third world infrastructure

these poor third world areas need basic infrastructure.  they need communication, roads, plumbing, electricity..  probably in that order of precedence too.

communication can be handled by solar powered cell towers and cheap cell phones.  eventually that can upgrade to high bandwidth wireless data networks.

roads, well dirt roads are good enough.  you just need a crew and equipment for clearing roads, and a supply chain for them to sustain their bodies and equipment.  and a planning team to determine what routes are most important.

plumbing includes both water supply and drainage.

on the supply side, rainwater harvesting allows distributed access without requiring a distribution network to be installed.  perhaps small communities can install small distribution networks, with a centralized rainwater processing station, to centralize and minimize maintenance requirements.  the fixtures themselves can probably be easily manufactured locally using clay.

on the drainage side, a small community distribution network may again be workable.  another option may be a centralized toilet location for a small area.  so showers, tubs, and faucets could be drained into the ground, and for toilet use, you go to the public, central depot.  this depot could include either a simple sanitary disposal system, or possibly a power generation plant.  you know, since you can burn shit to make energy (isn't this common knowledge?)

and finally electricity.  running wires everywhere is the damn problem.  energy generation sites are typically few and large, like a large hydroelectric dam, or coal plant.

one possible solution is again, small community distribution with a small central plant.  for this, you'd need a constant supply of whatever feeds the power plant (poop, coal, etc) which will likely cause the electricity availability to be unpredictable.  this is not acceptable.  a central solar generation system, with batteries and maintenance, might work, but the capital investment may be too high.  (although solar panel prices continue to plummet)

wireless power distribution would be ideal, as a few power generation plants could feed multiple communities at a low installation cost.  each community would have a reception station that distributes power locally.  unfortunately, as far as i know, wireless power distribution is an undeveloped technology.  my guess is the technology is so easily converted into an extremely powerful, versatile weapon, that its development is stifled by.. who knows.  which is a shame, and may not be true.. but i wouldn't be surprised if it was.. power is heat, after all.

electricity seems the most difficult to solve.  i wonder if you can use streams/rivers to distribute alternating current?  water is a conductor, after all.  perhaps not terribly efficient.. and could it pose a danger to those using the water?  i suspect it can be done safely.  i recall pictures of Tesla holding a lightbulb, with the power travelling through his body to power it.  perhaps some way of using resonance as a key to unlock access to a distributed power source..?  i'm not sure.. makes we wish i'd gone through and studied electronics engineering further than two years..