Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association

Infobox_Company
company_name = Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association (BORDA)
company_
company_type = Nonprofit
company_slogan =
foundation = July 1977
Bremen, Germany
location = Industriestrasse 20, D-28199 Bremen, Germany
area_served = South Asia, South East Asia, Southern Africa
key_people = Andreas Ulrich, Executive Director
Joachim Klaembt, President
industry = International development
num_employees = 13 in headquarters, 37 worldwide
homepage = [http://www.borda-net.org Official Site]

History

The Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association (BORDA) is a non-profit international development organization headquartered in Bremen, Germany and regional offices in India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. It began its work in 1977, starting with its first project, “Technology Transfer of Biogas India-Ethiopia.” Since then it has been active in the delivery of basic needs services across the developing world, from India, to Indonesia, to Southern Africa.

Regional Offices

BORDA's main areas of operation are South Asia, including India and Afghanistan; South East Asia, which includes China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos, and Cambodia; and Southern Africa, comprising the SADC-region states of Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

outh Asia

BORDA has worked in India since 1979, making it the oldest region to be served by the organization. Recently, BORDA also began limited aid work in Afghanistan. Programs implemented span the range of BORDA offerings, from Decentralized Wastewater Treatment (DEWATS) to Decentralized Energy Supplies.

Currently, BORDA - South Asia (BORDA-SA) works in nine Indian states, as well as neighboring regions. BORDA-SA and its partners have been contracted by international development organizations, including GTZ (Germany), AusAid (Australia), CEU, and InWent, as well as national and local governments.

BORDA-SA supports a development cooperation network of 13 partner organizations, and by extension over 100 development experts in providing basic needs services. Over 110 DEWATS projects have been implemented, together with more than 65 Decentralized Energy Supplies and 60 Water Supplies.

outh East Asia

In Vietnam, the Organization implemented the Hydraulic Ram (HydRam) technology as well as the use of biogas, energy-saving stoves, and solar panels, supported the introduction of HPC's turbine pumps and Decentralized Waste Water Treatment System (DEWATS) technology.

outhern Africa

ervices

Decentralized Water Supply

• Remote mountainous villages in Asia are often located far above streams and rivers. • As mechanical supplies are scarce, water-lifting services by Hydraulic Rams provide a continuous water supply for essential sanitation & agriculture purposes. • Appropriate capacity building measures ensure that villagers handle management tasks in co-operation with partner organisations.• More than 1.200 project implementations facilitated.

Decentalized Wastewater Treatment (with DEWATS)

• DEWATS projects support micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, institutions as well as public administrations in planning, designing and constructing effective, reliable, cost efficient and custom-made wastewater treatment systems. • Technical options within DEWATS are based on a modular and partly standardized design. DEWATS projects are carried out in Indonesia, India, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.• More than 150 project implementations facilitated

Community-Based Sanitation (CBS)

• Improved public health and reduced water pollution.• Cooperation with communities, NGOs, key-stakeholders and political decision-makers. • Holistic project framework: Besides improving sanitation infrastructure, operation and maintenance systems must be developed with participating stakeholders that ensure the sustainability of measures to improve basic sanitation and community hygiene.• More than 100 project implementations facilitated

Decentralized Solid Waste Management

• A regular and environmentally friendly collection & disposal of solid waste is demanded by residents and local governments of Asian cities.• Good Practices of solid waste management are characterized by the 3 R principles: „Reduce – Reuse – Recycle“• Cooperation of residents, local waste pickers and local government departments is essential to plan lasting for decentralized solid waste management solutions.• More than 20 project implementations facilitated

Decentralized Energy Supply

• Decentralized power generation by MicroHydro Turbines that are powered by the flow-energy of mountain streams is a proven method to provide remote villages with electricity for productive and household purposes. • Partner organizations are trained to become „Micro-Utilities“ and act as vital service providers in marginalized regions.• More than 100 project implementations facilitated

Knonwledge and Quality Management

• To achieve high quality standards of measures and services, local implementation capacity, competence and expertise must be built atan early stage. • Target groups and stakeholders need to be informed about different options in a systematic manner to ensure high participation during planning and management. • Available technical and management options are adapted topreferences of stakeholders and target groups • Increased efforts are made to standardize products and services in order to improve efficient dissemination.

Achievements

*BORDA's efforts in wastewater management have helped to improve the lives of over 1,000,000 people.

*Training efforts have resulted in over 2000 engineers and technicians being successfully schooled in construction of low-cost sanitation measures.

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In The News

BORDA has garnered press coverage in "The Christian Science Monitor", "The Hindi", The Jakarta Post, and a number of smaller local news sources.

Below is a selection of recent media coverage.

*Saqaf, Syed Muthahar. [http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/09/stories/2007070959900600.htm Exnora to provide technical help to install two more water treatment systems in Musiri.] "The Hindi". July 9, 2007.
*Chopra, Anuj. [http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0215/p04s01-wosc.html Pay as you go: clean-toilet program for India's towns.] "The Christian Science Monitor". February 15, 2007.
*Repe, Syril G. [http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dum/2006/09/24/news/hopes.high.for.future.clean.waters.off.boulevard.html Hopes high for future clean waters off boulevard.] "Dumaguete Sun. Star". September 24, 2006.
* [http://www.taz.de/index.php?id=archivseite&dig=2005/06/07/a0292 Bremer Tsunami-Hilfe.] "taz.de". June 7, 2005.

ee also

External links

* [http://www.borda-net.org/modules/news/ BORDA Bremen]
* [http://www.borda-mc.org/modules/news/ BORDA Mekong/China]
* [http://www.borda-sa.org/ BORDA South Asia]
* [http://www.borda-sea.org/ BORDA South East Asia]
* [http://www.borda-sadc.org/ BORDA Southern Africa]

References