GIS Intern w. Vibrant Village Foundation (Ghana)

Vibrant Village Foundation
Internship –
Mapping & Research Project on Water Access and Distribution
Upper West Region of Ghana


The Vibrant Village Foundation is a private Family Foundation based in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 2010, the Vibrant Village Foundation provides project support to NGO programming in Portland, Oregon, Washington, D.C., and seven countries internationally. The Vibrant Village Foundation invests in the potential of communities around the world. We provide support in the areas of nutrition and health, clean water, agriculture, education, arts and economic development. Our goal is to achieve results that are measurable and long-term to improve individual lives. 

Vibrant Village Foundation in Ghana is seeking a qualified individual to lead a study and mapping 
project on the access and distribution of water resources in the village of Fielmon and surrounding 
areas in the Upper West Region of the country. The Fielmon area is dispersed geographically with a 
population of approximately 20,000 people spread across 18 villages. This study will identify sitespecific data and problems with access to water in the Fielmon area to help Vibrant Village staff and local community members in planning the best possible locations for future water points (boreholes or piped water). The study is expected to last 3 months in total, including approximately 1 month of fieldwork in Ghana. The Foundation will pay transportation, living expenses, and some equipment costs. Expected start date is June, 2013.

Primary Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience with GIS for data representation, mapping and analysis, especially used for mapping and overlaying water resources, housing, and schools;
• Experience using GPS devices to create data for map overlays;
  
• Strong skills in spatial analysis;
  
• Knowledge of or ability to create base maps is preferred;
  
• Strong written reporting skills;
  
• Ability to work closely with a team in difficult conditions to conduct research throughout the 
  
• region;
  
• Experience living or working in especially spartan conditions in the developing world;
  
• Flexibility and a good sense of humor.

Outputs:
Upon completion of fieldwork for this study, the researcher will produce a report on the access and 
distribution of water resources in the Fielmon area, including:

• Recommendations on future water points that can reduce problems with uneven distribution;
  
• An interactive map of the Fielmon area in which the viewer can click on the symbol for a school or household and see the approximate distance to nearest water sources and whether there are impediments with the terrain that interfere with water collection;
• Clickable symbols for a water point such as a borehole that yield information about it (e.g., depth, year drilled if available), and distance to schools and houses;
• Completed map is ‘living’ and should be easily updatable.
  

If interested in leading this study and for any questions, please send an emailtoKevin Grubb, Director of Programs, [email protected]. 

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