The problem

Studies show that livestock subjected under direct heat from the sun experience major heat stress, this impact is amplified in areas of high humidity, which creates a thermal blanket around the livestock.

This effect is the leading cause in the reduction of weight, milk production, and eventually can lead to internal organ failure. The reduced amount of milk production heavily affects lamb's development, leading to unhealthy breed that are prone to disease, which may lead to premature death.

Source: https://extension.sdstate.edu/heat-stress-small-ruminants

Keeping all that in mind, Indonesia has both high heat and humidity, which leads to a worsening condition for livestock. This reality is exacerbated during a sale period leading up to the month of Hajj for which many of these livestock will be sacrificed on the day of Eid al-Adha. Where in many major cities livestock vendors will sell their livestock in a makeshift pen either on an empty plot of land or worse of all, at the side of a busy street often accompanied by traffic jams. Which also adds pollution and radiant heat from nearby vehicles and asphalt.

Our solution

"Shade provision reduced time in severe discomfort of Disabling intensity by 85% (from 578 to 83 h annually), with economic returns of US$12–16 per animal and payback periods of approximately 16 months."

Source: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/16/2/231

Using a $23 UV-resistance A12 tarp at a size of 6x8 meter (white or silver colored to maximize reflectivity) that can provide shade to approximately 14 mature beef cattle or 63 goats/sheep, we can estimate a return of $8.5 for every dollar spent or 850% return for a period of 16 months ($0.53 per month) while providing shelter to 0.6 cattle or 2.7 goats/sheep per dollar spent every year.

As this intervention will run for two months every year leading up to Eid al-Adha, we can calculate a return of $1.06 per dollar spent every year. However, as an A12 quality tarp can last up to 8 years on seasonal usage (such as Eid al-Adha), this effect can be amplified to reach a return of $8.48 for every dollar spent. With extreme care toward the treatment of the tarp, we can extend its lifespan for up to 10 years, which would give a gross return of $10.6 for every dollar spent (or 1,060% return) while providing shelter to 6 cattle or 27 goats/sheep for a period of 10 years per dollar of initial investment.

Source: https://uni-tarp.com/weather-resistance-of-pvc-tarpaulin/

Note: a minimal cost of $0.6 per bamboo support beam might be needed depending on the state of livestock pens that we encounter. Two or three bamboos for support should suffice in cases that need it.

Plus a very small contract fee of $167/month (median wage in Indonesia, subject to adjustment depending on the city we service) for day laborers per major cities (including their surrounding satellite cities) for a total of two months every year.

Another multiplication factor is being able to buy tarp at a much discounted price if bought in bulk. This should reduce our cost basis even further.

How will we determine where to deploy the tarps?

We have developed an app that will help our canvassers do their job much more effectively at a much higher speed and with less time spent on the field. Which will reduce our personnel cost of running this intervention.

The app is now at its testing phase which you can download at this link (available only on Android for now). It functions as a canvassing tool that can capture photos of livestock pens along with an estimate of how many units of tarps and bamboos they'll need. It calculates the cost needed to erect shelter for the livestock pen along with the total amount of livestock population (a combination of cows/goats/sheep).

All of this data will then be synced to a live website and visualized via uMap for better transparency to donors and stakeholders involved. Each data point on the map will contain details of livestock population and cost associated with shelter provided. Along with its lifetime return of economic value and animals helped per dollar. This value will accrue overtime for as long as the shelter unit lasts through an estimated 10 year lifespan.

What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails?

The universal opponent of vendors selling goods roadside is the Satpol PP law enforcement which would take down any illegal roadside vendors. This phenomenon is not limited to only food or clothes stalls which are commonly found roadside, but also to livestock pens during a period leading up to Eid al-Adha. Unlike food or clothes, they won't confiscate and throw these goods away as they're living animals. So they'll try harder to get the livestock vendor to pay the fine expected of them.

The challenge to us is ensuring we have preliminary talks with local authorities about the legality of the livestock vendors that we aim to provide shade to, in order to prevent loss of our properties (such as tarps and bamboos). As long as they have local permits to erect these pens, we can provide shade to them without external risk from law enforcement.

We also need to ensure that we retrieve our properties at the end of the livestock sale period from vendors so that we can reuse them for next year. Thus effective and direct communication to vendors is necessary to ensure smooth operation for years to come.

Research data have backed us on the benefit of shade toward livestock, providing them comfort in the heat of the sun. So if we fail it would be coming from operational and external risks, not the fundamental idea of the intervention itself.

How much money have you raised in the last 12 months, and from where?

We have not raised any amount of money from anyone in the last 12 months or any period before it. But as of now we're actively applying for funding to other organizations as we post this on Manifund.