SAFAD Projects 2008-2009

Guatemala - Agua Para La Salud (Reference: GUATAQU)

Country (Continent): Guatemala (Americas)
Region: Nebaj, Quiche Department
Name of Partner Organisation: Agua para la Salud (COMENSA)
Headquarters of partner organisation: Miami Springs, Florida
Main working fields of organisation: Water System related field studies & capacity building
Number of Employees: 6

Project Information:

Background:
AGUA PARA LA SALUD (APS) is a local non-governmental organization, based in Nebaj, in the department of Quiché. It was founded in 1994. The organization’s activities include the provision of drinking water supplies, and health and hygiene education. It operates in rural villages where there is no existing water infrastructure, and levels of water related diseases are high.
The office is composed of a director, Lynn Roberts, SAFAD and other volunteers.
Lynn also supervises water projects in other areas of Guatemala. Agua para la Salud have been working with SAFAD since 1994.

Tasks for volunteering placements:

Primary function is to complete water system related field studies; draw maps and design water system solutions; prepare materials lists; write reports for donors with photo and written detail; train Guatemalans in water system related activities. As Agua Para La Salud (APS) does not execute water projects, but helps other NGOs with engineering studies and training the work is defined by request from NGOs and villages.

Starting date and Duration of placement:

Start: Mid September till end of the year
Duration: 9 months and up to 1 year

Number of Volunteers required: 1

Skills required:

• Somewhat fluent in Spanish
• Useful asset: surveying with Abney level; map drawing;
• Water system design; use of GPS;
• Skilled in use of EXCEL and WORD;
• Be in good physical condition for life in remote mountainous villages

Bolivia – P.A.I.S. (Reference: BOL-PAIS)

Country (Continent): Bolivia (Americas)
Region: Municipio de Tacobamba, Chaqui (rural area)
Name of Partner Organisation: P.A.I.S. (Programa de Autodesarollo para Iniciativas Sociales)
Headquarters of partner organisation: Potosí, Bolivia

Main working fields of organisation:

• Salud Materno Infantil y Salud sexual reproductiva
• Agua y saneamiento básico
• Derechos Humanos
• Manejo de recursos naturales
• Emergencias y Desastres naturales
• Apoyo a la producción agropecuaria
• Desarrollo Rural

• Medico y enfermeras: Atención medica a mujeres y nińos
• Agrónomo: Elaboración de propuestas de proyectos de desarrollo rural, asistencia técnica agropecuaria a productores campesinos
• Civil: Diseńo de sistemas de agua potable, diques etc.


Starting date and Duration of placement:

Start: Mayo, Junio, Julio, Agosto, Septiembre, Octubre
Duration: De 6 a 9 meses

Number of Volunteers required: 2 voluntarios o más en diferentes áreas

Skills required:
• Espańol
• Que se habitué a caminar y convivir en el área rural si servicios básicos y adaptable a la realidad

SAFAD contact person for additional information: Gudrun Winkler

Kenya – Excellent Development (Reference: KEN-ED)

Country (Continent): Kenya (Africa)
Region: Rural Machakos Makueni and Kibwezi District, Eastern Province, Kenya
Name of Partner Organisation: Excellent Development
Headquarters of partner organisation: Brentford

Main working fields of organisation: Water and soil conservation projects to increase water supply, food production, income and health (construction of small scale dams, terrace lands and so on)
Number of Employees: UK 4, Kenya 28, and 4 volunteers

Project Information:

Background:
The project is located in Kola, Machakos, Kenya, in a semi arid environment. The volunteer will contribute to the NGO capacity of maintain dam quality with increasing staff numbers. For more information see: www.excellentdevelopment.com

Tasks for volunteering placements:

The volunteer will learn dam design and construction process, test and improve documentation. He will act as ‘works manager’ for dams in construction overseeing built to design specification. He will also assess effectiveness of approach of coaching craftsmen in dam theory and design.

Starting date and Duration of placement:

September or October for 6 to 9 months

Number of Volunteers required: 2

Skills required:

• Small scale dams structures
• Listening skills
• Open minded and practical skills
• A construction site management experience (appreciated)

SAFAD contact person for additional information: Ai Sugiura

Kenya – Northern Rangelands Trust (Reference: KEN-NRT)

Country (Continent): Kenya (Africa)
Region: Northern Rangelands Trust
Name of Partner Organisation: Northern Rangelands Trust
Headquarters of partner organisation: Isiolo, Kenya

Main working fields of organisation: Wildlife and natural ecosystem conservation, rural and local development
Number of Employees: 15

Project Information:

Background:
The Northern Rangelands Trust is made of 15 community conservancies, and led by a board and council of elders. It facilitates the development of community led conservation initiatives in northern Kenya. It promotes the collective management of ecosystems in order to improve human livelihoods, biodiversity conservation and rangelands’ management.

