EngineersWithoutBorders–USA.ppt

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ? * * * * Social/Cultural Sustainability Characteristics 5. Social and Cultural Sustainability: Preserve stable social structures and cultural values and wisdom, while also promoting social equity in a participatory manner. The project must be the highest priority of the community, not the Chapter or the NGO. The services provided by the project must be shared with all and without prejudice. Social/Cultural Sustainability Characteristics How does the chapter address this Listen to the community members – remember the program is community based Depend on your NGO to tell you the shortcomings of the planned approach Do not start implementation without a detailed agreement with the community Education Social/Cultural Sustainability Characteristics Examples The chapter started an improved stove project because they observed heavy smoke in the homes. The new stoves were not adopted by the community members because they did not want to change their cooking. Resilience 6. Resilience: The project must be able to withstand challenges to its viability. This includes internal issues, such as community committee strife, to external pressures, such as climate change. Some Perspective Are there hard and fast rules for analyzing sustainability of a program? No Should the chapter give equal weight to all of the sustainability characteristics? Not necessarily. Many times, economic and cultural/social sustainability will take more attention of the chapter than the other characteristics. Lessons Learned Your Own Project! Misunderstanding between chapter and community even after there was the assumption of an understanding agreement in detail, trusted liaison in country, frequent trips, talk with the community at large, multiple contacts from different families and clans, understanding of the cultural aspects of an agreement, follow our intuition, must feel good about the implementation before proceeding Microfinance through orchards