Collectively, the methods that Aqua-Africa uses to manage its business differentiate the organization from other National non-government organizations (NGOs) operating in South Sudan. Aqua-Africa has operated continually in the country since South Sudan gained its national independence in 2011, and Aqua-Africa has skillfully avoided civil unrest, while keeping its vendors and employees safe during service delivery.
Methods
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Women’s Empowerment
Reducing water transportation time is one of the most significant things we can do to empower women in developing countries.
In Maiwut, South Sudan Aqua-Africa worked with community leaders to determine optimal water point placement. Over 2 1/2 miles of water lines were laid to these locations. Thousands of hours …
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MicroDemocracy
An important part of Aqua-Africa’s mission is to train communities in micro-democracy. These are grass-root democratic principles that help them elect well management committees who will oversee their new water systems. Election committees are formed. Training is provided in the conduct of elections, the importance of secret ballots, term limits, …
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Community Partnerships
Aqua-Africa uses a holistic community support model. To the extent possible, we partner with other national and international non-government organizations (NGOs) to provide services to the community that are NOT duplicative. WASH services and training are coordinated. Aqua-Africa assigns a “Project Representative”, a paid employee to coordinate service delivery in …
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Village Supplier Water Towers
In 2014, Aqua-Africa was approached by civil engineer, Mike McMeekin, the then CEO of Lamp, Rynearson Engineering about the construction of solar-powered “Village Supplier” water towers as an alternative to the hand-pump water solutions being provided by the organization. Mr. McMeekin’s proposal made a lot of sense. The high capacity …
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Women’s Empowerment
In developing countries like South Sudan, women and girls handle most of the family’s water collection duties. As a result, they spend fewer hours in school classrooms and have lower levels of academic achievement than their male counterparts. Often, this results in fewer economic opportunities for women, and more limited …
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Community Contribution
Aqua-Africa believes that community investment in its own infrastructure leads to its increased long term care and protection. That is why the organization requires at least a 15% commitment to the cost of the project, this may be a cash payment, or through the commitment of labor or materials such …