1) Identify two SPECIFIC funding sources for the design phase of your project and two SPECIFIC funding sources for the dissemination
* Design phase:
AlmaU (more indirect – through the salaries of the workers)
We will try to work with AlmaU’s IT department to develop the app. The employees will be funded by the school to work on the project with us.
Grants will help give us money for people who help through the development process. These funds will also help us pay for any fees involved with the development of an app on a platform.
US Embassy Small Grants Program Kazakhstan
EPA Environmental Education Grants
EPA Air Grants and Funding
Possible grants from Kazakhstan’s local government (still needs more research)
*Dissemination phase:
Local government grants – the grant can be used towards App advertisement in Almaty to popularize the App and providing an environmentally-focused app funding can also improve the government’s image on approaching environmental issues.
Insurance Company/Large Enterprise/Hospitals – these corporations can brand themselves with the App by supporting the distribution phase through day to day contact with the residents and also establish later partnerships for advertising themselves in the App in a later stage.
2) Identify five specific partnerships that you need to forge to advance your project forward with the ultimate goal of positive impact
Local Insurance Company
Insurance companies may be willing to work with us because the risk of their customers would decrease if the customers would use our services. By avoiding particulate matter they would be less prone to lung disease which would be beneficial for the insurance company and the customers.
Large Enterprises in Kazakhstan
It is in our best interest to target companies who have a large number of employees, have the funds to pay for an app like this, and have an interest in a positive public image (which large well known companies generally want). We will contact big mining companies, banks and consumer goods companies to see if they would be interested in adding our app as a feature of their healthcare or just as a requirement in being an employee.
https://www.glassdoor.com/Explore/browse-companies.htm?overall_rating_low=3.5&page=1&isHiringSurge=0&locId=1505&locType=M&locName=Almaty,%20Kazakhstan%20Area
Kazakhstan Ministry of Health
The Kazakhstan Ministry of Health would be interested in our app because we would be able to help their patients who are already at high risk avoid particulate matter which would prevent their conditions from worsening. We would sell subscriptions to the hospitals and they would provide our services to the patients directly. This partnership is also critical to achieve scale because it would allow us to reach a mass amount of our target customers, possibly at a discounted price (because of the mass quantity of subscriptions) which would make our app even more appealing.
Environmental Management Department in Kazakhstan
Since our venture is directed towards avoiding the consequences of poor air pollution, the environmental management department would take interest in our initiative. Partnering with the environmental management department in Kazakhstan would help achieve scale by reaching the citizens of Almaty who are passionate about the environment and would take interest in our initiative.
Local Civil Organizations and Community Activist
There are existing organizations, NGOs, and community activists in Almaty. Partnering with these organizations will help us to expand our reach and potential customer base. Almaty Urban Air, a non-profit in Almaty, is focused on demanding action from the government on air quality issues. Almaty Urban Air has also gathered a group of other organizations to help in these efforts. These organizations and activists can also help ensure our project is having optimal, positive impact in Almaty.