Overcoming Barriers for International Development and Poverty Reduction: Engineering an Environmentally-Sustainable, Economic-Development Project in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

My research project illustrates how various engineering approaches can be used to overcome the traditional barriers to economic development and poverty reduction in emerging nations. Using the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals as a framework and the post-conflict, Sub-Saharan nation of Liberia as my example, I present an environmentally-sustainable economic development project that is profitable and addresses the nation’s highest priorities. Specifically, I discuss the design of a latex processing and manufacturing plant in Liberia. I first analyze the various issues associated with the lack of energy and water infrastructure in Liberia. I then present methods of overcoming these traditional barriers. Next, I present my design process for a sawtooth roof and rainwater collection system that reduce energy and water demand by harnessing natural light and collecting rainwater, respectively. My thesis has significant implications beyond the positive impact of a single green manufacturing plant by presenting a framework with which international development projects can be approached. This framework can be applied to many developing nations and help prove the feasibility of projects similar to my thesis. Proving the feasibility of these projects will cause further investment in development projects which will lead to meaningful progress towards poverty reduction in the developing world.