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Field Ready's Capabilities

We believe that by making useful things, we can make the world a better place. We manufacture supplies locally in the field so that people have what they need, where and when they need it. The impact of this is more people helped - better, faster and cheaper.
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Making &
Makerspaces
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Training
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Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
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Health
Medical Supplies

Innovation

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Livelihoods
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Protection
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NFIs
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Search & Rescue
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Risk Reduction
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Digital

In the News

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Field Ready in Action

Field Ready, with the support of the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) – USAID and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), is making important strides in rapid response. To help reduce the risk of disasters, we are strengthening local manufacturing capabilities and supplies for humanitarian response and recovery in the Solomon Islands. Field Ready recently conducted assessments, manufacturer mapping, and meetings with relevant partners. Then a one-day workshop was held that brought together the Government, NGOs, CSOs, local manufacturers, suppliers, and businesses to discuss localizing humanitarian supplies, particularly Non-Food Items (NFIs) that can be built for purpose and suits the Solomon Islands context. During the workshop, Field Ready presented the findings to the stakeholders in the context of the Solomon Islands. The Solomon Islands government stakeholders were interested in its use in disaster response and, during normal times to be deployed to remote communities to perform infrastructure and community repair works. All stakeholders were interested in the potential of 3D printers in disaster response as well as the implied manufacturing capabilities and requested follow-up training workshops focused on 3D printer setup and Computer Aided Design modeling. Technical Innovations for Disaster Response Field Ready introduced the stakeholders to manufacturing innovations, tools and equipment, and WASH products. Specifically: Field Latrine The stakeholders were briefed on the Field Ready product development process by being introduced to the Field Latrine and the design stages it went through. Stakeholders were especially interested in the emphasis placed on product monitoring and evaluation and how the feedback attained was used to improve the end-user product further. The Field Latrine presentations included an installation demonstration where all the site location requirements and tools needed for installation were used. The stakeholders were excited about the design and installation process of the Field Latrine. There were a few concerns about the material's strength and durability as well as the local acceptance of the product. However, after hearing about the monitoring and feedback systems used in Fiji and Vanuatu all stakeholders were eager to deploy the Field Latrine to communities in need in the Solomon Islands. 3D Printing and Disaster Response The stakeholders were introduced to the 3D printing process and invited to get a closer look at a 3D printer in action for demonstration purposes. The Field Ready Engineer demonstrated the printer setup process and Computer Aided Design (CAD) modeling software. A question-and-answer session was held during which alternative power supply in the field was discussed, along with the outdoor application of printed parts and the limitations of the 3D printing process. Mobile Makerspace Field Ready presented the Mobile Makerspace, currently still under development. The Mobile Makerspace is essential to improve disaster response efficiency in the Pacific. In fact, this type of response mechanism one of Field Ready's first concepts back in 2012. The design behind the Makerspace, the features, and the specialist equipment like the form roller, guttering machine, and the types of 3D printers that will be part of the mobile unit were all presented to the audience. The technical specifications of the Mobile Makerspace, including dimensions, weights, power supply, materials, and cost, were all discussed extensively. The stakeholders were amazed by the Disaster Response innovations presented by Field Ready. They pledged to facilitate demand for locally made products and Field Ready will continue to engage closely with MECDM and large aid agencies such as UNICEF, Red Cross, and INGOs. This will help to ensure products are responsive to local priorities and meet (or inform) local standards. This will also promote adoption of local manufacturing solutions into national and agency level plans and policies.

MANUFACTURING FOR DISASTER RESPONSE in HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS

Field Ready, with the support of the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) – USAID and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change,...