On the ground, this comes down to projects such as livestock programmes (improving rangelands, linking livestock markets to conservation), women trading (bead works, marketing), research and monitoring (GPS and GIS mapping, wildlife monitoring for improved local management, etc), a lot of community work (meetings, conflict resolution, local authorities, etc), water projects (water resources development such as spring intakes and gravity or pumped pipelines, borehole drilling, rainwater harvesting, maintenance of water systems, community agreements on water, etc), security training, construction and more.

The operations are located in the northern rangelands of Kenya, which means the arid and semi-arid plains and hills, in very remote pastoralist and wildlife country (north and west of Isiolo town, west of Laikipia District, etc). There is wildlife everywhere. For more information : www.nrt-kenya.org

Tasks for volunteering placements:



• Water Officer: Supervising and designing water projects in the community conservancies of NRT. As NRT is growing and needs to oversee the development of 15 conservancies, there is a lot of work to be done. It starts with the designing of new systems and the writing of proposals; it then involves the supervision of undergoing construction projects; furthermore recommendations on management and maintenance work for existing systems is required; finally, training and capacity building on the ground would be a very essential activity to implement.
• GIS/small buisness OfficerMapping and monitoring or involvement in the livestock and conservation programme, or the women business and trade.


Starting date and Duration of placement:

September or asap for a period of 6 to 9 months.

Number of Volunteers required: 1, possibly 2

Skills required:

Water officer

• Skills inBasic hydraulics, construction, water quality and quantity systems options
• Project development and management
• Wildlife and Ecosystem conservation
• Experience in site construction management would be an asset
• Driving license
• Camping skills
• Team management


GIS/Small business Officer

• GIS software and mapping OR Experience in Small business, Management, Fair Trade, gender issues.

SAFAD contact person for additional information: Ai Sugiura

Azafady (Reference: MADF-AZF)

Country (Continent): Madagascar
Region: Anosy (south east Madagascar)
Name of Partner Organisation: Azafady
Headquarters of partner organisation: London

Main working fields of organisation: Health and sanitation; livelihood diversification; natural resource management; education and capacity building.
Number of Employees: 3 Staff members and up to 20 overseas volunteers

Project Information:

Background:
Azafady is UK registered charity that has been running for 14 years. Azafady has a very good reputation and was awarded the World Travel Market’s Responsible Tourism Award for Best Volunteer Programme. Azafady works in one of the most impoverished areas of Madagascar. The population live mainly in dispersed rural villages surrounding the regional capital Fort Dauphin, bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east and the Anosyenne mountain chain to the west. The headquarters are based in Fort Dauphin. The majority of the ongoing project work is based in surrounding rural communes of Mahatalaky and Mandromondromotra north of the town since these are some of the most isolated communities in the region with respect to transportation, communication and health infrastructures.

Azafady require 3 qualified volunteers each year to assist us in areas of our work requiring specialist knowledge, particularly for research work which will add value to our project outcomes.

Tasks for volunteering placements:



1. Project SALAMA:


To create a sustainable improvement in health and sanitation within five remote and impoverished communes in the region of Anosy in order to reduce high rates of disease and mortality. The volunteer’s time will be divided between the urban centre and field work in primarily the rural commune of Mahatalaky (30-45km from the urban centre; extremely rural, remote environment.

Duties:

• Conduct courtesy visits to the relevant ministries and partner organizations in Fort Dauphin
• Collect information from partners
• Prepare water testing kits and equipment
• Prepare the study
• Implement study in the field
• Collate and analyse data
• Produce report and recommendations for Azafady
• Train Azafady health department in simple techniques for quantitative reasoning
• Produce report and recommendations for the Ministry of Health


Starting date and Duration of placement: October (6 months)

Number of Volunteers required: 1 Skills required:
• Trained in quantitative methods and experienced in data analysis using statistical software
• Qualified in and ideally experienced in health research techniques relevant to tropical and/or low income countries
• Familiar with and able to design KAP (knowledge, attitude and practice) surveys for health research
• Understanding of techniques for measuring water quality/potability
• Ability to work independently and on own initiative
• Experienced in working with and/or managing teams of people
• Physically fit and able to walk long distances in often hot and difficult conditions
• Ability to adapt easily to different (basic and often difficult) surroundings and cultures



2. Project VOLYHAZO:


Sustainable community development & conservation of unique forest environments in SE Madagascar. Deforestation is one of the most serious problems facing Madagascar and the population of Anosy region in particular. Here the majority of people work in subsistence agriculture in extremely isolated rural communities. Rapidly expanding populations have rendered traditional farming practices inadequate, however the population lack the information/training and necessary inputs to implement alternatives. Purpose of the project is to improve natural resource management in Anosy Region through provision of essential inputs, training/education to 3 rural communities in order to alleviate poverty, improve quality of life and ensure conservation of the littoral forest, with reference to 2 critically endangered palm species

Starting date and Duration of placement: October (6 months)

Number of Volunteers required: 2 Volunteers, one GIS and another Reforestation.

