Organization Mercy Corps
Closing date: 16 Nov 2013
City Kampala
Country Uganda
Mercy Corps implements high-quality, analytical work in the world’s toughest places. Within Uganda, Mercy Corps works principally in post-conflict or transitional areas, including the Karamoja and Acholi sub-regions, to integrate targeted assistance for the immediate needs of critically vulnerable populations with a larger strategic focus on market facilitation that promotes long-term systemic change. By addressing a number of interrelated needs within a wide range of activities, Mercy Corps applies a broad but integrated approach to address challenges to product and service availability, access and utilization.
Poor access to water creates a range of inconveniences that conspire to undermine smallholder farmer household productivity. As part of a recent market analysis conducted in the rural Pader District of northern Uganda, Mercy Corps interviewed households and found that 91 percent stand in line to collect water for domestic use an average of 65 minutes every day. In Pader, women and female children are overwhelmingly responsible for water collection collecting six, 20-liter jerry cans of water daily and transporting them over 250km annually. Women in Pader reported frequent borehole breakdowns and long distances required to travel for collection. They also reported poor water point sanitation, suspecting it as the cause of community-wide disease – not surprising in an area where water-borne illness is a leading cause of death.
Manually-drilled boreholes (MDB) employ centuries-old, low-cost technology to avail access to water at a fraction of the cost of traditional boreholes. MDB shift water access to the point of use, dramatically lightening time, energy and labor loads associated with water collection at the community level. Basic water service at the point of consumption eases women’s workload burden and improves the well-being of their entire families. MDB improves health outcomes for families by reducing water-borne illness and improving hygiene. They also avail access to water at the farm level, enabling labor-saving and cost-effective irrigation that moves the smallholder farmer from reliance on rain-fed irrigation to opportunities for improved, productivity-enhancing irrigation methods, which are most appropriate for women-managed vegetable gardening during the dry season.
MDB are also a widely recognized solution to the rural water problem, championed by organizations and governments around the world. Skilled drillers are essential for the dissemination and use of MDB technology.
Many MDB dissemination strategies hinge on training small-scale businesses through donor funds. There may be an opportunity to test a new model of dissemination. To do so, a better business model for MDB is clearly needed – one that incorporates standardization, embedded training for drillers and widespread branding in its for-profit operational structure. A franchise system held by a large hardware supplier, for example, may create a scalable, water-focused retail business that could push a range of complementary water products through established retail and driller channels – enabling scalability not only across northern Uganda and Uganda as a whole, but regionally.
Mercy Corps is looking to test MDB feasibility and to support new business models for low-cost, scaled MDB and associated water technology access in East Acholi. We’re seeking a qualified MDB specialist to support MDB feasibility testing, MDB training and some business development support.
OBJECTIVE OF THIS ASSIGNMENT
To train selected businesses on MDB viability, technology, quality control and business development within East Acholi.
SPECIFIC TASKS/DELIVERABLES OF THIS ASSIGNMENT
Chart the viability of MDB within greater East Acholi using desk research and drilling maps. A basic map of the region estimating and highlighting degrees of MDB feasibility will be produced.
Plot the viability of MDB within greater Pajule, doing so alongside four pre-selected businesses, all with some drilling experience, and so concurrently building their capacity to understand geological requirements and drilling needs. It is expected that a map of drilling potential and yields will be produced for greater Pajule other surrounding areas with feasibility. It is also expected that several test boreholes will be drilled. Driller interest will also be measured and weighed during this time, with recommendations on best business partners provided.
Develop training package, including:
Provide overview of training, including schedules and training plans and materials.
List all tools and materials required for drilling, with estimated costs. Should be provided in a list in advance, ensuring that procurement can be completed prior to the training. Note, the participants will be required to pay for their own equipment as part of training fee.
Deliver applied and practical training of selected businesses in all aspects of siting, drilling, and borehole completion for MDB technology and installation of appropriate pumps.
Deliver applied and practical training of selected businesses in service delivery for MDB, including cost estimating, contract writing, marketing and basic business acumen.
Monitor and rate selected businesses on skill level, business acumen and quality control capacity, completed in two phases: first, following the initial training and second, six weeks after the initial training has concluded. Provide a plan for ongoing and post-training monitoring, subject to support and approval from Mercy Corps.
Support participating businesses to kick-start their businesses in the following ways:
Helping businesses to understand materials and equipment needed for them to commence commercial drilling activity;
Linking businesses to suppliers and fabricators of the key materials and equipment in the drilling business;
Working closely with MC and businesses to develop business plans, strategies and other documentation;
Provide MC with training progress reports, evaluations of drilling teams and selected businesses and a post-training/monitoring report.
Develop with MC an overview of the ongoing and future support required to support the growth and development of trained MDB businesses.
ROLE OF MERCY CORPS
Mercy Corps responsibilities in this study include the following:
Provision of the necessary documents for review.
Provision of necessary supplies, agreed to at contracting phase.
Support consultant/company and the trained businesses to develop business models and strategies that can best reach and scale within East Acholi.
Avail Economic Development Team members in the planning and execution of activities.
Provide inputs and comments to assessment, report, work plan and recommendations, namely from the Economic and Market Development Manager and Economic Development Team.
TIMELINE
This work is expected to transpire in September, October and November 2013.
SKILLS REQUIRED
Extensive experience delivering MDB training and building MDB businesses.
Experience testing and plotting MDB feasibility.
Business development experience.
Proven ability to work independently, delivering high-quality end products.
How to apply:
APPLY VIA URL:
http://mercycorps.silkroad.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjo...
