The World At Large: (Inter)National Aid

Blake Nelson 

It’s never a good idea to publicly criticize your boss.
William Easterly was a successful economist at the World Bank when he was fired for writing a book excoriating the ineffectiveness of International Aid (and the World Bank knows a few
things about International Aid). He responded with the ironically titled The White Man’s Burden, where he continued to criticize industrialized countries for money that has “done so much ill and
so little good” in the developing world. He was particularly harsh towards Western organizations that force top-down solutions on poor communities, without listening to any local voices.

At first glance the Colorado-based non-profit Healing Waters International might seem ripe for that same critique. Courting international donors to build water filtration systems worldwide,
critics might wonder how American engineers could truly address systemic problems in countries like Guatemala.
Enter Salomón Hernández.
A successful businessman and pastor in Chiquimulilla, Hernández had heard about Healing Water’s reputation for fiscal responsibility and sustainability, in addition to their safe, affordable
water. Guatemala, like many developing countries, is filled with families who often have to choose between buying food or buying bottled water (and if they choose the former, the only
water left is often contaminated). Many of those same families live around Hernández’s church, and he wanted to do more than just evangelize.

I spent several days in January driving with Hernández, his family, and several members of his church throughout Santa Rosa. Two things were extremely obvious: Southern Guatemala has a
big water problem. But what Hernández and Healing Waters (known here as Aguas de Unidad) are doing is a big part of the solution. He and his church, which is neither massive nor wealthy, paid for a water filtration system without any outside help, a first in Aguas de Unidad’s history.

They sell hundreds of five gallon jugs every day, and despite charging 75% less than SalvaVida, they’ve still created enough of a profit marget to begin planning more systems. Guatemala, like many developing countries, has been ravaged by unchecked corporate power.  But the presence of Aguas de Unidad is a great example of capitalism at its finest. Aguas offers a product that’s better and cheaper than the competition, which has led to lowered prices both here  and elsewhere.  Because of local leaders like Hernández willing speak up for the poor, and groups like Aguas de Unidad willing to listen, Chiquimulilla is seeing a groundbreaking combination of local
leadership and local profits. Poverty has no quick fix. But clean and cheap water seems like a great place to start.

Easterly would be proud.