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The United Nations designated 21 April as World Creativity and Innovation Day to raise awareness of the role of creativity and innovation in all aspects of human development. Field Ready’s focus on locally manufactured Innovations for relief items has been the most sustainable approach for timely response to affected vulnerable populations. This approach requires Field Ready to sidestep the reliance on complex traditional international supply chains and empower local manufacturers to make humanitarian supplies right in the field instead. Field Ready has supported local production of everything from medical device repairs to WASH items, PPE, feminine hygiene supplies, rescue equipment, locally mass-produced buckets, latrine slabs, and even a robotic firefighter. The local communities can access high-tech applications, such as three-dimensional (3D) printing, and well innovation hubs and maker spaces. Local production also uses low-tech solutions that are environmentally friendly, such as producing goods from recycled and local materials like plastic waste that is available and affordable locally. Innovation is about changing the approaches to work, Eric James, the founder and CEO of Field Ready Organisation, said. "For Field Ready, "aid" doesn't start and stop with disaster and conflict. If there's a humanitarian need, Field Ready is interested in finding a locally made and sustainable solution - whether that means helping rural communities in the Pacific region find innovative ways to tackle hygiene and sanitation issues or training people in digital manufacturing and design or health education." Field Ready continues to push the boundaries of what's possible with disaster aid, local manufacturing, and post-conflict/post-disaster development. Check out the Field Ready innovations below. Humanitarian Innovations contribute to better and more efficient ways to manage relief challenges. We encourage collaborations within and beyond the humanitarian community through Innovation hubs, maker spaces, and open-source designing. Field Ready continues to innovate scalable solutions to respond to and, more importantly, prevent humanitarian crises. Innovation has been the backbone of all our developments since our inception. We acknowledge all the different partners that we partner with to develop Innovative solutions. The humanitarian crises we face today are complex, and one has to consider the political, social, economic, and environmental aspects when designing relief solutions. Field Read Organisation Joins the world today to Celebrate World Creativity and Innovation Day.

World Creativity and Innovation Day 21 April

The United Nations designated 21 April as World Creativity and Innovation Day to raise awareness of the role of creativity and innovation...

