This checklist provides guidance on how to include sustainability issues in the project proposals. Checking the sustainability of the projects will be an important part of the assessment of the projects.

Financial

  • Aim for a substantial local contribution, especially from private parties and/ or participants
  • Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) should play a significant role in the projects
  • Make sure that the products/services can be delivered after the project period based on local revenues through taxes or pricing of products/services.
  • The price for a service/product should include the costs of management, maintenance and depreciation.

Institutional

  • A local party is or will be made responsible for the sustained delivery of the services or products after the project period. This party should be sufficiently involved in the (outline of the) project to be able to take on this responsibility. This party should also be able to represent the interests of the most vulnerable and/or poor groups in society.
  • Provide a solid stakeholder assessment.
  • The project should be in line with national legislation and directives.
  • All partners will be responsible to report in a transparent way on the planning, the main decisions, budgetary issues and the results of the project.
  • Capacity building of e.g. the local private sector will be part of the project to ensure the sustainable delivery of services and products.

Environment and Climate

  • An assessment of the impact of the project on the environment (in particular for water, air and soil) and the living conditions of the target group should be part of the project proposal.
  • The proposed technologies should be sustainable. Preferably, projects use sustainable water sources (rainwater (3R approach) or groundwater if this will not negatively affect the groundwater level), avoid pollution of water, soil and air (greenhouse gasses), and recycle waste and apply waste treatment techniques.
  • The project should take into account the (predicted) effects of climate change on the situation in the region. The project approach should be adaptable to those effects and not contribute to further degradation.

Technical

  • The developed or installed infrastructure will remain operational beyond the project period, e.g. through the accomplishment of institutional arrangements for management and maintenance and sustainable forms of local financing.
  • The proposed technology can be easily bought or (partially) produced locally and managed by the local (non- and profit) private sector.
  • Capacity building of will be part of the project to ensure the management and maintenance of the infrastructure/products/ services.
  • The proposed technology is affordable for the local users, including the costs of management, maintenance and replacement.
  • The choice for a specific technology is based on a comparison between different options, taking into account environmental and social (e.g. gender) issues, preferably through a participatory process.

Social

  • The project is demand-driven and focuses on basic needs, contributing to empowerment and self-reliance.
  • The project takes into account the specific needs of women, vulnerable groups and the poorest in society.
  • The project guarantees a good working environment in the broadest sense, taking into account environmental and social issues (“Corporate (Social) Responsibility (CSR)”).
  • The project takes into account social-cultural values of society.
  • The project stimulates desired behavioral patterns in relation to the project objective, through e.g. “social marketing”.