WASH Program Fellow

Location: Eswatini or Bolivia | Start Date: Flexible | Benefits: $700/month

Engineers in Action is hiring a Fellow (i.e., an intern). EIA seeks to alleviate rural poverty by leveraging the resources of our global partners to engage underserved communities and their governments to implement life-changing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) projects and the bridges needed to access them. This simultaneously provides solutions to rural poverty and builds local capacity to maintain those solutions for future generations. The volunteers who help build those infrastructure projects become the leaders our world needs to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Applicants will participate in a 6-12 month placement as a “Fellow”. The ideal candidate is an engineering professional or student with a strong background in WASH, writing skills, drafting/AutoCAD skills, education, and a passion for international development. Depending on the candidate, this could be either a fully remote position or an in-country internship that also participates in fieldwork.

Applicants will participate in a 6-12 month placement as a “Fellow”. The ideal candidate is a professional with international travel experience and a passion for international development.

​BACKGROUND

ESWATINI

EIA Eswatini’s WASH program is seeking an intern to work remotely or in the Eswatini office (located in Mbabane, Eswatini). EIA Eswatini works with university and professional volunteers, along with local staff members, to design and construct water systems in schools using a series of standard designs that are scaled and modified to the needs of each school. EIA’s WASH program in Eswatini is new and is growing in impact and capacity. We are improving our standard designs and training manuals based on experience from our recently implemented projects to improve the program's capacity.

BOLIVIA

Fundación Ingenieros en Acción (FIEA) Bolivia is seeking an intern to work in their offices in La Paz, Bolivia. FIEA works with several projects from conception, funding, implementation, etc. The projects we develop are mainly in the WASH sector, and we work primarily in rural and periurban areas around the country.

RESPONSIBILITIES

ESWATINI

The Fellow will coordinate with the Program Manager and local staff to improve the standard design drawings and training manuals used by the program and its volunteers.  

  1. Based on guidance from the program manager and local staff, modify and improve the standard design drawings used by the program.

  2. Based on guidance from the program manager and local staff, modify and improve the training/standards manual on EIA WASH Project designs.

  3. Based on guidance from the program manager and local staff, start developing and drafting the training/standards manual for WASH Project construction.

  4. Support the Program Manager in all other aspects of running the program as may arise and fit within the Fellow’s capabilities.

BOLIVIA

The Fellow coordinates with the municipality, community leaders, communities, and FIEA technical staff to implement the assigned projects and office activities. 

  1. Manage the logistics of the EIA student WASH teams including preparing site information packages, developing concept plans for projects, and serving as the point of contact for all student communications. 

  2. Contribute to the development of EIA student WASH program materials in collaboration with the Eswatini office.

  3. Design technical aspects of structures and water/sanitary lines as needed.

  4. Support the writing of grant proposals and post-implementation reports. 

  5. Support with the implementation of the assigned projects.

  6. Propose schedules to develop activities.

  7. Develop and submit approvals for initial fund requirements and provide timely expense reports according to the institutional requirements and funding organization.

  8. Properly administrate project funds.

  9. Organize and acquire support documentation of the project expenses made. 

  10. Organize the beneficiaries to implement the counterpart of the project activities and fulfill the goals and indicators of the projects.

  11. Elaborate reports when it is required.

  12. Support managing teams of volunteers that will visit the country.

QUALIFICATIONS

  1. Passion for the EIA Program’s mission and international non-profit work

  2. Experience and/or knowledge of surveying basics (Auto Level and Total Station)

  3. Experience in international or community development

  4. Exceptional, professional, and detail-oriented organizational skills with excellent time management and communication skills.

  5. A positive, optimistic, and can-do attitude with the ability to work with or without direction and or direct supervision.

  6. Creative, energetic, and self-motivated, with a proven track record of taking initiative and problem-solving

  7. Comfortable with our perpetual drive for improvement

  8. Fluent written and spoken English

  9. Bachelor in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) or major related to developing projects in the WASH sector (civil engineering, environmental engineering, or similar)

  10. Ability to represent the organization in a professional manner to external partners

  11. Passion for integrating experiential learning pedagogy into traditional engineering curricula.

  12. Professional experience in volunteer management, student empowerment, engineering design, construction management, and/or program management, with a strong preference for international development experience.

LOCATION

ESWATINI

This position offers two options: 

  1. A six to twelve-month commitment in Eswatini. Additional six-month assignments may be offered if the first assignment is excellent. This would be a full-time position. 

  2. A fully remote position, with the option for part-time, flexible work depending on the candidate and the goals of the internship.

BOLIVIA

  1. A six to twelve-month commitment in Bolivia. Additional six-month assignments may be offered if the first assignment is excellent. This would be a full-time position. 

SALARY

Fellows receive a $700/month living stipend. This is enough to live comfortably in the cities where our field offices are based, including pocket change for traveling/exploring/etc. All in-country work expenses (e.g., gas, purchases made on behalf of the organization, etc.) are reimbursed. There may be flexibility to increase compensation for this position depending on the candidate’s experience and qualifications. Please don’t hesitate to inquire about that possibility if needed.