Duties:
• Design and planning for planting activity on the community reforestation sites – taking into account lessons learned from planting activities of 2008; advising on mix and zonage of native/non-native species taking into account factors such as invasivity and pathogens a well as site relief and natural features such as littoral forest; planting methodology
• Determining specific uses of the 50 hectare site with the community
• Communicating with reforestation and conservation stakeholders in Madagascar, including the promoters of Moringa
• Designing and planning the layout/zonage of the 50 hectare site again taking into account the above factors
• Producing GIS maps for all planning, design, and presentation
• Training Azafady’s project staff in use of GIS software
• Leading Azafady’s overseas volunteer programme and the local community in planting activity
• Apply their skills in forestry to train community members in reforestation and monitoring techniques
• Promotion of Moringa oleifera with communities
• Advising on future project strategy post 2008


Skills:


• Highly trained in GIS – practical experience in storing data in handheld GPS; conversion of data into cartographic form using GIS software; to a level so that they are capable of training others with no experience
• Qualified in and ideally experienced in reforestation techniques relevant to the humid littoral forest of Madagascar including the biological aspects of forestry (effects of invasivity and pathogens etc)
• Both positions require an environmental/conservation background
• General scientific background
SAFAD contact person for additional information: Heather Claase

Malawi - SUNESMA (Reference: MAL-SUN)

Country (Continent): Malawi
Region: Neno - Southeast
Name of Partner Organisation: SUNESMA/NESMAC
Headquarters of partner organisation: MALAWI

Main working fields of organisation: Agro-forestry/ Smallholder Macadamia Production
Number of Employees: 5

Project Information:

Background:
NESMAC is a small local NGO in the southeast of Malawi. It is aimed to develop fair trait for Macadamia nuts with the UK through existing links with Twin Trade and Equal exchange. NESMAC is entering the 3rd project phase, aiming to get into the marketing and sale of the nuts produced buy more than 500 small holding farmers who are organised in more than 30 clubs under the umbrella of the NESMAC/ SUNESMA. The volunteers should have a first degree in a management, horticultural or commercial field. Experience of small and medium enterprise development would be useful though not essential. Masters degree desirable in rural development, agriculture or agri-enterprise but not essential depending on experience

Tasks for volunteering placements:

Subject to change, some of the possible responsibilities of the volunteer

• Orientate NESMAC into a commercial mind set moving from a project beneficiary to a sustainable business ethos
• Support NESMAC nurseries
• Intercropping systems for macadamia growers
• Oversee establishment of new macadamia material into Malawi smallholder nurseries.
• Develop workable systems to enable NESMAC, to handle, bulk and market produce into international markets.
• Develop a marketing organisation (NFMA) working title ‘Neno Trading’ that provides support and market access to all smallholder macadamia farmers in the Neno district.
• Develop financial management capacity (budgeting/ financial management) within NESMAC and NFMA and strengthen ability to financially plan
• Collection & dissemination of market information on relevant produce to inform agribusiness enterprises.


Starting date and Duration of placement: flexible 9-12 months depending on task

Number of Volunteers required: 1

Skills required:
• Project management or related leadership role (could be from private sector as a team leader)
• Experience of working in capacity building with commercial enterprises or farmer organisations ideally in Africa
• Tropical agricultural knowledge or experience would be an asset particularly if from rain fed agriculture (i.e. wet dry season agricultural systems)
• Accounting & financial planning
• Knowledge of marketing and producing produce to specific quality standards - Essential
• An understanding of fair trade certification or concept
• Any macadamia or nut production experience would be an asset

SAFAD contact person for additional information: Mark Spiller

Malawi – TEMWA (Reference: MAL-TEM)

Country (Continent): Malawi
Region: Neno - Southeast
Name of Partner Organisation: SUNESMA/NESMAC
Headquarters of partner organisation: Bristol

Main working fields of organisation: AIDS, Capacity building, Agriculture and Irrigation, school support, community forest
Number of Employees: 14

Project Information:

Background:
Temwa is building the capacity rural communities need to drive their own development. We support communities in improving health education services, agriculture, forestry, irrigation, skills training, and schools. Temwa consists of a series of programmes that are aimed at providing sustainable community-driven development in five key areas: AIDS, Capacity building, Agriculture and Irrigation, school support, community forest. Temwa is looking to expand its work into Agro-Forestry, Sustainable Agriculture and Irrigation. We are looking for skilled volunteers in these three key areas to undertake a research program, looking at long term sustainable land use for community agricultural purposes. Usisya is a lakeshore region in northern Malawi. It covers an area of approximately 17 x 15 kilometres containing 56 villages and with an approximate population of 17,800 people. The majority (67%) of the population live on the lake shore with the remainder living in the surrounding upland hills.

Tasks for volunteering placements:

Usisya is a lakeshore region in northern Malawi. It covers an area of approximately 17 x 15 kilometres containing 56 villages and with an approximate population of 17,800 people. The majority (67%) of the population live on the lake shore with the remainder living in the surrounding upland hills.

