A Feasibility Study Process for Humanitarian Engineering Systematically increasing the Social Impact for a Swedish NGO

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dc.contributor.authorJonasson, Amanda
dc.contributor.authorPettersson, Sara
dc.contributor.departmentChalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för industri- och materialvetenskapsv
dc.contributor.departmentChalmers University of Technology / Department of Industrial and Materials Scienceen
dc.contributor.examinerAlmefelt, Lars
dc.contributor.supervisorMallalieu, Adam
dc.date.accessioned2023-09-22T15:03:42Z
dc.date.available2023-09-22T15:03:42Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.date.submitted2023
dc.description.abstractThe ongoing humanitarian and climate crisis arising around the world has increased the need for volunteers and Non-Governmental Organizations working to help the communities most in need. To meet the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) there is a need to ensure sustainable development in all areas of the world. Aiding the communities of the world most in need by laying a strong foundation for them to build a sustainable future is a necessary action to meet the SDGs. One of the organizations working to achieve this is Engineers Without Borders Sweden (EWB-SWE), an organization working to solve challenges related to inequality and global development. Their Humanitarian Engineering work aims to improve the living standard of low-income communities and ensure access to basic services. This thesis is derived as part of EWB-SWE’s goal to improve their internal work pro cess in order to ensure choosing the projects where they can have the most positive social impact. This involves using their resources in the most efficient and effective way to develop long-term sustainable solutions. To achieve this a Feasibility Study will aid them in deciding which projects to take on. The aim of this master thesis is to deliver an improved process with methods and tools to benefit EWB-SWE’s Feasibility Study. This will broaden the solution space and ensure the development of sustainable solutions. The methodology for this thesis is divided into four phases. The first phase, Prob lem Contextualization, concerns collecting knowledge about Humanitarian En gineering and EWB-SWE through a literature study, an empirical study, and a qualitative study including interviews. The second phase, Exploration, concerns finding suitable Product Development methods and tools suitable for a FS. The methods and tools gathered in phase two and the knowledge from phase one are then combined into an initial concept in the third phase, Concept Development. Lastly, the fourth phase, Finalization, is where the final concept is developed in detail, evaluated through workshops, and, lastly, delivered to EWB-SWE as a pro cess with a related report template. The final Feasibility Study process is documented in a Feasibility Study Report with tailored methods and tools to fit the context of EWB-SWE and Humanitarian Engineering. It is divided into seven steps and it is structured to widen the solution space in order for the project team to develop the best solution for the community. For some methods and tools, a developed template to support the project teams is provided as well. To evaluate the sustainability of a potential solution a simplified Sustainability Fingerprint Tool is developed with specific criteria defined based on the findings in the researched Humanitarian Engineering. In conclusion, this master thesis has resulted in identifying important aspects to con sider in Humanitarian Engineering, mapping of EWB-SWE’s project process, and a developed Feasibility Study process with tailored Product Development methods and tools. As the process is developed for an organization mainly run by volunteers some steps had to be simplified, such as the Sustainability Fingerprint Tool. Also, the final Feasibility Study process promotes co-creation with the partner and en hances community engagement to create local ownership and a solution that will be maintained and sustained. The Feasibility Study has shown promising results but needs to be tested through case studies in order to validate if it fulfills its intended purpose.
dc.identifier.coursecodeIMSX30
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12380/307085
dc.language.isoeng
dc.setspec.uppsokTechnology
dc.subjectSustainable Development, Humanitarian Engineering, Engineers With out Borders, Social Impact, Feasibility Study, Sustainable Product Development Methods and Tools, Context Analysis
dc.titleA Feasibility Study Process for Humanitarian Engineering Systematically increasing the Social Impact for a Swedish NGO
dc.type.degreeExamensarbete för masterexamensv
dc.type.degreeMaster's Thesisen
dc.type.uppsokH
local.programmeProduct development (MPPDE), MSc
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