Volunteer with VSA

This assignment is a result of a partnership between Engineers without Borders New Zealand (EWBNZ) and VSA. The assignment could be based in a number of locations in Vanuatu. 
 
Despite significant donor investment in the WASH sector, the Government of Vanuatu has lacked capacity to coordinate and oversee the multiple stakeholders involved, resulting in fragmented project delivery, duplications, overly complex water systems and often poor outcomes for communities. The newly formed Department of Water Resources (DoWR) is being supported by the New Zealand Government and UNICEF to address the challenges of coordinating the sector. As part of this support, a ‘National Implementation Plan for Safe & Secure Drinking Water’ (NIP) is being finalised and will provide a framework for achieving 100% access to safely managed drinking water by 2030.
 
The volunteer will work to strengthen the capacity of The Provincial Water Office (PWO) and assist them in implementing a Drinking Water Safety and Security Plan (DWSSP). This will be achieved through a number of different activities including; providing technical training to communities and service providers, liaising with community representatives on initiatives related to sanitation improvements, carrying out surveying and developing water supply designs.
 
We are looking for an engineer who is passionate about safe water outcomes and is willing and able to travel to remote locations.
 
We are looking for a volunteer with:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, advanced plumbing certificate/experience, a Bachelor’s in construction management or a related field
• At least three years’ experience in water infrastructure design and construction contract administration, supervision or management
• Experience in providing on-the-job training and mentoring

VSA volunteers receive a living allowance and accommodation, insurance, and medical costs are provided. Travel arrangements are organised and funded by VSA along with other costs.

VSA's response to COVID-19

Although we have temporarily put our deployment of volunteers on hold due to COVID-19 restrictions and uncertainties both within New Zealand and across the wider Pacific, we’re continuing to recruit and build our talent pool of prospective volunteers so we can return to supporting our partner organisations and communities in the wider Pacific as soon as we can.