• The compiling of similar existing research that has been carried out in Malawi to be used in conjunction with primary research findings.
• A survey of water, land and terrain within Usisya.
• An in-depth and personal look at the community needs of the area both locally and as a whole.
• Extensive local water use research including studying local irrigation systems, environment, landscape and related resources including the many social and economic aspects.
• Visiting similar projects within Malawi and getting feedback from other organisations that are running related projects.
• Help create a strategic irrigation focussed report for Temwa’s future work in the area, based upon sustainable water use and sustainable land use principles, which links in with Agro-Forestry and Agriculture, research findings and outcomes of community work. This report will include research findings and project recommendations.

Starting date and Duration of placement: May-June 2008, finishing 6 months after it has started

Number of Volunteers required: 1

Skills required:
• Irrigation / Natural Resources background essential
• Agricultural / Forestry background desirable
• Degree/MSC level qualification in irrigation based course
• Experience of living or working in developing counties essential
• Practical experience working on irrigation programmes
• Commitment to social issues and working with people/communities
SAFAD contact person for additional information:Mark Spiller

Nurture and Relief (CHINAR) - India (Reference: IND-CHI)

Country (Continent): India
Region: Kashmir
Name of Partner Organisation: Nurture and Relief (CHINAR)
Headquarters of partner organisation: USA

Main working fields of organisation: Psychosocial rehabilitation of orphans, economic empowerment of widows, earthquake rehabilitation work. Work in both both urban and rural locations
Number of Employees: 6 employees, over 25 volunteers

Project Information:

Background:
Orphans, widows, natural disaster victims are the main beneficiaries of CHINAR’s work. CHINAR claim to have providing a home for 20 orphaned boys and girls since 2004 Kashmir, India and rehabilitated the residents of two villages after the 2005 earthquake in Kashmir by providing semi-permanent shelters (built within 5 weeks), water and sanitation (80 units). They have also provided skills-training in crewel embroidery to the youth of the earthquake effected area and also helped the children impacted by the 2005 avalanche in Kashmir by providing them school supplies, clothes, shoes, hygiene kits and drinking water. They have experiences with foreign volunteers and though the language spoken in the area is primarily Kashmiri, Urdu, English is spoken as a second language.

Tasks for volunteering placements:

There are two possible projects in Kashmir, India in the cities of Srinagar and Uri.

1. Economic empowerment of widows – to help a group of widows start a dry vegetable business. These widows have never run a business, and have no employable skills or any means of financial support. Drying vegetables for winter use is an old Kashmiri tradition that is dying out in the cities. However, the demand is still high. These widows would need little training as this is a skill they already possess.
2. Economic empowerment of women in earthquake effected area: We have already provided training in crewel embroidery. Now we need help in getting these women to find a market for their products including international export.

Starting date and Duration of placement: The start and end dates of the project are either Sep/Oct 2008 or April/May 2009 Ideally the volunteers would arrive in August/Sep 2008 or March/April 2009. The timeframe necessary to set up the program is within 6-9 month

Number of Volunteers required: 1

Skills required: The volunteer should have expertise in small business enterprise.

SAFAD contact person for additional information: Mark Flaherty

Haritika - India (Reference: INDHAR)

Country (Continent): India
Region: Central
Name of Partner Organisation: Haritika
Headquarters of partner organisation: India

Main working fields of organisation: Natural Resources Management, Women empowerment, and Water, Sanitation and Health Education
Number of Employees: Staff: 25 Volunteers: 16

Project Information:

Background:
Natural Resources Management: Water for irrigation and drinking, land, fodder, forests, livelihood, developing local and sustainable, particularly for women. Prepare communities manage their natural resources in a sustainable way ensuring gender equity in access to them.

Women empowerment: Providing equal opportunities to women and other vulnerable communities in decision making process accessibilities to natural resources and empowering them through capacity building.

Water , Sanitation and Health Education: Creating awareness among communities about hygienic practices and create and how to maintain sanitary environment in over 174 gram panchyat with support from United National Development Programme under Multi-sect oral approach to the Health in districts Jhansi

Haritika is working in four District in two states Madhya Pradesh in central India in 78 villages presently focus on Nowgong Block,District Chhatarpur famous for Khajuraho temples in rural areas. So far the organisation has no past experiences with foreign volunteers.

Tasks for volunteering placements:

The organisation is looking for some technical qualified person for low cost rain water harvesting structures, water budgeting, gender ,equity issue and governance . The other volunteers is well qualified to work on documentation like report writing, preparation of project report, she/he can write in international journals, magazine like Down to Earth, a person can have a knowledge of website development, media

Starting date and Duration of placement: September 2008 – nine months

Number of Volunteers required: Four with two male/two female

Skills required:

• Hindi is the language spoken in the villages
• Use of web development media
SAFAD contact person for additional information: Mark Flaherty

SABUJ SANGHA - India (Reference: IND-SAB)

Country (Continent): India
Region: West Bengal
Name of Partner Organisation: SABUJ SANGHA
Headquarters of partner organisation: West Bengal, India

Main working fields of organisation: Sabuj Sangha’s primary area operation is 24 villages in Mathurapur – II and Pathar Pratima Blocks of South 24 Parganas (Sundarban delta region) in West Bengal, (Rural) and Railway Track side squatter colonies along Sealdaha South axis of Eastern Railway (URBAN)
Number of Employees: 125 employees and 80 volunteers.

