Challenges and lessons learnt from a sanitation project in rural Bolivia

ABSTRACT

The University of Arizona chapter of Engineers Without Borders USA has faced multiple challenges involving community participation in rural development, in the Andean community of Marquirivi, Bolivia, both in rural design and in community participation. Despite successful construction of a shower house in 2014, the EWB-USA UA team experience with community participation revealed the numerous complexities involved in engaging successfully with communities. The importance of previous aid in a community with development projects also emerged as critical in shaping actions. This article discusses lessons learnt and recommendations for rural infrastructure projects, as well as the EWB-USA model of sustainable development.

KEYWORDS:

• Social sector – Water and sanitation
• Aid – Capacity development, Monitoring and Evaluation
• Civil society – Participation
• Latin America and the Caribbean

Acknowledgements

Numerous students and professionals contributed to the design and implementation of EWB-UA’s project for shower houses and latrines in Marquirivi. The authors gratefully acknowledge the following groups and individuals: Jimmy Hackett, Patrick Mette, Zach Kosterman-Patterson, Joshua R. Campbell, Elizabeth Green, Avi Kazen, Sarah Moore, Tianna Benson, Treye Konrath, Nikitha Ramohalli, Danielle Walter, Chelsea Kestler, Luke Yarnall, Joshua Knight, Dr Wendell P. Ela, Mark Mansfield, Melissa Montgomery, Marcos Robison, Ruben Mamani, Afnan Agramont Akiyama, EWB-USA Northeast TAC, and the community of Marquirivi.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Katherine A. Snyder is Director, Master’s Program in Development Practice and Associate Professor in the School of Geography and Development at the University of Arizona, Tucson, USA.

Andrea F. Corral is a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Center for Water and the Environment at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA.

Gwendolyn. J. Woods is a graduate student in the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Arizona, Tucson, USA.

Andrea Prichard is an Environmental GIS Technician at Ramsey Conservation District, Maplewood, MN, USA.

Melissa Montgomery is the International Community Program Director at Engineers Without Borders USA, Denver, CO, USA.

Vasiliki Karanikola is a Research Professor in the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Arizona, Tucson, USA.

ORCID

Vasiliki Karanikola http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3249-6517

Additional information

Funding

Funding was provided by Rotary International, EWB-USA grant system, individual and corporate sponsors. This paper’s contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of any supporting organisation.