1. Breaking Down the Sustainability of Development Projects: International Development from the Perspective of a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Travis Warrington RPCV/The Gambia '08-'10 MA Candidate in Sustainable International Development & Coexistence and Conflict

2. Three Main Points 1. Development work is methodical 2. Questions to ask… 3. Word of the Day: Sustainability

3. Peace Corps Volunteer 1960: (then) Senator John F. Kennedy spoke at University of Michigan. JFK wanted students to “serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries.” Peace Corps was born March 1, 1961 www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=about 200,000+ Peace Corps volunteers (PCV) In 139 countries Working in HIV/AIDS education, IT, and environmental education

4. Peace Corps Volunteer Mission: 1. Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women. 2. Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served. 3. Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans. www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=about.mission

5. Peace Corps Volunteer Bits and Pieces: Full term: 27 months 10 weeks of training; 2 years of service 1 month served = 2 days vacation Free travel to and from country served Living allowance Host family Medical and dental Serving is free www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.whyvol

6. Peace Corps Volunteer Where are volunteers sent? www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.wherepc

7. Peace Corps Volunteer Benefits of serving: $7,425 post-service readjustment money Insurance High level of confidence, independent judgment, and cross-cultural resourcefulness and awareness Resume booster Adult learning (language, technical skills, etc) Graduate school options www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.whyvol

8. Peace Corps Volunteer Educational Benefits – Graduate School Master’s International (MI) program PC service as master’s degree credit. Variety of programs with many schools 9 programs with 6 universities for engineering Fellows/USA program Post-service graduate school Benefits: scholarships, stipends, and internships Variety of programs with many schools 5 programs/universities for engineering *note: The Heller School with be joining the Fellows program very soon. www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.whyvol.eduben Peacecorps.gov/gradschool

9. Peace Corps Volunteer Rowan student - -BS in Engineering: *Math and science teaching English teaching position w/ ELS background A water resources and engineering/sanitation (*rare and need Spanish background). Nearest Peace Corps offices: New York city, Boston, and Atlanta. www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.whyvol

10. Peace Corps/ The Gambia ‘08- '10 Health and Community Development Extenstionist Projects Taught English to 4-5th graders Agro-forestry projects (mud stoves, fence, seeds) Grant writing (new grade school kitchen) Health talks to mothers/ health clinic work Malaria prevention Consulted and oversaw World Bank-funded projects Boys Club

11. Peace Corps/ The Gambia ‘08- '10 Projects with Rowan Road Project Liaison and translator Formed community committee, organized meetings, and mobilized villagers. – Health and transportation survey – Assisted in water resource survey with EWB ‘Bike-Pedal Powered Millet Milling Machine’ Worked with nation’s technical college and civil servants

12. Peace Corps/ The Gambia ‘08- '10 Problems with the device: Metal workers could not re-create the machine Tech. college failed Device too technical Some metals not available or too costly (aluminum) Grinding-plates did not produce ‘fine’ enough product Grinding plates were purchased in the States, not produced. Costly to reproduce the grinding plates

13. Peace Corps/ The Gambia ‘08- '10 Where the device is as of June 1, 2010. Used private donation to purchase local grinder Grinder replaced the grinding-plates Working with local welder

14. EWB’s version Modified version ?

15. Peace Corps/ The Gambia ‘08- '10 As of June 3, 2010 – now: New grinder does not work with rice or cous Grinder may breakdown faster Too costly to mass produce

16. Peace Corps/ The Gambia ‘08- '10 Second Road Project: Sare SoffieEWB Road Project

17. Graduate Program Dual Degree (MA) Candidate in Sustainable International Development & Coexistence and Conflict - 2012 The Heller School for Social Policy and Management Brandeis University, Waltham, MA.

18. Development AND Conflict? Many developing nations/areas are under disputes/civil unrest via conflict between others. Energies are focused on warfare and survival rather than societal progression The two fields coincide because one cannot promote development if the area is under conflict.

19. Future? Graduate research-based practicum in (West) Africa summer of 2012 (fingers crossed). Career: Lifelong work in Africa in conflict management and sustainable development for USAID, U.N., or the like.

