The VBTS team works to install a system in rural Papua. Unlike other telecommunications infrastructure, VBTS does not require
multiple connections or expensive equipment.
contacts in the industry. Agung immediately saw how he could fill a critical
gap within the VBTS Technology’s innovation team. “I wanted to get involved
in development, and promote technology for development. I met all the
requirements, the project needed me and I had an interest in the project as well.”
The VBTS initiative already had incredible engineering, infrastructure and
computer science talent on their team, as well as a successful pilot in Papua,
Indonesia, under their belt. Still, they knew they needed another perspective for
the next step of their project. “They had a great result from the pilot in Papua,”
explained Agung, “but they lacked a business perspective. My job was to build
a commercialization plan for the company.” Agung swiftly relized the benefits
of collaborative work in the development innovation field: “There is a gap in
the engineering field for business analysis and market assessment. What works
from a technical perspective might not be applicable in the business situation
because of things like regulatory constraints or applicability factors.” Despite
his lack of technical engineering experience, by combining his local knowledge,
experience, passion, and MBA coursework, Agung proved a necessary ingredient
to the project implementation process for the product of a team of engineers.
Increasing rural energy access in India and Kenya
As the Partnerships Manager for CEGA, an international development center at
UC Berkeley, Carson Christiano spends her days facilitating relationships between
organizations, academics, and international affiliates in the promotion of international
development. Despite her already demanding job, when she heard about DIL’s
electrification initiatives in Kenya and India, she immediately wanted to get involved.
“My expertise since graduate school has been on impact evaluation. But my previous
work in Kenya with International Poverty Action (IPA), and at the Public Policy
school at UC Berkeley were both very interdisciplinary. So, when we talked about
the energy program in Kenya and India, it seemed like a natural fit for me to step in
and help coordinate between social scientists and government and private partners.”
Indeed the project involved many actors and complex considerations. In Kenya,
the DIL initiative aimed to make access to already available electrical infrastructure
more affordable for rural citizens. In India, the team was installing economically
sustainable solar-electric infrastructure in remote areas without prior electricity
grids. Carson worked to navigate relationships with the many stakeholders,
from government supporters to for-profit start-up partners, all amidst two very
different project contexts. Her main role was to “maintain the quality of a rigorous
research design while also accommodating the very specific needs of a forprofit enterprise and a government enterprise.” Though the experience reached
beyond her own background, the project taught her a lot, and she was able to
contribute in unique and valuable ways, “I had no experience with rural electricity
and generation,” she admitted. “But I love fieldwork. It’s been a real benefit to
me to have that experience and keep one foot in the field. It also benefits my
ability in my other work for DIL and CEGA when trying to design programs.”
Top Photo: Carson Christiano visits a solar microgrid site in rural
Nyanza Province, Kenya, with an IPA field manager and a village
elder. Bottom Photo: A line-up of batteries for rural electrification.
Since joining the project, Carson has made several trips to the field
to work with various stakeholders.
The world is a complex place, and DIL recognizes that successful development innovation captures this diversity.
Across the UC Berkeley campus, DIL demands a rethinking of development innovation projects to include not only
the question of “What’s your discipline?” but, perhaps more importantly, to ask “What’s your passion?” Along with
the Big Ideas@Berkeley student innovation competition and other experience- driven programs, IdeaLabs, and
other experience-driven programs, DIL reaches out into the community to draw passionate, skilled people into DIL
projects. This exchange of skills enriches the projects, the participants, and the development innovation community.