How We Work

The ACI focus

There has been a wide variety of organizations working on clean water programs for some time now. Recently it has been noticed that one of the often overlooked elements was sustainability. That is, how long does a project continue to produce the desired result after outside input (financial or otherwise) moves on? Can a product be repaired by local craftspeople? Can it be constructed from local materials? Is it affordable? What are its upkeep costs? Does it need frequent maintenance? Does it require regular electricity or fuel?

ACI Technology was developed with these specific questions in mind. Likewise, we focus on training rather than on simply installing water purifiers because such a focus transfers know-how, thereby allowing for continued production and maintenance of ACI technologies once our resources refocus elsewhere. Our focus is on transferring technological know-how as rapidly as possible, as intelligently as needed, and in establishing an internally consistent, comprehensive data monitoring and evaluation system.

Local financial sustainability

Different types of locally owned enterprises are supported. Some are for-profit businesses run by individuals. Others may be community run or administered by a local non-profit organization. Regardless, our mainocus remains on empowering locals to work towards their community benefit in a sustainable fashion. We term these independently owned and operated enterprises as ACI Affiliates, whether for-profit or not. To learn more about the ACI Affiliate Program and its benefits, click here.

Localization

Additionally, we continually work to localize our efforts. To that end, we work to launch ACI- support and training operations, at different levels, in a variey of countries of focus. Our two directly supported programs are Aqua Clara International—Kenya, based in the Kissi region of Kenya and Acquanic in Nicaragua. Each organization is registered and legal in its home country, and serves as an constant in-country presence available to provide ongoing training, support and communication activities to  the in-country water programs underway.  We also partner with a large number of organizations to establish ACI Affiliates in other countries.