The bridge-building efforts are part of a longstanding partnership with Bridges to Prosperity (B2P), a US-based non-profit organization dedicated to improving lives in rural communities by establishing last-mile connections to break the cycle of poverty caused by isolation.
Since 2010, this collaboration has resulted in the construction of 18 bridges in Bolivia, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, and Rwanda. These footbridges have created safe, reliable, and cost-effective connections and changed the lives of nearly 60,000 residents.
WSP cares about giving people equal access to the resources and opportunities needed to create a prosperous future for all, and this partnership with B2P brings this pursuit to life in a meaningful way. This passion is echoed by each of the 30 WSP employees who are volunteering their time and expertise to help create a more accessible future for three Rwandan communities.
“It fills me with pride to see our people seeking out opportunities to empower rural communities to overcome poverty,” said Eric Peissel, Global Director, Transport & Infrastructure of WSP. “By providing safe access to schools and healthcare, creating new job prospects, and protecting trade routes, these trail bridges bring impactful changes to the lives of people living in isolation.”
Transformative Impact on Communities
Post-bridge construction, communities have seen a significant increase in income, higher school attendance rates, and better access to health care.
Source: 2023 Build Report, Bridges to Prosperity.
“Rural infrastructures are deeply needed in East African countries to fight poverty caused by rural isolation and Bridges to Prosperity is working tirelessly to shed some light on the great social and economic impact that these interventions have,” said Nicola Turrini, Corporate Program Senior Manager from B2P. “Thanks to both the financial and hands-on support from our partnership with WSP, this year we will be able to deliver three more essential structures which will contribute to bettering the lives of thousands of local residents in the coming decades.”
B2P's current efforts are centred in East Africa due to a compelling mix of need (with millions living in rural isolation due to impassable rivers), interest from national governments to invest, the region’s track record of safety and stability of leadership, and their long-standing relationships in the region. To date, more than 200 bridges have been completed in Rwanda thanks to B2P’s work, enriching the lives of nearly 900,000 people.
Three WSP Teams - Triple the Impact
This year, a record number of WSP delegations will be deployed to Rwanda. The three teams of volunteers will arrive at their designated project site for the last two weeks of construction and be present for the opening to see the bridges in action.
Discover the three bridge projects our WSP volunteer teams will be contributing to:
- Bukoro Trail Bridge – Our WSP global squad will be deployed to help build this suspended bridge with a 75-metre span in the Nyaruguru District (Rwanda).
- Munyegera Trail Bridge – Our first WSP US squad will be deployed to help build this suspended bridge with a 72-metre span in the Ngororero District (Rwanda).
- Gihemvu Trail Bridge – Our second WSP US squad will be deployed to help build this suspended bridge with a 94-metre span in the Nyaruguru District (Rwanda).
Advancing 10 UN SDGs through Rural Infrastructure
The WSP-B2P collaboration aligns with 10 out of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This alignment underscores the broader impact of building rural transport infrastructure, which helps to address various aspects of poverty, health, education, and economic opportunities in isolated communities.
