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Engineers Without Borders – fort lewis College Identifying and Developing an EWB Project Key Elements and Procedure In an effort to assist as many needy communities as possible EWB-FLC encourages its professional partners and supporters to help us identify and develop projects in underdeveloped countries. This document provides a list of key elements that will help you assess whether a potential project is appropriate and, if so, the procedure for making it an official EWB project. The Basic Process (short version): A community with an engineering related need is identified. Either a community leader or a representative (usually an NGO) explains the EWB mission and the requirements that must be satisfied for a project to be approved by EWB. A dialog is begun with the community to make sure that the proposed project is appropriate, benefits the entire community, understood by everyone, and sustainable. When it is determined that the requirements have been met the representative works with EWB-FLC to complete a Project Application Form. As the project sponsor, EWB-FLC submits the project to EWB-USA and advocates the projects through the Technical Advisory Committee review process. Once approved EWB-FLC begins working on the project. Key Elements: How to Recognize an EWB Project: The following list contains a summary of criteria used by EWB-USA to evaluate proposed projects. · Location: Anywhere in the world. Countries that pose a significant danger due to political instability are not likely to be approved. · What qualifies as needy? Communities that lack the resources to complete the project and where the annual income of the people makes it infeasible. Think “developing world”. The project must address a very basic need like potable water. · Benefits and harms: Projects must respond to a need or real problem in the community. Due consideration is given to ensure no unintended damage occurs over the long term to the community structure or to the surrounding environment. The project should benefit a significant portion of community members. · Potential for long term commitment? The goal is to stay in a country or region long term (for multiple years) so as to establish a close relationship with a community and to provide follow-up services as needed. · Sustainable development and appropriate technology: EWB is committed to providing sustainable development and the use of appropriate technology. Look for projects that are doable within these constraints. · Types of projects: Water supply and sanitation, small construction (schools, health clinics, etc.), renewable energy, health and safety. Most projects include a strong engineering component but may include other ancillary components like economic development, agriculture, etc. · Community involvement: A commitment of individuals or groups from the community to maintain and assure the continuity of the project is required. The community must contribute significantly to the execution of the project through labor or funding. The project should represent the organization and effort of a collective, and not one single person. · Clear goals: The project goals are clearly understood by project personnel and realistically achievable. For a more complete list of EWB-USA project criteria see the EWB-USA Sourcebook especially section 5.1: http://www.ewb-usa.org/downloads/Sourcebook/5-ProjectsSection.pdf. Or go to www.ewb-usa.org , choose downloads and then sourcebook. Procedure for developing a project
(Note: A trip to the site may be required by a member of EWB-FLC and others to assess the project during the development phase) For more information or assistance with project development contact: Don May EWB-FLC, Professor of Engineering Fort Lewis College Durango,CO 81301 970-247-7545, may_d@fortlewis.edu |