As Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA) continues its work across the globe, we find time and again that a permanent presence in a country improves the quality, efficiency and sustainability of our projects
We found so much success with our Guatemala and Nicaragua field offices that we opened our third in-country office in Uganda in 2019.
A Great Need
There were many reasons why EWB-USA chose Uganda as the site for its third field office.
EWB-USA shifted its approach to outreach in 2018. While we continued to work on all existing projects across the globe, we narrowed down the areas for our new projects to a smaller list of countries with the greatest needs. This concentrated effort allowed us to scale and replicate successful projects. It also kept us from displacing work for engineers in countries that would soon have the capacity to take on their own improvement projects.
Uganda topped our list of countries in need. Villages in Uganda already lacked proper water supply, sanitation, schools, roads, health clinics, bridges, alternative energy and food security. Then, in 2018, more than 1 million South Sudanese refugees arrived in Northern Uganda. Uganda offered them protection after fleeing civil war.
The refugee communities needed water and sanitation services. The influx also strained regions surrounding the refugee communities.
Additionally, Uganda was also grappling with the effects of climate change and drought conditions.
A Welcoming Country
The government of Uganda grants operational access to all corners of the country with only a travel visa. This allows our EWB-USA staff and volunteers to move throughout Uganda and implement projects throughout its many villages and communities.
The U.S. State Department also had no travel alerts or warnings issued for Uganda.
Then there was the Ugandan government’s refugee policy, which drew attention from international aid groups. Uganda grants two acres of land to each refugee head of household. It also allows them to move freely across the country, enroll in school, and seek Ugandan citizenship.
The UN and numerous nonprofit agencies aimed to make the refugee policy a successful model for other countries around the world. Agencies made large investments to support the policy, and EWB-USA provided engineering expertise that many agencies lack.
Adapting and Growing
The needs of vulnerable communities can change quickly. An in-country office staffed with experts ensures that programs are developed and implemented quickly and effectively. EWB-USA’s field operations also offer extensive support to our thousands of volunteers and opportunities for maximizing their unique skill sets.
Our existing offices in Guatemala and Nicaragua provided evidence that a field-based approach improves EWB-USA’s accountability to the communities we work with along with our donors who support our mission. It also allows us to better track the impact of our projects, leading to the betterment of our organization.
More on the Horizon
The EWB-USA office first opened in Kampala, Uganda. It saw great success in a short time, and more EWB-USA chapters wanted to provide help to its communities. So in 2022, the Uganda office began expanding its outreach to the entire East Africa region. The new East Africa Regional Office will support projects in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Malawi.