Project Information:

Background:
Sabuj Sangha works to raise the quality of life of socio-economically marginalised people integrating its efforts in making available basic infrastructures like Drinking Water & Sanitation, Preventive and curative healthcare livelihood and nutrition involving appropriate agriculture and rain water harvesting technology and crop rotation techniques, practice of micro credit as a socio-economic empowerment tool and development and establishment of education as a right of the child. Sabuj Sangha has Foreign Volunteer arrangements with SUAS Ireland and TZADEK U.K. from 2005.

Tasks for volunteering placements:

Model Village in Sundarban Delta The project is being implemented in our rural project area. Bengali is the local dialect but out staff are articulate to converse and convey the issues in English and will be working in tandem with the volunteers. The volunteers are expected to provide ideas, technological inputs, field demonstration and prepare process documentation in specific fields of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Treatment technique of surface water for conversion into safe drinking water, multiple cropping in a saline soil and water environment presently having a monocrop pattern and introduce new concepts and practices in micro finance field.

Starting date and Duration of placement:
The project has started in 2005 and scheduled to end in 2011. We would like the volunteers to arrive in April. The volunteers will work preferably for 6 months at the least

Number of Volunteers required: 4 volunteers could be suitably accommodated

Skills required:

• Provide ideas, technological inputs, field demonstration and prepare process documentation. in specific fields of Drinking Water and Sanitation
• Treatment technique of surface water for conversion into safe drinking water
• Multiple cropping in a saline soil and water environment presently having a monocrop pattern
• Introduce new concepts and practices in micro finance field.
SAFAD contact person for additional information: Mark Flaherty

IRC - Chad (Reference: IRC-CHA)

Position: EH Intern
Grade: Intern
Location: Bahai, Chad
Duration: 10 months
Starting: October
Reports to: EH Coordinator

In response to a growing humanitarian crisis and the influx of refugees into Chad, the IRC launched programs in Chad in February 2004, focusing on the most urgent needs of water and sanitation, education, health, and protection. IRC program activities have been concentrated on the northernmost refugee population centers in Chad, which are located in the Prefecture of Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti (BET), near the towns of Bahai and Cariari. In July 2004, the refugees were moved to Oure Cassoni camp, which was built and is managed by the IRC with support from UNHCR. Currently, IRC provides nearly all services at the camp, including: camp management; preventive, curative and reproductive health; environmental health (water, sanitation and hygiene promotion); protection/human rights; gender based violence; child and youth protection; and formal pre-school, primary and secondary education.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The EH Intern will assist the Environmental Health Coordinator who oversees and directs all water, sanitation and hygiene promotion activities undertaken by the IRC in Chad. The Intern will work closely with the EH Manager in addition to national and refugee staff, and focus on improving the production and distribution of potable water to the program’s 26,000 beneficiaries. The EH Intern will be based at the Bahai field site, and under the leadership of the IRC Field Coordinator, will work with the Abeche-based Programs team to design, monitor and evaluate projects as requested by the EH Coordinator.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:


• Assist the EH Coordinator in supervising Oure Cassoni water operations
• Assist the EH Coordinator/manager in water quality testing at all stages including treatment, distribution, and household storage
• Assist the EH team in analyzing and reporting on water quantity and quality data
• Assist the EH Coordinator/manager in supervising operations and maintenance of the water treatment, pumping, and piped distribution systems
• Assist the EH Coordinator/manager in planning new water distribution infrastructure
• Assist the EH Coordinator/ manager in the procurement of necessary tools and materials
• Assist the EH Coordinator/ manager in the development, execution, and analysis of surveys targeting the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the beneficiary population
• Develop and lead training sessions which improve the capacities of water program staff
• Write routine progress reports as requested
• Assist with other duties as requested by the EH Coordinator

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor or Master Degree in environmental health, sanitation, civil engineering or public health. Pubic health education is a plus
• At least 1 year previous international experience strongly preferred
• Previous experience working on multi-cultural teams preferred
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational and time management skills
• Capable of training refugees and building community support
• Fluency in spoken and written French and English required; Arabic a plus
• Operational knowledge of Microsoft Office software ; proficiency in AutoCad a plus
• Practical experience in small engine repair and/or plumbing a plus
• Ability to work both under pressure and in difficult and insecure environments required

IRC - Ethiopia (Reference: IRC-ETH)

TITLE: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INTERN
LOCATION: AWASSA, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
INTERNSHIP DURATION: 6 MONTHS (Start Date October 2008)
REPORT TO: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COORDINATOR

PROGRAM SUMMARY:

IRC Ethiopia has been implementing an Environmental Health program in Southern Nations and Nationalities Peoples’ Region (SNNPR) State in Ethiopia since July 2005. At its inception the program was aimed at addressing emergency water needs arising from the prevailing drought. The changing climatic and public health circumstances have necessitated a gradual shift of the program context resulting in focusing to a larger extent on longer-term drought and disease outbreak mitigation activities through a combination of emergency relief and development-type environmental health programming.

