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Intermediate Means of Transport Engineer needed for Lesotho Access and Mobility Study

An 8-person multi-disciplinary team has recently started to work in Lesotho conducting a study into basic access and mobility standards and needs. This is part of the Government of Lesotho's Integrated Transport Project and is supported by the World Bank and managed by PAC UK, the consulting arm of Practical Action, a UK-based international
NGO.
 
Due to unforeseen circumstances the Intermediate Means of Transport (IMT) Engineer originally recruited to take part in the project is no longer able to do so and therefore the project is urgently seeking a replacement IMT Engineer to join the team at short notice.

The initial work of the project will involve surveying transport resources and constraints in stratified areas in several districts, with locations ranging from remote highland villages, only accessible by foot or horse (or helicopter), to peri-urban areas and the routes linking textile (and other) factories to the homes of their workers.

The project will look at rural roads, bridleways and footbridges (infrastructure standards, constraints, maintenance, prioritisation), motorised transport services (buses, minibuses and peri-urban taxis) and IMTs.  IMTs in the areas to be studied are currently mainly limited to wheelbarrows and 'scotch carts' (pulled by oxen or cows) as well as horses (mainly used for riding) and donkeys (mainly used for pack transport). There are a small number of carts and wagons pulled by horses, donkeys or mules.

Paul Starkey, the project Team Leader has noted that although the use of bicycles, motorcycles and three wheelers are currently rare, there is great potential for their future use and that people are positive about the possibility of using them in appropriate situations.

It is hoped that the newly recruited IMT Engineer joins the team in Lesotho in early March, although if this is not possible a later start date up to the beginning of April could be appropriate; the Engineer would work for around 96 days until the end of June 2008.
 
The work in March will primarily involve interviewing stakeholders and after that the IMT Engineer will work with stakeholders to help start the process of increasing and diversifying the use of IMTs.  It is hoped that this work will lead to increased IMT numbers and/or improved quality of IMTs,  and/or reduced costs of IMTs, and/or improved access to IMTs  and/or increased affordability of IMTs.
 
The stakeholders will include users and potential users of IMTs, including women and men from remote rural areas, disadvantaged groups and peri-urban households; NGOs promoting IMTs; staff from workshops manufacturing carts and the supply chain for the supply and maintenance of bicycles, motorcycles and three-wheelers, although this is currently nearly non-existent.
 
The Terms of Reference for the study state that the position of IMT Engineer would be best filled by a graduate qualified in Mechanical Engineering with ten years experience in the planning, design and management of assembling or manufacturing equipment; preferably for IMT transport services and preferably with experience within the region; However Paul Starkey has stated that applicants who have much experience of promoting bicycles and motorcycles and stimulating sustainable private sector supply and maintenance systems, will also be considered.

The total remuneration package awarded to the successful candidate will be 14,400 US Dollars, plus the cost of airfares and reasonable local travel and subsistence costs.

If you would like more information on the project or would like to be considered for the position of IMT Engineer (or know of someone suitable for the position) please contact Paul Starkey, Team Leader of the Lesotho Access and Mobility Study (as below) as soon as possible with a relevant CV and details of availability.

Paul Starkey:  Team Leader, Lesotho Access and Mobility Study

Email: p.h.starkey@reading.ac.uk or paulstarkey@animaltraction.com

Click here to download the Terms of Reference (word 60kb)