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Field Ready designed and locally manufactured emergency latrines ready for distribution to evacuation centers On March 2nd, 2023 a Severe Tropical Cyclone Judy passed through the islands of Vanuatu from north to south, entering the country as a Category 3 cyclone, and strengthening to Category 4 as it made landfall along six main and several smaller islands, including the capital city Port Vila. The storm’s destructive winds uprooted trees, damaged roofs and roads, and caused 500 displacements, and a total of 150,000 people were affected with no deaths reported. The number of damaged buildings closed schools, and affected medical facilities are not yet determined although it is estimated that more than 50 percent of houses were damaged in rural Efate Island while in urban Port-Vila, at least 20 percent of houses were damaged, and there were widespread power outages and internet reception disruption in the affected central Island of Efate, Shepherd Island, Epi, and southern islands of Erramango, Tanna, Aneityum, and Futuna. With barely time to recover in less than 48 hours, a second Severe Tropical Cyclone Kevin was bearing down on the country passing through from northwest to southeast. Kevin also made landfall on the island of Efate as a Category 4 storm. This severely damaged Port Vila and continued south with major damage to the southern islands. Assessments to establish the extent of damage are still ongoing in the capital city Port Vila and throughout Vanuatu's islands. As it battled its second major cyclone in a week, the government of Vanuatu declared a 6-month state of emergency on Friday, March 3rd, 2023. The twin cyclones brought into view the growing reality of climate-induced disasters faced by Pacific Island nations.  Heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and floods destroyed the WASH infrastructure. Field Ready’s work in the South Pacific involves the construction of infrastructure such as water tanks, pumps, latrines, and “Better Buckets” for easy access to reliable safe drinking water. The Field Ready team also educates the communities about good hygiene practices and how to operate and maintain the Installed WASH infrastructure for sustainability. Field Ready’s Response Field Ready Australia is coordinating the collection and distribution of donations to specific communities in Vanuatu in response to severe Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin a fortnight ago. There are four specific actions that we are supporting, and we invite interested individuals and organizations to contribute accordingly. Emergency sanitation Field Ready’s WASH specialist Viliame Kaivei based in Fiji is supporting the government’s Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Emergency cluster in assessing and providing emergency sanitation. They have requested Field Ready to deliver and install 500 of our Field Latrines, a specialized product designed and developed for emergency sanitation in the Pacific Island environment. It is now manufactured in the region with partner Rotomould Ltd. With the support of the New Zealand government, Field Ready is currently installing the first 100 emergency toilets for schools and community centers around Vanuatu where people are currently displaced. Field Ready partnered with Engineers Without Borders to immediately conduct a rapid on-the-ground training for 10 emergency responders from the WASH Cluster, on how to install the Field Latrines. A further 400 Field Latrines will be manufactured in Fiji in the coming weeks for communities during the rebuilding phase and will depend on additional funding support availability. Tim Vosailagi Constructing one of the Field latrines to be delivered to the evacuation centers on Tanna island The Field Ready regional team in Fiji is providing remote relief backup advice. It will deploy a 2-person team to Vanuatu with tool kits to assist in specialized repair and reconstruction of the water and sanitation infrastructure as identified from the needs assessments currently being carried out by the Ministry of Health. Mafi, the Field Ready program coordinator for the pacific, said: “Attention to WASH is a fundamental priority for the community, not just during disasters like this one, but every day and everywhere. I am glad to note that Field Ready has been a driving force for WASH infrastructure and systems in the Pacific region and has provided technical support for over five years.” Mobile repair and manufacturing facility (Mobile Makerspace) Field Ready is also developing a custom-built mobile workshop on wheels that can be towed by 4WD or helicoptered into remote communities. It is fully set up with tools for repairing and constructing a wide range of items, including a 3D printer for rapid component fabrication. It will focus primarily on repairing water supply, and sanitation infrastructure, including manufacturing galvanized iron rainwater roof guttering for communities to start harvesting fresh water immediately. The mobile maker space is 3 months away from being ready. With $15,000 we could accelerate this process and have it ready in a few weeks. Leweton Community The Leweton community is based in rural Santo. The women of the Leweton community are the custodians of the unique customary water music and have performed worldwide. Their gardens were destroyed by the cyclones and there is extensive damage to houses and village infrastructure. You can read about the community here: https://leweton.weebly.com. Assistance will help them with short-term food sustenance and rebuilding their gardens. Lokol Eyes This small community organization is based in Santo owned and operated by the ni-Vanuatu people. They work with a community in Gaua to establish a shipping passage and wharf, a community center, and psychosocial support programs for the local community. Their current needs are principally related to water and sanitation - they have requested funds for a solar power pump, water tanks, roofing, and guttering for freshwater harvesting. Lokol Eyes was set up by Delly Roy Nalo: https://www.spc.int/70-inspiring-pacific-women/dely-roy-nalo Field Ready has worked in the South Pacific for the past five years. Each year, we respond to disasters by providing locally manufactured relief items primarily related to WASH. We also focus much of our efforts on local innovative disaster-preventative solutions to prepare communities for disasters, especially weather-related and other natural hazards such as volcano eruptions, tsunamis, and earthquakes. Our activities in the Pacific region are made possible with support from the USAID Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance through our project Rapid Response Manufacturing in the Pacific. The initial assessments indicate Shefa and Tafea provinces are the worst hit by the cyclonic winds, affecting 150,000 people and potentially impacting WASH services. Field Ready still requires more support and partnerships to respond to the disaster in Vanuatu effectively. The Tropical cyclones have affected the existing hygiene behavior practices in communities. If safe water access is not prioritized, the overcrowded evacuation centers may create chances for disease outbreaks, including spreading waterborne diseases. The cyclones impacted the WASH facilities and infrastructure; therefore, the ability of people to sustain hygienic practices has been significantly affected. Some of the Field Latrines are ready to be delivered to the evacuation center on Tanna island Ravulo, the Field Ready Program Manager for the Pacific Region, said, “The latrines provided by Field Ready are very effective sanitation systems because they isolate human excreta from the surrounding environment and prevent the transmission of diseases. In addition to improving sanitation, the latrines are cheaper, quicker to install, and easier to clean.” In Vanuatu, Field Ready is a registered charity with DGR status. All donations are tax-deductible. If you choose to donate and you wish to see your support directed to one of the specific actions listed above, please indicate this in your transaction reference or via email to: tommy [at] ethosglobal.org.au or luke [at] fieldready.org Please donate through our website or by using the button below:

Field Ready-Vanuatu: Response to Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin

Field Ready designed and locally manufactured emergency latrines ready for distribution to evacuation centers On March 2nd, 2023 a Severe...

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Catalog

Our parts Catalog provides essential details for 100+ useful products. This user-friendly Catalog enables technology specialists and non-specialists to talk about the same items and consider issues such as readiness and risks.

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Field Ready Book

This new book covers the essentials of humanitarian innovation. With contributions from over two dozen leaders in the field, including Field Ready's Executive Director, Dr. Eric James, this sets a new standard on how to make real change.

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