Water and sanitation-related diseases arising from inadequate environmental health conditions are common in SNNPR .Through the rehabilitation and construction of additional water sources, IRC is addressing the urgent water and sanitation needs of the populations. These activities are implementing alongside a hygiene promotion program that covers all communities where water sources are constructed and/or rehabilitated. This is an essential part of ensuring that the construction and rehabilitation programme will result in improved domestic and personal hygiene and that the communities reap maximum benefits accruing from the use of the newly constructed and/or rehabilitated water sources. Water and sanitation committees are established in order to enable targeted communities to operate, manage and sustain water and sanitation services. In addition, the program includes components of capacity strengthening of local government water and health offices to improve their level of environmental health related support to communities.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The intern will work as a part of the Environmental Health team based in SNNPR. She/he will under the direction of the Environmental Health Coordinator contribute to the following:

• Provide support for ensuring activities comply with appropriate national/international standards and best practices and are focused on improving the environmental health conditions of the population.
• Provide support to the design, installation, operation and management of environmental health infrastructure.
• Provide support to the development/improvement of data collection systems for monitoring and evaluation of environmental health activities.
• Provide support to report writing and development of concept papers and proposals.
• Provide training for environmental health staff as part of their continuing professional development.
• Provide support for conducting emergency environmental health assessments in SNNPR and other parts of Ethiopia as need arises.
REQUIREMENTS:
• University degree in engineering with a specialty in water and sanitation
• Good understanding of community-based environmental health programming
• Highly motivated and with a desire to work with culturally diverse communities and local authorities
• Good team player and adept at creating a strong team spirit.
• Able to live and work in remote and isolated areas
• Excellent written and spoken English

IRC - Uganda (Reference: IRC-UGA)

Duration: 6-10 months (Starting October)
Location: Kampala, with travel to field locations.
Supervisor: EH Coordinator.

Background

With an overall objective to improve the quality of life for refugees, internally displaced and other victims of armed conflict and oppression, IRC Uganda began working in Kitgum and Pader Districts in 1998 in response to the immense needs of people displaced by the war. In 2002, the IRC opened offices in Lira and Masindi, following LRA attacks on an IRC-managed refugee camp in Pader and the flight of over 20,000 Sudanese refugees from Pader through Lira to Masindi. In 2003, the IRC opened an office in Nakapiripirit to implement the IRC-led, USAID-funded, Community Resilience and Dialogue consortium in Karamoja.

IRC activities include hygiene promotion, road, latrine, school and other construction. IRC is also involved in safe water production both during an emergency and for development.

The situation in Uganda at present is such that work is moving away from the emergency phase to the development phase and is in a state of transition. It is with transition that IRC has written a proposal for OFDA and UNHCR to produce safe water in a manner that can be reproduced locally and not have to rely on heavy equipment and large amounts of money.

Scope of Work

There are 8 shallows wells in Masindi and 9 in Kitgum that need to be developed from scratch. During the times in the camp setting shallow wells were outlawed due to densely populated areas that gave high risk to the contamination of the shallow wells. Now that the people are returning to their homes there are good opportunities to re-introduce hand dug wells.

The work will consist of constructing a hand dug well using the method of culverts and a method of curved brick. The well needs to be plumb, well sealed with a cover, clay seal, apron and a hand pump and door access to the water. All safety precautions must be in place. A comparison of the costs and ease of work between the culvert and the curved brick will also need to be complete.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Engineering with emphasis on water/civil, or appropriate relevant work experience preferred;
• Clear communication and presentation style;
• Good interpersonal skills;
• Flexibility and ability to multi-task;
• Willing to travel to field locations including some areas of medium insecurity.

IRC - Kenya (Reference: IRC-UGA)



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A ROCHA - GHANA (Reference: ARI-GHA)

Country (Continent): Ghana (Africa)
Region: Molu National Park
Name of Partner Organisation: A Rocha International
Headquarters of partner organisation: A Rocha International, France

Main working fields of organisation: Forestry, carbon mitigation project, community conservation work, tree planting (see: www.climatestewards.net)
Number of Employees: 250 staff and many thousands of volunteers globally. 15 staff employed on this project

A Rocha is a Christian nature conservation organisation, our name coming from the Portuguese for “the Rock,” as the first initiative was a field study centre in Portugal. A Rocha is now a family of projects working in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North and South America, Asia and Australasia. A Rocha projects are frequently cross-cultural in character, and share a community emphasis, with a focus on science and research, practical conservation and environmental education.
One of the main causes of current biodiversity loss is the destruction of habitats. Whether by dramatic damage or by slow decline, this process not only diminishes the world’s wealth of plants and animals, but also creates less functional landscapes that are unable to satisfy human needs.
A Rocha chooses to ground its scientific expertise and theological principles in sites. For each of A Rocha’s study and management sites, the presence of a resident A Rocha team with its programme of research and conservation is working to reverse habitat decline and biodiversity loss. The sites provide case studies of wider relevance on the protection and restoration of valuable habitats and species.
All over the world Christians are realising that important habitats and their wildlife urgently need protection and so, since 1994, new A Rocha projects have started in other parts of Europe, the Middle East, Africa and North America. The international cross-cultural strength of the Christian community has been making a unique contribution, not least as communities struggle to reconcile the need to protect biodiversity with their hopes for sustainable development. A Rocha projects have a community emphasis, bringing together people from widely differing backgrounds to work towards common goals.

