Engineers Without Borders EWB Project Process

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Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Project Process
By LT Kurt Kesteloot, P.E., USPHS
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Outline

• Brief Introduction to EWB
• Project Timeline
• Project Application Phases
• Project Assessment/Design Phase
• Project Expenses
• Project Implementation
• Project Follow-up / Continuing Project/
  Completion
• Benefits to the community and officer
• How to become involved
• Closing Remarks

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EWB Introduction

• Non-profit organization that offers great
  opportunities for members of any discipline
• 316 professional and student EWB chapters
• EWB provides prospect to become involved in
  projects of all different types
• Foreign
• Domestic
• Three ways to initiate a project with EWB
• Initial Project process takes about 38 weeks and
  involves an assessment trip to the region
• Minimum of a five year project commitment

Engineers Without Borders USA, 2008
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Project Timeline

• Program Application Process
• Project Application (501) Week 0
• Application Review Committee Reviews Application
  Weeks 2-6
• Application Decision Weeks 6-8
• Total Time 6-8 Weeks
• EWB-USA does not accept travel requests until
  after a program has been approved.
• The Project Resources area of the EWB-USA.org web
  site describes the EWB-USA's process and provides
  example forms for each portion of the process. 
• Each chapter will have one or more programs
  within a given region of a country.  Within that
  program, chapters can do multiple projects (i.e.
  water supply, solar lighting, etc.).

Engineers Without Borders USA, 2008
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Project Timeline (continued)

• Engineers Without Borders USA, 2008

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Project Application

• Start Your Program
• Chapters agree to dedicate at least five years to
  their programs, and provide five years of
  monitoring for each project implemented within
  that program.
• Submit a new Program Application (501) to
  EWB-USA.
• Apply for an Open Program.
• Partner with another NGO or community project
• Once a chapter has been approved for a new
  program, the chapter can then start working on
  projects for the community.  Each project needs
  to be approved by a project manager and each
  program must follow the EWB-USA project process. 
• In general EWB-USA asks that chapters limit
  themselves to a maximum of three programs and up
  to a total of six projects at one time. 

Engineers Without Borders USA, 2008
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Project Downloads Available
Each step of the process has an example files
available on of what should be submitted for all
members Section 5 Projects

• 500 - Partnering Project Information Form
• 501 - New Program Application Sample Program
  Application
• 501B - Continuing Project Application
• 502 - Chapter Application to Acquire an EWB-USA
  Program
• 505 - Site Assessment Form
• 506 - Project Expense Form Sample Project Expense
  Form
• 510 - Partnering Project Waiver Agreement
• 512 - One-Page Project Description
• 521 - Pre-Assessment Report Instructions
• 521 - Pre-Assessment Report Template
• 522 - Post-Assessment Report Instructions
• 522 - Post-Assessment Report Template
• 523 - Alternatives Analysis Report Instructions
• 523 - Alternatives Analysis Report Template
• 524 - Preliminary Design Report Instructions
• 524 - Preliminary Design Report Template
• 525 - Pre-Implementation Report Instructions

Engineers Without Borders USA, 2008
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Project Assessment/Design

• Submit 521, 605 and 608
• Student Chapter has a professional mentor that
  reviews their plans
• Professionals review their own plans
• Submit plans to EWB-USA a meeting with the TAC is
  established and the design is discussed

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Project Expenses

• Fundraising
• Canvassing
• Grant Writing
• Rotary and other NGOs
• Design will be hindered by your ability to
  acquire funds

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Project Implementation

• Submit 525, 605 and 608
• Everyone needs proper immunizations, passports,
  visas, etc. depending on the area of the project
• Assure you have proper tools, materials, safety
  plans, cultural training.
• Make all necessary contacts in country to
  expedite construction
• Allow for extra time to meet the community and
  any problems with construction (This can vary
  drastically from the scope of the project,
  professional mentors need to provide assistance
  with how much time is necessary.)

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Project Continuation/Completion

• Remember five years minimum after implementation
• Assure the community has proper training and
  comprehendible manuals for maintenance
• Keep in contact and provide technical advise when
  ever possible

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Benefits to Community and Officer

• The community has a professional on site to help
  the students and assure a quality end product.
• Student chapters must have a P.E. accompany them
  on the project site.
• Officers gain experience applicable to their job
  or profession.

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Get Involved with a Project

• EWB-USA projects are not just for engineers
• (1) Contact a chapter(2) Take a look at
  projects to determine what projects interest you
  the most, and then contact the chapter associated
  with that project
• (3) Start a new chapter and choose or develop a
  project
• All of the EWB-USA projects are designed and
  planned by EWB-USA chapters and the chapters
  manage who travels, engineers, fundraises, or
  helps with the projects in general. 
• EWB-USA provides the technical, health and
  cultural reviews of the projects prior to the
  start, the assessment or implementation of a
  project. 

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Closing Remarks

• Use the EWB-USA Website to acquire the necessary
  forms to start, continue, or complete a project.
• Allow approximately 38 weeks or more before the
  desired construction date.
• USPHS officers cannot address every communitys
  need. We should encourage communities to seek
  additional help from NGOs such as EWB when we
  cannot assist.
• Not only can officers add to the project, they
  can learn valuable information towards becoming a
  better officer.

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Questions?