearly listed in the warranty and returns policy tab on the technology detail page.

What if the product doesn’t work as well as I expected?

If the product is faulty, please refer to the warranty and returns policy (see 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 technology 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 technology 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?

1. First, you will need to inform us that the products have arrived.
2. 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. This quarterly report is downloadable here.
3. If the implementation period is less than 3 months, you will need to submit one report within 3 months of receiving the products. This final report is downloadable here. A Project Officer will also contact you monthly for a brief update on the project's progress.
4. You are required to send good quality photos of the technology in use.

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.

We also have Kopernik fellow programme, in which fellows spend at least 2 months in Kopernik project sites, and conduct monitoring and rapid impact assessment of Kopernik supported projects. We also have a team of independent monitors who conduct monitoring visits to selected projects.