Why does Akvo focus on relatively small projects?
Most people who lack access to water, sanitation, healthcare and education live in rural areas (WHO/Unicef study). In such areas centralized systems are often not an option because of the distances involved. That is why large numbers of distributed systems are needed. Small-scale family or village-level systems which can be managed by the local community show great potential for filling this need. Such systems can be adapted to local circumstances, a task often undertaken by local NGOs who have an intimate knowledge of the situation and the local needs. Studies show that small projects also tend to be the most cost-effective. Such projects also offer the opportunity to create a direct link from the people in the field carrying out the project back to the people funding the project.
