Tuesday, October 28, 2014

GOAL Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) Desk Study Intern Vacancy in Nairobi

Terms of Reference for Intern: Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) in Nairobi, Desk Study

About GOAL: GOAL is an international non-governmental, non-political, non-denominational relief and development organisation currently working in 12 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Consistent with its global mission to serve the poorest, the most vulnerable, and those affected by humanitarian crises, GOAL has been working with communities in difficult circumstances to implement relief, rehabilitation and development programmes over the last 30 years. 

With a focus in Africa where HIV&AIDS, corruption, gender inequalities and unmitigated poverty have continued to slow economic growth and development, GOAL is addressing the diverse and complex needs of the very poor and vulnerable individuals and communities that arise from social, economic, cultural and political exclusion.
 
GOAL Kenya Country Programme: GOAL started responding to emergencies in Kenya in 1983 through partnerships with local organizations. GOAL began providing direct assistance to street children in 1995, before expanding in 2000 when GOAL established refugee assistance and a child and youth programme. 

This programme covered education, health, HIV& AIDS, child rescue, and rehabilitation and reintegration. It addressed the needs of vulnerable children in very poor communities in the Nairobi slums. 

In 2006, in response to a drought, GOAL opened a rural water programme in the arid and marginal areas of Kitui and Mwingi Districts. In 2007, GOAL opened a slum upgrading programme for Nairobi’s informal settlements. 

GOAL implements project activities under 5 key programme areas namely: 

(i) Health (community health, HIV&AIDS, WASH, health systems strengthening), 

(ii) Child Empowerment and Protection (Education, Protection and EVCY social economic support, institutional and policy strengthening), 

(iii) Livelihoods (Food access and availability, income and institutional strengthening) and 

(iv) Emergency response and risk reduction. 

GOAL mainstreams gender, HIV, environment and child protection in its interventions.
 
Background of the WASH intervention: For decades, population growth in Nairobi’s urban slums has outpaced the construction and maintenance of water and sanitation infrastructure. 

As a result, slum-dwellers are forced to rely on dangerous coping strategies that expose them to water and sanitation-related illnesses, including diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid and cholera. As a result, morbidity and mortality—especially among children—related to sanitation is significantly higher in Nairobi’s slums compared to other urban communities. 

For example, in Embakasi district (an area in Nairobi that includes several slum communities) neonatal mortality rates are more than five times higher than the Nairobi average (2009) and nearly 25% of children die before the age of 5 (2001).
 
To address the sanitation crisis and overcome the inherent constraints in slum communities, the Sanitation Improvements Through Market Strategies (SIMS) pilot project provides an innovative systems-based alternative that will leverage existing infrastructure and market opportunities to build an entire sanitation value chain that supports sustainable, effective and demand driven sanitation in urban slums. 

The SIMS project has three primary objectives: 

1) to improve knowledge among key stakeholders about existing barriers and opportunities for safe and sustainable sanitation in urban slums;

2) to improve access to safe, affordable and sustainable sanitation facilities for 20,000 residents of Mukuru; 

3) and to increase demand for and access to quality sanitation services for 183,000 residents in Mukuru through hygiene promotion and sanitation marketing.

Objectives of the internship
 
Conduct a desk study to complete a literature review on FSM practice in Nairobi. 

The desk study should seek to answer the following questions and focus in GOAL’s areas of operation:
  • What existing information exists on waste streams, quantities and characteristics?
  • How does FSM work at present? What are its strengths and inefficiencies?
  • What are the existing resources for FSM including personnel, skills, equipment, land etc?
  • What are the financial issues (including budget, cost recovery, forecasting)?
  • What policies, legislation and regulations apply? What level of political ownership/vision exists?
  • Who are the actors? What level of investment and interest is there from the private sector?
  • What are the potential hazards from working in FSM?
  • What are the key constraining factors (e.g. lack of co-operation, lack of equipment, no disposal site, land issues, etc.)?
  • What are the socio-cultural issues and expectations (e.g. attitudes and level of cooperation)?
  • What FSM programs are currently operational in Nairobi? What are the strengths and challenges facing these programs?
Scope of Work
 
The intern will be expected to undertake the following tasks:
  • Upon agreement, carry out a desk study on FSM in Nairobi with particular focus on GOAL areas of operation
Deliverables: A desk study report (maximum 30 pages) providing an overview of the FSM situation in Nairobi with links to relevant resources. The report should identify the shortcomings and challenges of existing FSM systems.

Expected profile of the intern
  • Student or recent graduate in a related field of study e.g. environmental management and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) related subjects.
  • Academic understanding of FSM
  • Previous experience in this or a similar field is desirable
GOAL’s Role
  • Provide a salary of 20,000Ksh
  • Support in providing access to communities and introductions to some stakeholders.
  • Use of GOAL vehicles, when available, to meet with stakeholders and field visits.
Timeframe for intern: It is expected that the desk study will take approximately one month and begin in early November. The start date is flexible.

Submission of proposals: CV and cover letter detailing your suitability for this role should be submitted to Dorothy Dolo ddolo@ke.goal.ie 

or delivered to GOAL Kenya office P.O Box 66242-00800 Nairobi. Kilimani- Nyangumi Rd, off Lenana Rd .

Please quote “WASH FSM study” in the subject line of the email or on the application envelope
 
The closing date for applications is 7th November, 2014.