Rural infrastructure development

Dadiya, Nigeria. 12 months

1-2 advanced level placements with a small community organisation that aims to further the sustainable development of the Dadiya people through projects and local capacity building. The work involves surveying, designing and overseeing construction for road developments, with a focus on building NAKRUDA’s technical capacity.

Project Information

The purpose of the volunteers work is to improve the Dadiya's communities access to healthcare and markets, to ultimately further the development of the Dadiya community. This will be achieved by improving the earth road network including permanent crossings for streams.

Ongoing activities include supervising the construction of simple stream crossings, surveying and assessing existing roads and improving maintenance procedures. In addition, volunteers will work with NAKRUDA to investigate a solution for the Dadiya river crossing (see background below). This may include working on further funding applications. It will be important that volunteers work with the Dadiya people and NAKRUDA to ensure that local capacity is being developed with respect to road construction and maintenance.

Partner Organisation

Nakwai Rural Development Association (NAKRUDA) is a small community based organisation.

It aims to further the sustainable development of the Dadiya people through projects and local capacity building. Improving access to healthcare and markets has been one of their key objectives in order to reduce poverty and improve the wellbeing of the community. NAKRUDA was founded in 2004 to further the sustainable development of the Dadiya people. It operates solely in the Dadiya region of Nigeria. Since its inception it has worked on a number of projects including, the construction of an compressed earth block guest house, the founding of the NAKRUDA Learning Centre and the continuing access improvement project.

The organisation is run by 5 local volunteers and is funded by the Burns Foundation, a private funding organization in Canada and the Gombe State Community Based Poverty Reduction Group which finances Nakruda individual project proposals.

 Background

Since July 2005 NakRuDa members and Engineers Without Borders UK volunteers have been working with the chiefdom and traditional leaders and other local associations to develop a program to improve access to the rural communities. A World Bank-funded scheme to grade the access road and construct a simple, low-level river crossing was completed in early 2007. However the vented ford river crossing failed soon after completion when an unusually high flow passed through the river. Currently, this main crossing is on hold pending a review of alternative options for the crossing. However, there are still over 10km of internal roads in a poor state including a number of smaller stream crossings. The current EWB-UK volunteers are working on crossings for up to half a dozen small streams as well as erosion control measures. This improvement work will not be completed by the end of this placement and there still remains considerable work to reduce the annual erosion of the earth roads.

 Placement Costs

This is a 12-month long placement. Estimated essential living and travel costs are in the region of £4400 - £6250. EWB-UK will provide a £5000 grant over three installments, and support volunteers' additional fund-raising efforts. After the selection process, a breakdown of the budget will be made available.

Also note that volunteers may be managing a separate project budget, and making further funding applications to local agencies / donors.

Pre-Departure Requirements

Placement volunteers will arrange for an informal project briefing with their project manager (a student or recent graduate responsible for setting up and monitoring the project on behalf of EWB-UK) and will be put in touch with the partner organisation. They will be supported by EWB-UK in finding travel insurance, and booking travel, but should finalise placement dates, accommodation, vaccinations, visa and other details independently.

To make an effective contribution towards EWB-UK's ambitious aims for each project in the limited time available, volunteers should be prepared to conduct pre-departure research, and, supported by their project manager, contact organisations and individuals for further project support or guidance. This project is ongoing, and the volunteers should familiarise themeselves with the work of previous EWB-UK volunteeers.

Requirements on Return

Placement volunteers are required to report to EWB-UK during and after the placement. For year-long placements this includes four interim reports, which will be read and commented on by your project manager, and additional email updates. A final evaluation will be discussed with your project manager in a debrief.

Furthermore, returned placement volunteers are actively encouraged to share their knowledge and experiences with other EWB-UK members. They will join a network where they will have opportunities to contribute to future placements or research projects, and give presentations to EWB-UK branches.

FURTHER QUESTIONS

If you have further questions about this placement, or the EWB-UK Placements Programme, please click here to visit our FAQs. You can contact the placements team by following this link.

FOR AN APPLICATION PACK, PLEASE EMAIL placements@ewb-uk.org

THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 18th MAY 2008.