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One of the current challenges in our society is to find alternatives to offer a more protective and more peaceful working environment to the workers of the collaborative economy, in particular, to avoid them being constantly submitted to the pressure of their too flexible and unstable work.
Some people such as T. Scholz, N. Schneider or still M. Bauwens have recognized the necessity of slowing down this collaborative economy and have elaborated a new alternative model, called 'platform cooperativism'.
To study this alternative more in-depth, this research begins by defining the collaborative
economy. In the absence of a universal definition, a definition in the broad sense, then in the
strict sense is established to identify the main characteristics of this economy in a general way. The professional situation of the workers of this new economy is also studied in a legal aspect as for their social status and then in an economic aspect to identify the balance of power these companies of monopolistic nature maintain with the workers.
Afterward, the cooperative model and its evolution through centuries are then analyzed. A
description of the values, principles and the cooperative identity in this section were necessary to highlight further how this model could contribute to meet the challenge previously displayed. After this theoretical description, a qualitative study was led to consider the platform cooperativism under different aspects. Interviews were realized to study the feasibility of a potential match between the collaborative model and the cooperative one. Thanks to the collected answers, we realized that the platform cooperativism is a real opportunity to be exploited. However, because of the very beginning of its development, it is important to consider the uncertainty of its profitability and of its capacity to build up itself a competitive advantage which will allow it to be viable in the long term.
This study will give to future entrepreneurs a first overview of the advantages of which they
can benefit, but it will also highlight the obstacles they will have to overcome if they choose to set up their project under the shape of a cooperative platform.

collaborative economy --- cooperative model --- platform cooperativism --- freelance --- employee --- monopoly position --- Sciences économiques & de gestion > Economie sociale

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Access to energy is a keystone for economic, political and social development. Despite its numerous resources, Africa lives a dramatic situation. In this African context, the Democratic Republic of Congo stands out in view of the seriousness of its circumstances: it is the least electrified country in the whole world! A paradox regarding the number of development opportunities Africa has. The project presented in this paper explores one of these opportunities and its application to a practical case, the community of Sindi, Boma’s suburb, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. No electrical grid exists in Sindi and most of the population uses oil lamps to light up at night. These are a curse, they are extremely expensive, inefficient and polluting. 
The project study presented in this thesis and the underlying economic model aim at supporting Sindi’s educational system by allowing school children to do their homework in decent health and working conditions. Targeting the school children and their families, the main objective of the project is to provide an alternative solution to oil lamps while allowing families to make savings. It seeks to empower the community and to respect the philosophy conveyed by the maxim: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime” (Chinese proverb).
To reach this objective, to maximize the chances of success and to insure the sustainability of the project, the study presents a cooperative governance model that is greatly inspired from the work of the 2009 Nobel prize in Economics, Elinor Ostrom, about the governance of the common goods. This study also tackles other aspects of the project like its management, the lamps and their suppliers, its financial aspects as well as a technical study. Each brings elements that will allow “Ingénieurs sans Frontières” to make informed choices and to complete the project successfully. 
The economic model consists in gathering an off-grid community around a shared objective, creating an association around this goal to manage the solar lamps and providing it with a resilient and lasting governance system. Through an external financial assistance, the association purchases solar lamps and resells them to the customers. The price of the lamps is made affordable thanks to multiple payments spread over a defined period. The association makes a profit which allows it to undertake other development projects for the community.

Governance --- common goods --- economic model --- solar lamps --- Democratic Republic of Congo --- cooperative model --- cooperative --- development cooperation --- education --- Africa --- biens communs --- modèle économique --- lampes solaires --- République Démocratique du Congo --- modèle coopératif --- éducation --- Afrique --- gouvernance --- coopération au développement --- coopérative --- Sciences économiques & de gestion > Economie sociale --- Ingénierie, informatique & technologie > Energie