Project Information:

Background:
A Rocha Ghana has been in existence since November 1999 as a registered charity, formerly known as the Eden Conservation Society. The A Rocha International Trustees accepted the Eden Conservation Society as an A Rocha national organisation in July 2003. A Rocha Ghana recognizes the inextricable link between modern man and the survival of the earth's flora and fauna. They aim to conserve important areas for wildlife through working with local communities whose livelihood depends on sustainable harvesting.

Tasks for volunteering placements:

To be specified in the coming weeks with interested volunteers. Tasks can be matched to individual strengths.

Starting date and Duration of placement:
Volunteers can arrive at any time and stay between 6 and 12 months.

Number of Volunteers required: to 3 volunteers could be suitably accommodated.

Skills required:

• Requirements – interest in nature conservation
• Desirable – background in hydrology, ecology or water/ land management
SAFAD contact person for additional information:Esther Youlten
Website: www.arocha.org

A ROCHA - India (Reference: ARI-IND)

Country (Continent): India
Region: Bannerghatta National Park
Name of Partner Organisation: A Rocha International
Headquarters of partner organisation: A Rocha International, France

Main working fields of organisation: Work in villages and rural areas. Mitigation of elephant-human conflicts, forest ecology, community conservation, environmental education
Number of Employees: 250 staff and many thousands of volunteers globally. 15 staff employed on this project

A Rocha is a Christian nature conservation organisation, our name coming from the Portuguese for “the Rock,” as the first initiative was a field study centre in Portugal. A Rocha is now a family of projects working in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North and South America, Asia and Australasia. A Rocha projects are frequently cross-cultural in character, and share a community emphasis, with a focus on science and research, practical conservation and environmental education.
One of the main causes of current biodiversity loss is the destruction of habitats. Whether by dramatic damage or by slow decline, this process not only diminishes the world’s wealth of plants and animals, but also creates less functional landscapes that are unable to satisfy human needs.
A Rocha chooses to ground its scientific expertise and theological principles in sites. For each of A Rocha’s study and management sites, the presence of a resident A Rocha team with its programme of research and conservation is working to reverse habitat decline and biodiversity loss. The sites provide case studies of wider relevance on the protection and restoration of valuable habitats and species.
All over the world Christians are realising that important habitats and their wildlife urgently need protection and so, since 1994, new A Rocha projects have started in other parts of Europe, the Middle East, Africa and North America. The international cross-cultural strength of the Christian community has been making a unique contribution, not least as communities struggle to reconcile the need to protect biodiversity with their hopes for sustainable development. A Rocha projects have a community emphasis, bringing together people from widely differing backgrounds to work towards common goals.

Project Information:

Background:
A Rocha India is a non-profit public charitable trust with objectives relating to the conservation of natural resources and biodiversity in the Indian subcontinent.

Tasks for volunteering placements:

To be specified in the coming weeks with interested volunteers. Tasks can be matched to individual strengths.

Starting date and Duration of placement:
Volunteers can arrive at any time and stay between 6 and 12 months.

Number of Volunteers required: Up to 3 volunteers could be suitably accommodated.

Skills required:

• Requirements – interest in nature conservation
• Desirable – background in hydrology, ecology or water/land management
SAFAD contact person for additional information:Esther Youlten
Website: www.arocha.org

A ROCHA - Kenya (Reference: ARI-KEN)

Country (Continent): Kenya
Region: Watamu (near Mombasa)
Name of Partner Organisation: A Rocha International
Headquarters of partner organisation: A Rocha International, France

Main working fields of organisation: Work in villages and rural areas. Tree nurseries, agroforestry, sustainable agriculture, wetland management
Number of Employees: 250 staff and many thousands of volunteers globally. 15 staff employed on this project

A Rocha is a Christian nature conservation organisation, our name coming from the Portuguese for “the Rock,” as the first initiative was a field study centre in Portugal. A Rocha is now a family of projects working in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North and South America, Asia and Australasia. A Rocha projects are frequently cross-cultural in character, and share a community emphasis, with a focus on science and research, practical conservation and environmental education.
One of the main causes of current biodiversity loss is the destruction of habitats. Whether by dramatic damage or by slow decline, this process not only diminishes the world’s wealth of plants and animals, but also creates less functional landscapes that are unable to satisfy human needs.
A Rocha chooses to ground its scientific expertise and theological principles in sites. For each of A Rocha’s study and management sites, the presence of a resident A Rocha team with its programme of research and conservation is working to reverse habitat decline and biodiversity loss. The sites provide case studies of wider relevance on the protection and restoration of valuable habitats and species.
All over the world Christians are realising that important habitats and their wildlife urgently need protection and so, since 1994, new A Rocha projects have started in other parts of Europe, the Middle East, Africa and North America. The international cross-cultural strength of the Christian community has been making a unique contribution, not least as communities struggle to reconcile the need to protect biodiversity with their hopes for sustainable development. A Rocha projects have a community emphasis, bringing together people from widely differing backgrounds to work towards common goals.

