Sustainability

Sustainability through Community Participation:

The Bandar Bridge Committee is composed of three members (male and female) from each beneficiary community.  Those serving are responsible for representing the general opinions of their communities and providing feedback so as to ensure the final deliverable is something their community not only needs, but wants as well. They are involved in the project every step of the way, and will continue to have a presence during all bridge-related meetings and activities.

Monitoring and evaluation is a key component to the success of our project, and the primary means in which we can ensure sustainability. M&E duties are held by a Maintenance Committee, a group of individuals who are selected by the Bridge Committee prior to construction that will receive specialized training on how to inspect the bridge, maintain it, and make small repairs once the bridge is complete.  In addition to the training, Maintenance Committee members will participate during construction, so as to familiarize them with the inner workings of the structure.

Sourced from B2P, this photo shows community members 
performing manual labor activities associated with construction.

Community participation in the construction process is also an important aspect to project sustainability, and the method in which we plan to use to ensure a sense of community ownership over the bridge.  The community members have acknowledged that this bridge will not be given to them, but rather that it is something they have to work for. They will be the ones who build it, while Peace Corps and its partners provide guidance and support. 
Finally, our bridge is designed to have a minimum 30 year life span with minimum maintenance required.  This means that so long as the maintenance staff follows through with their promise to inspect and care for the bridge, the benefit of increased access and safety for community members living on both sides of the river should be sustained for the entire lifespan of the bridge. 


Gender:

Gender equality is an ever-evolving idea not only in Mozambique, but in all countries across the world.  Among the Macua, rural women play an important role in the subsistence economy. In addition to domestic tasks in the household such as cooking duties, child rearing, and gathering water, many women will also assist the men in tending to their family farms.  Needless to say, their hard work is often taken for granted. It is important to recognize that this bridge will be used by both men and women, and therefore both genders must have influence and be involved in the decision making process.  As a result, we’ve chosen to make Gender Inclusion a featured idea of the project, as can be seen with the essential inclusion of women in the Bridge Committee.  Inclusion in the Bridge Committee gives these women a voice of authority and decision in a world where authority is typically reserved for the male members of the family.  The goal is not to lessen the authority of men, but rather to increase the value of women in society.