Changing climates, expanding populations, urban growth, and imperiled natural systems and resources are the challenges that developing countries face in the 21st century.
The solution? To build sustainability into your design through a community-focused framework that delivers appropriate solutions that will last for decades.
Infrastructure alone won’t solve problems. But listening can. When supporting the initial design and planning of the 4,500 MW Diamer Basha Hydropower Project in Pakistan, community consultations around gender, resettlement, indigenous peoples, and cultural heritage sites revealed the critical issues that needed to be addressed in the planning process.
Only by engaging in dialogue with project stakeholders and the broader community are we able to design infrastructure that will contribute to sustainable water, food, and energy security for the region.
Start with community.
By strengthening and mainstreaming climate change policies and processes, the Ethiopia Climate Change Reform Program is creating an economic and legislative environment that promotes private investment in renewable energy.
Access to clean, affordable, and reliable energy services is fundamental to meeting development objectives. Addressing growth inclusiveness gaps, inequalities, and gender access means the transformation towards a climate resilient and green economy will improve the living conditions of impoverished communities—focusing on serving the most vulnerable communities first.
Cultivate favorable policies and regulations.
How do you efficiently survey vast amounts of terrain when there are limited resources? Use remote sensing. It generates accurate and reliable data about almost anything related to the surface of the earth.
Our Remote Sensing Center of Excellence practitioners have many tools to harness the power of geographic information systems and satellite imagery. One of those tools, our diagnostic and display platform WireWATCH™, quickly and effectively evaluates thousands of miles of power lines. Utilities use this information to prioritize locations for field surveys and take corrective actions. Remote sensing and data analytics tools like WireWATCH™ have the power to reduce costs by revealing the best value for time.
Analyze the data.
By 2050, our global population will grow to 9 billion, and the highest growth rates will be in developing countries. An increased demand on natural resources with the complication of climate change threatens our environment and our most vulnerable populations.
After Hurricane Maria, watersheds in Puerto Rico were in desperate need of repair. Our team used geospatial analysis to assess 14 miles (23 kilometres) of Rio Víví as well as the 200-square-mile (520-square-kilometre) Rio Grande de Arecibo drainage basin. Rehabilitation and management solutions restored the watershed and protected the adjacent infrastructure, including a major water-supply reservoir.
This same methodology can be applied in developing countries to restore ecosystems that provide water, food, and protection from natural disasters while regulating the climate and controlling pollutants and disease, enhancing biodiversity and spurring economic growth.
Protect the environment.
The focus is partnership—with local firms, utilities, civil society organizations, and government entities. The goal? To expand capacity and promote sustainability for designing, planning, building, operating, and maintaining infrastructure such as power grids, hydropower plants, water supply and treatment systems, and more.
The Naivasha Treatment Plant project in Kenya engaged local stakeholders at the onset and integrated international best practices and local knowledge to address a significant lack in sanitation services. From the beginning, the aim was to transfer knowledge on fecal sludge management and intentionally flip technical leadership roles over time. This model builds local capacity, promotes ownership, and contributes to sustainability.
Build local capacity.
This means providing solutions with the transformative ability to accelerate impact. Innovation can be fueled by science and technology, can entail improved ways of working with new and diverse partners, or can involve new social and business models or policy, creative financing mechanisms, or path-breaking improvements in delivering essential services and products.
Stantec hosts IDEA Hackathons, which bring teams together from a variety of backgrounds to compete on vexing global challenges, such as protecting air quality in public spaces and transportation. Our Innovation Office also helps innovative ideas flourish while unlocking creativity.
When scaled to their potential, transformative innovation approaches enable new channels to economic growth, support sustainable development, and contribute to poverty reduction.
Innovate
Start with community
Cultivate favorable policies and regulations
Analyze the data
Protect the environment
Build local capacity
Need to learn more? Visit Stantec’s International Development page to see how we’re applying our expertise to a global stage.
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Start with community
Cultivate favorable policies and regulations
Analyze the data
Protect the environment
Build local capacity
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