Bia Hula: Water Supply and Management Advisor

Posted by Kim Axworthy to South East Asia, 8th August 2010, 3:22pm
Location: , East Timor Link to google map
Applications close 6th September 2010

Partner Description:

Bia Hula Foundation is a Timor Leste Non Government Organisation (NGO) working towards bringing water and sanitation to Timor Leste’s communities, facilitating their skills and fostering their development. Bia Hula works with communities in the western districts of Timor Leste on a range of projects from helping to design, construct and maintain water and sanitation schemes; assisting with setting up and sustaining community organisations; and water and sanitation awareness initiatives.

Currently Bia Hula employs 9 full time staff, 5 of which work full time with the Plan water and sanitation program in the Aileu district. Bia Hula also currently undertake projects in Emera, Bobonaro and Atabae districts.

Bia Hula has been an ongoing successful organisation in the Water and Sanitation industry since 1993 but in the recent unrest in 2006 their office was burnt down and all the office documentation and equipment was lost in the fire. They have since being rebuilding their internal organisational systems, staff skills and capacity in the water and sanitation sector.

Bia Hula Board, Management team and Field Staff are now trying to re-emerge as one of the key Water Supply and Sanitation NGOs in Timor-Leste. During the course of last year, Bia Hula was supported by a EWB volunteer who soon will finish her assignment. Continued support by an engineer from EWB is still necessary to continue to increase the capacity and skills of the staff.

 

   

 

Project Background:

Bia Hula Foundation have received assistance previously from an EWB volunteer to strengthen organisational development and technical water engineering skills.  Assistance in consolidating and furthering these skills is sought in the following two key areas:

• Skills development in water supply project management and delivery to remote communities to deliver quality designed, cost effective and efficient water supply
• Skills and capacity development in Organisational Management to enhance staff and finance management as well as organisational planning and sustainability.

   

Role Required:

 The specific objectives for the role of the volunteer would include:

1. Enhance staff skills and capacity to undertake water supply design including hydraulic analysis & pipe sizing for gravity and pressure systems, pump sizing, use of mechanical and hand pumps, use of AutoCAD & EPANET programs.
2. Developing and Mentoring in Project Management components: planning, budgeting, scheduling, construction, maintenance, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL), and reporting.
3. Organisational Management components: staff management, financial management, strategic planning and management including developing marketing and promotional plan
4. Teach and practice English language.

The volunteer will work directly with the Bia Hula Director, Mr Amaro de Jesus, in achieving these objectives.

The volunteer will be based in the Dili head office, with frequent travel to project sites in the districts. Some site visits are overnight or several days.

 

Timing:

The role consists of three important phases beginning October 2010, including a 12 month field placement in East Timor commencing in January 2011.

 

Phase 1: Pre-departure – October 2010

• Pre-departure preparation (medical clearances, training, administrative)
• Linking with the Australian based EWB project team if required for the project
• Linking with a local EWB chapter to enhance your resources and support networks and create opportunities for sharing your experience with members
• Identifying additional resources and support for the project
• Communicating with the Partner Organisation to discuss and clarify the project and role requirements

Phase 2: Field operations – January 2011

• Departure to host country and partner organisations
• Working alongside your counterpart within the partner organisation to meet your position objectives and build organisational and technical capacity
• Linking with EWB Field Officers to develop appropriate ‘Learning & Change’ materials to share with EWB members and partner organisations

 Phase 3: Post field alumni – 2012

• Return to Australia to collaborate with the project team, knowledge hub (if relevant) and with an EWB chapter for a minimum period of 12 months  - this is on a casual volunteer basis – e.g. one evening a fortnight
• Participate in various EWB events including the National Conference and intake presentation evenings
• Participate in the development and dissemination of ‘Learning & Change’ materials within the EWB community
• Mentor future field volunteers preparing to work with the partner organisation

To fulfill this role, the volunteer will receive an allowance for living and basic accommodation while overseas, airfares to your host country at the commencement and completion of the placement, travel and emergency evacuation insurance, technical and personal support from EWB staff and chapters.

 

Applications

Please complete the volunteer application form and attach a statement addressing how you meet the essential and desirable selection criteria. We cannot assess applications that do not address the selection criteria.

 

Selection Criteria

We are looking for people who want to make a difference through a challenging cross-cultural experience, who are committed to having positive impact in overseas communities through all aspects of their placement, and who are willing to share their experiences with others to create change within the engineering sector in Australia

It is important that our volunteers understand that they will be working to build local capacity, rather than manage and deliver a project themselves, and this should always be their key focus.

 

For this particular role, it is essential that the candidate has:

• Strong engineering skills with experience in design and construction of rural water supply and sanitation, including preferably in developing communities
• Excellent capability in project and staff management demonstrated through successful own business or supervisory roles in a larger enterprise that focuses on engineering and community outcomes
• Technical proficiency in AutoCAD and EPANET
• Skills and strong interest in mentoring and training through 1:1 and workshop environments, as well as demonstrated team building and leadership skills
• Demonstrated effective networking skills and knowledge of organisational marketing

The ideal candidate would also have meeting the following desirable criteria:

• Knowledge or ability to learn local language Tetun, and/or Bahasa (Please note – the working language is Tetun. Tetun is an easy language to learn, but the volunteer must be willing to seriously undertake several weeks of intensive language lessons at the commencement of this placement)
• Understanding, knowledge of and interest in capacity building approaches in developing communities
• Ability to demonstrate good communication skills and patience with colleagues, donors, community members and suppliers
• Ability to work in developing country conditions such as intermittent power supply, poor access to rural areas, irregular internet and telecommunications access
• Motorbike license or willing to obtain one prior to departure (non essential but will make your life a lot easier!)

 

Our field volunteers are expected to demonstrate the following personal attributes:

• Humility
• Cross-cultural communication skills
• Empathy and caring for others
• Enthusiasm and passion
• Creativity
• Willingness to learn
• Adaptability and ability to deal with ambiguity
• Good understanding of capacity development and current development issues
• Leadership skills and experience in a leadership role
• Ruggedness and ability to live in harsh conditions

Additional Information

Confirmation of secondment is subject to:

• Formal approval from EWB and the partner organisation.
• Procurement of visa and work permits.
• Satisfactory completion of a first aid certificate.
• Satisfactory participation in a pre-departure briefing run by EWB in November 2010.
• A satisfactory medical examination of the applicant.
• A satisfactory criminal record check of the applicant and accompanying adults by the Australian Police.

 EWB adheres to statutory laws in Australia and foreign countries regarding child exploitation, child pornography and the abuse of children. We are committed to the protection of children from all forms of harm.

Applications close on Monday 6th September.

Please complete and return applications to k.axworthy@ewb.org.au with “Bia Hula” as the subject title.

Or post to the EWB Perth Office:
c/o The University of Western Australia
School of Environmental Systems Engineering
M015
Stirling Highway
Crawley 6009
WA

Please DO NOT attach CVs, references or any other documentation

For more information contact Kim Axworthy – South East Asia Program Coordinator:

Email: k.axworthy@ewb.org.au
Ph: +618 6488 8039

 

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