Categories
Themes
Background
Enabel, the Belgian development organization, wanted to improve agriculture in Uganda and Tanzania. They found that by building bridges, access to urban markets could be improved and earning potential could be increased for rural communities, while making food supply networks more resilient for urban dwellers.
Approach
The bridges are built from locally available stone instead of concrete and steel, and use ancient construction methods and standardised designs. This allows for more local jobs to be created whilst reducing both costs and emissions by 75%.
Environmental Impact
By using locally available stone, the emissions associated with transportation of heavy materials is significantly reduced. The construction of the bridges requires less cement than would normally have been the case, further reducing the emissions associated with construction.
Success Factors
An online manual has been developed, allowing other communities to adopt this approach.
Evidence
The project has built over 100 bridges and trained about 50 masons in the construction technique.
Evolution
Challenges
Factbox
Founded in
2009
Project type
Founded by
Enabel
Founding Organisation Two
Founding Organisation Three
Operated by
Enabel
Households reached
UN Sustainable Development Goal(s)