20. The Gambia, West Africa Location Religion: Muslim Language Culture: Family-oriented. Greetings are important Arabic and local languages Shaking hands (men) Male-dominate Respect elders Imam/Alkaloo Per diem Toubab

21. The Gambia, West Africa Transportation

22. Culture/Customs regarding water/fuel projects Water Women and young girls are ones to fetch water Water comes from open- well, pump, or ‘tap’. Fuel (aka wood) Females walk a few meters to miles to gather wood in the bush/forest. Wood only source to cook (esp. in rural areas) Thus, deforestation Woman are proud in taking care of their families, including providing their compound with water and wood to prepare daily meals

23. Engineering for Development Common pitfalls Rowans students/faculty (and the like) face in development work, Especially in developing technologies/products for the developing world?

24. Engineering for Development Common pitfalls: Grain crusher project (additional). Pilot study in India. Device was altered for cultural needs No pilot study done in The Gambia..? My Fault

25. Engineering for Development Common pitfalls: Rope pump: Biggest problem: breakdown/ maintenance May be too technical (to use and maintain) Too many working parts www.rowan.edu/today/news/index/PR/2891

26. Engineering for Development Common pitfalls: Tree climber- -” [A] device to help villagers climb trees more safely” Constructed from steel = very heavy Harness Will this work? www.rowan.edu/today/news/index/PR/2891 www.rowan.edu/colleges/engineering/newsletter/downloads /fall_2010_newsletter.pdf

27. Engineering for Development Common pitfalls: Compressed peanut shells into briquettes (cooking fuel). Already done with mixed paper and hay (Senegal) Cost effectiveness? www.rowan.edu/today/news/index/PR/2891

28. Engineering for Development What RU-EWB/EIWB is doing well: Rights of devices/products free to use by whomever (villages, NGOs, etc) to better themselves Asking the right questions: “Can [the devices] be made more inexpensively?” “Can [the devices] be made so they are easier for local people to repair? “ Giving students real-life/hands on knowledge skills Devices with locally found materials Non-monetary benefit minded Altering already used devices www.rowan.edu/today/news/index/PR/2891

29. Engineering for Development Questions to consider: 1. Why create devices to help people in developing areas? 2. Are these devices universal or do they need to be tailored to each (cultural) situational context? 3. Did you ever ask ‘them’ if they wanted ___machine to ‘assist their lives?

30. International Development Tools: Needs Assessment: Important to conduct a 'needs assessment' with communities so as to cater future devices to what exactly the community needs rather than wants. Need vs. Want

31. International Development Wants Cigarettes Fashionable clothing Money Bigger/new school New garden/school fence Needs Water Cleaner water Access to water Food Growing & Buying Transportation Health

32. International Development Tools: Needs Assessment: Important to conduct a 'needs assessment' with communities so as to cater future devices to what exactly the community needs rather than wants. Need vs. Want Your work vs. their work Appreciative Inquiry (AI): a group analysis of positive potential and what has worked particularly well in the past to mobilize positive experiences and outcomes in the future

33. International Development Participatory Approach at the community level PROJECT Elders Govt. officials Women’s groups Youth groups Men Women respected elites Etc

34. International Development Participatory Approach at the community level Capacity Building!! (education) Evaluation PROJECT Community Appreciative Inquiry Needs Assessment: Monitoring

35. International Development Sustainably implementing devices: Train locals to make the device = Capacity Building Making sure materials/resources needed to recreate the device are readily available Local buy-in and funding Are ‘they’ ready for ___ or ___? Will this alter gender/cultural dynamics/norms for the better or for worse? Who to work with? VITAL to your work

36. International Development Why collaborate? Culture and Language Resources and Knowledge Sustainability Planning Who to work with? NGOs Local International Peace Corps Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) *ALL are at the grassroots level! www.vsointernational.org/

37. Admitting Failure 2011 Failure Report admittingfailure.com EWB-Canada

38. Owen Barder’s Speech at EWB Conference "Aid works, but not as it should“ “Speaks of his thoughts on the current state of aid” “Anyone with an interest in development policy — and in how to make foreign aid more effective — should watch the whole thing” “[H]ow to move beyond the current unhealthy equilibrium and outlines some useful lessons from complex systems thinking” http://www.vimeo.com/groups/kumvana/videos/18803571

39. Thank you! warrint@gmail.com warrint@brandeis.edu Follow me at: Twitter: @warrintj Blog/website: traviswarrington.com *PowerPoint will be on website