What is it about?
In this work, we present a methodology for designing water and renewable energy solutions that stem from the perceptions, needs, and priorities of the community itself. We use as an example an Indigenous population on the Colombian Caribbean coast, where we combined local knowledge with technical criteria to create viable and sustainable proposals. The aim was to show that when the community actively participates in the design, the solutions not only work better, but are also embraced, maintained, and ensured for long-term use.
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Why is it important?
This research is important because it shows that the most effective water and energy solutions do not depend solely on technology, but on understanding and respecting the perspective of those who will use them. Instead of imposing external models, we developed a framework that integrates local knowledge, culture, and community priorities with technical criteria, resulting in proposals that are both viable and sustainable over time. This combination ensures that the solutions not only work, but are also accepted, maintained, and adapted by the community itself, guaranteeing a real and lasting impact that goes beyond the technical to become genuine social development.
Perspectives
Writing this article was a deeply rewarding experience because it allowed me to work closely with a community, listening to their stories, needs, and priorities, and translating them into practical solutions for water and energy access. It was inspiring to see how technical knowledge and local wisdom can come together to create outcomes that are not only functional but also meaningful to the people who will use them. For me, the most valuable part was witnessing the sense of ownership the community developed over the proposed solutions, which I believe is the key to making projects truly sustainable. I hope this work encourages others to design with communities, not just for them.
Dr. Ramon Fernando Colmenares Quintero
Fundación Berstic and Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Framework to design water-energy solutions based on community perceptions: Case study from a Caribbean coast community in Colombia, Cogent Engineering, January 2021, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/23311916.2021.1905232.
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