Project Information:

Background:
Malindi District is home to some of the richest and most diverse habitats in the whole of Kenya - 10% of Kenya’s Important Bird Areas, considered internationally important for bird conservation, are found within a 30 km radius of Malindi. These include Arabuko-Sokoke Forest which is the largest remnant of dry coastal forest in East Africa and considered to be one of the most important forests for bird conservation in mainland Africa. It also includes Mida Creek, considered one of the most productive mangrove ecosystems on earth and of international importance for some of its bird species, and the Sabaki River Mouth with thousands of waders, gulls and terns regularly found on it.

Despite the richness and diversity of local habitats in this area, an exploding population and desperately high levels of poverty are putting a huge strain on the delicate relationship between the local people and the surrounding environment.

By working with the local communities, A Rocha Kenya (ARK) aims to achieve the long-term conservation of threatened habitats and species in the Malindi-Watamu area. ARK was formally established in 1999 and opened the Mwamba Bird Observatory and Field Study Centre in Watamu in 2002.

Tasks for volunteering placements:

To be specified in the coming weeks with interested volunteers. Tasks can be matched to individual strengths.

Starting date and Duration of placement:
Volunteers can arrive at any time and stay between 6 and 12 months.

Number of Volunteers required: Up to 3 volunteers could be suitably accommodated.

Skills required:

• Requirements – interest in nature conservation
• Desirable – background in hydrology, ecology or water/ land management
SAFAD contact person for additional information:Esther Youlten
Website: www.arocha.org

A ROCHA - Lebanon (Reference: ARI-LEB)

Country (Continent): Lebanon
Region: Bekaa Valley
Name of Partner Organisation: A Rocha International
Headquarters of partner organisation: A Rocha International, France

Main working fields of organisation: Management of freshwater wetlands, environmental education, hydrology, forest restoration
Number of Employees: 250 staff and many thousands of volunteers globally. 7 staff employed on this project

A Rocha is a Christian nature conservation organisation, our name coming from the Portuguese for “the Rock,” as the first initiative was a field study centre in Portugal. A Rocha is now a family of projects working in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North and South America, Asia and Australasia. A Rocha projects are frequently cross-cultural in character, and share a community emphasis, with a focus on science and research, practical conservation and environmental education.
One of the main causes of current biodiversity loss is the destruction of habitats. Whether by dramatic damage or by slow decline, this process not only diminishes the world’s wealth of plants and animals, but also creates less functional landscapes that are unable to satisfy human needs.
A Rocha chooses to ground its scientific expertise and theological principles in sites. For each of A Rocha’s study and management sites, the presence of a resident A Rocha team with its programme of research and conservation is working to reverse habitat decline and biodiversity loss. The sites provide case studies of wider relevance on the protection and restoration of valuable habitats and species.
All over the world Christians are realising that important habitats and their wildlife urgently need protection and so, since 1994, new A Rocha projects have started in other parts of Europe, the Middle East, Africa and North America. The international cross-cultural strength of the Christian community has been making a unique contribution, not least as communities struggle to reconcile the need to protect biodiversity with their hopes for sustainable development. A Rocha projects have a community emphasis, bringing together people from widely differing backgrounds to work towards common goals.

Project Information:

Background:
A Rocha Lebanon was founded in 1996, its initial focus to save the Aammiq marshes from destruction. The Aammiq Wetland is Lebanon's most significant remaining natural freshwater site, one of all too few in the Middle East. This major stop-over site for migrating birds was under severe threat. Due to the work of A Rocha the reduction of its habitats has been reversed and it is now a designated Ramsar site. Beyond Aammiq, A Rocha works throughout the country, on behalf of government departments, nature reserves and international conservation bodies. A Rocha Lebanon works in three main areas:

• Scientific Study
• Practical Conservation
• Environmental Education


Tasks for volunteering placements:

To be specified in the coming weeks with interested volunteers. Tasks can be matched to individual strengths.

Starting date and Duration of placement:
Volunteers can arrive at any time and stay between 6 and 12 months.

Number of Volunteers required: Up to 3 volunteers could be suitably accommodated.

Skills required:
• Requirements – interest in nature conservation
• Desirable – background in hydrology, ecology or water/ land management
SAFAD contact person for additional information:Esther Youlten
Website: www.arocha.org