The purpose of the USAID Expanding Water and Sanitation Project is to professionalize water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, to promote accountability for reliable and high-quality WASH services, and to enhance the enabling environment for private sector engagement (PSE) in service delivery in Zambia. This project will incorporate a series of interventions that support and strengthen sector governance and enhance public-private partnerships for improved WASH service delivery in a manner that: i) institutionalizes market-based WASH service delivery through financially sustainable and inclusive management models; ii) increases accountability of WASH service providers, policymakers, and civic leaders; iii) supports policy and regulatory reform; and iv) increases private sector participation. These interventions together will provide increased access to safe water, improved sanitation, and enhance the capacity of Zambian government, private sector, and civil society organizations.
The project has designed and operationalized a Construction Fund (CF) for new, expansion, and/or rehabilitation of water and sanitation infrastructures. The fund will support new piped water systems or expansion of existing infrastructure for water and sanitation services. It is envisaged that the construction works to be undertaken will help service providers to achieve financial and operational improvements, in addition to piloting private sector partnerships.
The construction fund will be disbursed to undertake the following construction activities in areas that will qualify based on the selection and evaluation process.
Water Supply:
- New boreholes with Hand Pumps
- Rehabilitated and improved boreholes with Hand Pumps
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Household and Community Water Connections Including:
- Solar Systems with Distribution Network
- Extensions and Rehabilitated Distribution Network
- Innovative surface water compact filtration
- Water Kiosks
Sanitation:
- Waterborne Toilets (institutions only)
- Sewer Connections and Rehabilitation
Purpose and Justification of Activity
Under USAID Expanding WASH, an internship program will be established to include activities that link students and recent graduates of institutions of learning (Universities, Colleges, trade schools) to Commercial Utilities (CUs) and Local Authorities (LAs). Interns will be hired to support construction activities under this program. As part of the internship program, the Construction Interns will work to support the USAID Expanding WASH Project in data entry and the execution of various tasks falling under the categories the site identification, evaluation, and construction of WASH Infrastructure. This specific Internship will be based in Lusaka.
Learning Objectives:
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Experience working with Construction management software and systems including:
- Data collection and analysis using Mwater app during the Site Selection and Field Appraisals
- Tracking progress and updates on the status of project by using Microsoft Project
- Construction monitoring in dispersed sites by using the Global Build Solution App (Information Management System).
- Smartsheet for task and timeline management, as well as overall organization
- The Intern will also learn about the construction management life cycle which includes the planning phase, design phase, procurement of construction services, contracting and overall contract management during construction implementation.
Responsibilities
- Entry and verification of data related to construction and other USAID Expanding WASH activities
- Support stakeholder meeting planning, including but not limited to agenda preparation and facilitation
- Assist with drafting meeting minutes
- Assist in construction related procurement follow ups with contractors and suppliers to ensure timely deliveries
- Assist with maintaining a tracker of construction contracts and manage timely renewal/change order processes
- Support proper filing of construction procurement documents in SharePoint
- Organize disposition of project construction assets when required
- Assist with preparations for Site Selection Field Appraisals and other construction activities
- Assist Review and provide preliminary comments on Site Selection Field Appraisal data collected
- Assist with compiling summary reports of data collection for Site Selection Field Appraisal
RTII’s Internship Program emphasizes experiential and mentored learning experiences, providing students and recent degree recipients an opportunity to apply their academic knowledge and skills in a meaningful and practical way. We are committed to developing the future workforce by encouraging interns to explore various career paths in a nonprofit research institute setting that values diversity and inclusion. Through this program, interns will be exposed to RTII’s open and educational culture; support RTII’s mission to improve the human condition; and build upon their career goals.
Additional Information
This in-person internship is supported by a monthly stipend. The position is scheduled to be active from March/April 2024 through June 2024. The internship requires a minimum commitment of 40 hours per week. This internship will have a specific daily start and end time.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Must be a Zambian Citizen
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Must be a recent graduate with a minimum qualification of University Degree in an Engineering Field
- Recent undergraduate degree recipients who received their degrees in August 2023 or after would be eligible to apply
- Must be computer literate and possess a functional computer
- Excellent communication and organization skills
- Demonstrated initiative and self-motivation in performing assigned tasks