From Request to Project: How Communities Partner with EWB-USA

At Engineers Without Borders USA, international projects begin with a community that identifies a critical need. From safe drinking water to resilient school infrastructure, these projects are driven by local priorities, not outside agendas.

To make sure partnerships are community-led and sustainable, EWB-USA uses a structured request process. Here’s how it works.

1. Communities Identify a Need

Most EWB-USA international projects begin when a community, often in partnership with a local NGO or support organization, identifies a specific infrastructure challenge. These might include:

• Water access or quality problems
• Sanitation or hygiene needs
• School or clinic infrastructure
• Renewable energy needs
• Irrigation or flooding challenges

To be eligible, communities must be underserved by local engineering capacity and show a strong desire to co-lead the project. They must also commit at least 5% of the construction costs as well as in-kind contributions. Communities will also need to form partnerships with local organizations, potentially coordinate with necessary government agencies, and set up a long-term management committee.

2. Submission of a Community Partnership Application

Most projects will first need to go through a pre-vetting process with a Purposeful Partner. Afterwards, communities submit a set of documents to EWB-USA. These documents must come directly from the community, in collaboration with a local in-country partner, which include:

• The Community Partnership Application (CPA):
  A detailed form explaining the problem, existing conditions, goals, and any resources the community can contribute.
• A Letter of Endorsement:
  Written and signed by a respected local leader, such as a village elder, mayor, or school principal. This letter confirms the project is locally supported and that the request is coming from the community.
• A Community Statement of Intent:
  This outlines how the community plans to participate; helping to gather information, contributing labor, materials, and a small portion of construction costs.

3. EWB-USA Reviews and Matches the Project

Once submitted, the application is reviewed by EWB-USA staff and technical experts. They evaluate the project based on several criteria, including but not limited to:

• Community involvement and commitment
• Alignment with EWB-USA’s mission and capabilities
• Feasibility of the project
• Potential for sustainable impact

If approved, EWB-USA helps match the project with a collegiate or professional chapter that has the right mix of skills, availability, and interest.

4. The Partnership Begins

After a match is made, the chapter and community begin working together. The partnership typically spans several years and includes:

• Assessment: On-the-ground data collection and relationship building
• Design: Collaborative technical planning and review
• Implementation: Construction or installation, often led jointly
• Monitoring: Ensuring the system performs as intended and is maintainable by the community

Throughout the process, community voices remain central to every decision.

Why This Matters

This model ensures that EWB-USA projects are requested by communities, guided by local expertise, and built to last. It also gives volunteer engineers the opportunity to learn from those most affected by the challenges they're working to solve.

By starting with local leadership and shared commitment, EWB-USA builds infrastructure, relationships, and knowledge that endures the test of time.

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