Partner name:          Uganda Women Concern Ministry (UWCM) 

Title of placement:   Rural Water and Sanitation Pilot Project

Start date:                1^st of July 2009

Duration:                   6 months

No. of volunteers:     1  

A 6 month placement involving the implementation of a water and sanitation project which will deliver a sustainable water supply and appropriate sanitation to a village in Eastern Uganda.   

What work will I be doing?

The volunteer will work with the community and UWCM to establish water and sanitation committees. These committees should enable a collective decision regarding the various issues surrounding the project design, construction, operation and maintenance. This community consultation process will feed into the design of the pilot water and sanitation interventions.

For the water supply part of the placement the volunteer will design and facilitate the construction of household level rainwater harvesters or hand dug or shallow tube wells. For the sanitation part of the placement the volunteer will assist with the design and construction of six demonstration latrines outside the houses of vulnerable people identified in the village.

Additionally there are some repairs  to be carried out to the 10,000 L school rainwater harvesting system in the nearby school. This work will require the volunteer to collaborate with the school management to get the work done and to review the work once completed.  

Who will I be working for?

UWCM are a local Ugandan NGO working empower women, men and children to sustainably contribute to and participate in the process of development. Their mission is to holistically support women, children and people living with HIV/AIDS to realise their potential and have control over their lives, and to eradicate poverty through capacity building.

UWCM have good experience in capacity building of local communities and run a number of programmes in the area surrounding Mbale town, including a primary health care programme, womens programmes and income generation for women and children programmes. UWCM also run internships for Ugandan university students.  

The practical implementation of this project is funded by a private donor who has been working with the engineering consultancy ARUP on the project for the last year. ARUP carried out an assessment of the design work required for the project and established a partnership with UWCM. The volunteer will be supported on technical aspects by Arup through regular contact and site visits.

The work will be carried out fairly independently, but the volunteer will meet weekly with the NGO and ARUP will be in regular contact prior to and during the placement.

What skills or experience do I need?

Required:

• final year undergraduate or graduate of Engineering
• Good with people - must be willing to lead community discussions and be a key part of the participatory design and construction process.
• An ability to review designs and construction methods for practicality
• Some practical experience with construction
• Tolerant, patient, adaptable and able to work with Christian colleagues

Desired:

• Experience of water and sanitation engineering practice or theory