Practical Action Sri Lanka – Water Resource/Hydraulic Engineer

Posted by Ian Cunningham to South Asia, 8th August 2010, 8:52am
Location: , Sri Lanka
Applications close 6th September 2010

Description  

Practical Action Sri Lanka has been working for over 20 years to eradicate poverty and realise a sustainable future for all Sri Lankans. Practical Action are a new EWB community partner. EWB and Practical Action are forming a collaboration to undertake both project work and research on rehabilitating an agricultural irrigation system that was devastated by the tsunami.

 Your mission should you choose to apply for it, would be to work within the Practical Action project team that are undertaking a five year, multifaceted rural renewal project in a Tsunami and conflict affected Eastern district of Sri Lanka.  The team uses civil engineering, resource management and community development approaches to build the capacity and resilience of agricultural cooperatives to manage and operate a local irrigation scheme and other enterprises. 

 

Your role will involve sharing and imparting technical skills and knowledge in the areas of water resource and hydraulic modelling with Practical Action staff and other counterparts to re-develop a damaged and dilapidated irrigation scheme. The knowledge transfer will occur through action based learning, as you develop the water resource and hydraulic models to simulate the irrigation and flood mitigation systems.  You will also develop and deliver technical training, mentoring and ongoing capacity building activities for counter parts and their professional peers.

The project is part of a larger distict deevlopment program, which engages the communities in five Grama Niladhari (GN) divisions in Batticaloa district.In Kathiraveli, priority need of the community is to rehabilitate the “Thamaravillu kulum” irrigation system. Irrigation system consists of flood control bund, water regulating gates and water storage areas.

The models developed will form a critical component of the irrigation scheme’s ongoing management framework. Simulation of the waterway and irrigation system, under predicted variation in conditions and operating regimes will enable local operators to make adaptive decisions to factors such as climate change. The specific activities will include:

• Hydraulic modelling to simulate all aspects of the waterways and irrigation scheme.
• Water resource modelling to simulate the scheme under different operating scenarios so as to enable effective, efficient and adaptive decision making and management.
• Assistance in the development ofn adaptive management decision making framwork that incorporates simulation results and other determined factors.
• Incorporation of climate change considerations into all simulations and the decision making framework.
• Assisting local staff to establish a maintenance and management plan, as well as contribution fund for the sustainability of the scheme.
• Deliver training and other capacity building activities on the operation of the models and water resource modelling for Practical Action staff and other key stakeholders in government departments and associated universities.  

 

Like all EWB volunteers you will not only be an ambassador for EWB, but the key person in our relationship with our partner and other potential partner organisations. A key component of this partnership which you will contribute to is establishment of collaborative research projects across the range of thematic areas that Practical Action operate. This gives you an opportunity to take part in creating the future of EWB’s work with Practical Action Sri Lanka.

Timing

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

 

Phase 1: Pre-departure – October 2010

• Pre-departure preparation (includes medical assessment, police clearances, training, administration)
• Liaise with the partner organisation, returned volunteers and Australian-based EWB project team as required
• Liaise with a local EWB chapter to enhance your resources and support networks and create opportunities for sharing your experience with members

Phase 2: Field operations – January 2011 – January 2012

• Depart to host country and partner organisation
• Collaborate with EWB Field Officers to develop appropriate ‘Learning & Change’ materials to share with EWB members and partner organisations
• Undertake specific role within partner organisation
• Monitor and evaluate progress

Phase 3: Post field alumni – February 2011 Onwards

• Return to Australia to continue collaborating with the project team, knowledge hub and EWB chapters for a minimum of 12 months
• Participate in various EWB events including the National Conference
• 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

Please note, post field alumni tasks are part-time/voluntary.

 

Criteria

Essential

• Relevant tertiary level degree in engineering/equivalent field.
• Extensive experience in water resource management, with proven experience in design, development and utilisation of simulation models using applications such as REALM or IQQM.
• Some experience in development and utilisation of hydraulic modelling to provide recommendations for waterway management (e.g. RoRB, HecRas, and/or other 1 or 2 dimensional modelling software).
• Experience in professional knowledge transfer, mentoring, or ‘train the trainer’ roles.
• Desire to work closely with local staff, to create capacity for mutual exchange of ideas to enable everyone to learn and develop professionally and personally. 
• Good problem solving techniques and initiative
• Self motivated and well organized, able to work independently with remote supervision

 

Desirable

• Experience working in developing context or with international and/or multicultural teams and stakeholders.
• Water balance modelling using specialised applications, Fortran or Excel.
• Have some knowledge on tropical agricultural and cropping systems and practices
• Singhalese and/or Tamil language knowledge, or an ability to learn foreign languages
• Evidence of a participatory approach to teamwork, experience working with community based organisations.

Personal Attributes

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Commitment to teamwork and capacity building techniques
• Ability to cope with cultural and professional isolation and possibly basic living conditions
• Patience, tolerance and flexibility
• Excellent health; physically and mentally capable of working in a new cultural setting in a potentially stressful environment

 

Allowances

• Volunteers will receive an allowance for living and basic accommodation.
• Volunteers will be provided with airfares at the commencement and completion of the placement, plus basic travel insurance and emergency evacuation insurance.

 

Applications

Please complete the volunteer application. We cannot assess applications that do not address the selection criteria. Applications close on 6th September 2010. Please complete and return applications to Ian Cunningham by email:

i.cunningham ‘at’ ewb.org.au

Or to the EWB National Office, PO Box 388, South Melbourne, VICTORIA 3205

Please DO NOT attach CVs, references or any other documentation. For more information contact Ian Cunningham at the National Office; at the email address above or on:

Ph:+61 3 9696 9040, Fax:+61 3 9696 9034

Confirmation of secondment is subject to:

• Successful interview and reference checks.
• 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 for the applicant.
• A satisfactory criminal record check by the Australian Police for the applicant and all accompanying adults.

 

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 all children from all forms of harm.

 

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