Now closed: mech. eng. and design role at RASD, Uganda

CLOSED TO FURTHER APPLICATIONS

Experienced in mechanical engineering and design and looking for a summer placement? We have recruited two people for our volunteer team at RASD in Uganda and we are looking for one more person. Apply now if you think you fit the bill.

And if you don't know what demucilage means, look it up!

EWB-UK volunteer placements are open to UK-based people and British citizens living overseas.  Priority is given to those with four or fewer years of technical experience. You must be aged 18 or over to apply.

Partner organisation:

 RASD - Rural Agency for Sustainable Development 
Project title: Coffee demucilage machine design and improving returns on Robusta coffee.
Location: Nkokonjeru, Buikwe District, Uganda
Start: July, 2012 (flexible)
Duration: 3 months
No. of placements: One
Level: Some prior experience needed
How to apply: Please email an up to date CV of no more than two pages and a covering letter of no more than two pages to placements@ewb-uk.org.  Include “RASD” in the subject of your email. Your covering letter should explain your motivation for working in international development and for applying for this role, and short paragraphs describing how you meet all of the essential selection criteria and any of the desirable criteria below. Please write your paragraphs in the given order.
Application deadline: Midnight, Sunday May 13th 2012 APPLICATION PROCESS NOW CLOSED
Please ensure you are available for: Residential pre-departure course on 17-22 June

Interview dates tbc


This is a three month placement to improve the income and livelihoods of coffee farmers in Buikwe district, Uganda, while preserving the environmental services the land provides. The main thrust of the project is to help design, build, and test a coffee demucilage machine. You will be working with a small indigenous NGO that promotes rural development and sustainable agriculture.


What work will I be doing?

RASD would like to have an efficient, low-cost coffee processing machine for use in a rural setting with small plot Robusta coffee farmers. It can be based on a prototype wet processing coffee machine, but needs to include more features such as a depulping mechanism. This project will involve both new design and modifying an existing machine. Through iterative testing, you will find ways to improve speed and processing efficiency. Additionally, further work on analyzing the coffee market and continuing to construct the coffee demonstration plot on site will be needed. The coffee demonstration plot is important as it provides a source of coffee plants to the local community as a “mother garden” and shows best practices working in action to risk-adverse farmers.

Who will I be working for?
 

RASD is an indigenous Non-Governmental Organization formed in 2000 as a community-based organization and registered in 2005 with the Ministry of Internal Affairs NGO board under the 1989 NGO statute. RASD was formed by a group of concerned citizens in Nkokonjeru with the aim of alleviating poverty among the people of the Buikwe district. 

For more information:  RASD
 

What skills or experience do I need?

 

Required:  
 
  • Ability to work independently
  • Ability to communicate
  • Ability to initiate and implement change
  • Ability to solve problems in small teams
  • Commitment to EWB-UK’s aims
  • Interest in International Development
  • Ability to work independently and solve problems in small teams
  • Project management skills
  • Coursework and/or work experience involving agriculture, agricultural engineering, mechanical engineering, economics, or related content
  • Comfortable to live for 3-months in semi-remote, rural setting
     
Desired: 
 
  • Previous machine design experience 
  • Cost estimating and budgeting for a project of similar scope.
  • Experience in working with wood, wire, hand tools, gardening as may be required for demonstration plot construction
  • Willingness to learn some basic Luganda (language of Buganda region of Uganda) which will be useful when talking to local coffee farmers and building relationships in the community. Several good phrasebooks can be found online: (http://www.buganda.com/phrasebk.htm) 
 

Want more info?

2010 EWB-UK placement with RASD

2011 EWB-UK placement with RASD

Projects with EWB-Duke

Projects with UC-Davis EWB

 

 
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