Sustainable Development is a valuable concept. It equips humanity with tools that ensure a better future for all. When its functions are put into practice, it allows individuals & communities, a fighting chance to overcome adversity & experience a better life. It paves a sustainable way out of poverty, disease and suffering. At Project Maji, we combine the tools offered by sustainable development and blend these with the strengths of entrepreneurship. The ultimate goal is simple: Water secure and self-reliant rural communities in the long-term. The end result is a 360-degree sustainable model that we proudly call – the Maji Model. If you want to learn more about what the Maji model entails, keep reading:
Environmental Sustainability
Being sustainable means putting our long-term vision into focus rather than looking at short-term gains. Essentially, meeting the water needs at present without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same. This is why Project Maji’s entire solution profile relies solely on clean renewable solar energy producing zero greenhouse emissions. In addition, we take aquifer sustainability very seriously. Project Maji solar-powered water pump comes with built-in electronic sensors that automatically switch off in case a) The tank is full, to avoid overflowing and wastage and b) Water in the well drops below a pre-set level, to protect the aquifer from running dry.
Operational Sustainability
At Project Maji, we believe our work begins once taps open. This means we don’t simply install a solution, pat ourselves on the back, pack our bags and leave. Instead, we follow a service delivery approach. All our solutions feature a built-in e-payment system. We aggregate the water consumption data on a daily basis to ensure at least 95% uptime of all our water access points. In addition, as part of our operational model,
we have a qualified and well-equipped team that aims to restore kiosk operations within a maximum of days. This is manifested in the high level of reliability consumers attribute to our service, as shown in the post-impact survey results.
Financial Sustainability
Project Maji can only contribute to the fight against poverty by financially sustainable operations, generating social and financial return on investment. Our revenue model is based on grants and private donations to cover the capex, after which the kiosks can financially sustain themselves without additional capital injections. Automated e-payment systems add to the transparency and accountability of the water revenue for maintenance and repairs. By taking on the role of small decentralized water utility serving underprivileged communities, public expenditure is reduced by a significant factor. Furthermore, we offer a highly cost-effective solution, with a significantly lower Cost per Person Served compared to SWE peers (up to 50% cheaper) according to annual market mapping data in Ghana (2019). Remote monitoring systems help reduce the support cost and enable timely interventions to prevent costly breakdowns. Finally, we are laser-focused on pursu
ing an aggressive R&D journey in order to bring down hardware costs and diminishing donor dependency in the long-run.
Technical Sustainability
The hardware and technical components of the kiosks are fit-for-purpose and are designed to perform under harsh conditions. They are fitted with military grade solar panels (IP67), heavy-duty poly tanks, and stainless-steel submersible pumps. Additionally, the electrical wiring and solar panel set-up is pre-assembled in our state-of-the-art factories so require minimum connection on site (not only adding to speed of assembly, but a further assurance of long-term reliability).
As mentioned above, we have a trained and qualified technical support team available in all countries of operation, with all necessary tool and components on hand to repair any problem in the unlikely event of an issue. Also, we make provision for periodic preventative overhaul of key parts, such as the pump, inverters and panels to ensure continuity.
Socio-Economic Sustainability
Truly leaving no one behind, we typically serve rural communities of between 500 and 1500 people; those so often overlooked by government and larger NGOs and left without agency. Through our work, we contribute to the overall well-being of families and entire communities, creating a positive ripple effect in community health, access to education, female empowerment, enabling upward social mobility. As such, our work contributes directly to the below SDGs:
a) SDG 6: Clean Water & Sanitation for all
b) SDG 3: Good Health & Well-being
c) SDG 5: Gender Equality
d) SDG 4: Quality Education
Impressive right? We believe the work we do is truly life changing. By providing sustainable access to safe water, we are pulling hundreds and thousands of families out of inescapable poverty, disease and suffering. If you or your organization, would like to be a part of the change then reach out to our Director Partnerships, Wieke De Vries, at wieke@projectmaji.org. Alternatively, write to us at info@projectmaji.org.
In the meantime, give as little as $20 and you will provide LIFETIME access to safe water for one person.