Job Description
Assignment: trainer to train 12 operators/ Technicians in operation and maintenance of solar powered borehole water systems in Solio settlement scheme, Laikipia county. Background Habitat for Humanity Kenya (HFHK) is among the 70 country affiliates of HFH International. In Kenya, we were registered in 1982 as Non-Governmental Organization, with the goal of enabling low-income families access decent and affordable shelter. In the last 40 years, HFHK has supported more than 500,000 families across 9 counties in Kenya through housing micro-finance and direct construction. Our Business Plan (2020-2025) has outlined four Programmatic Areas namely: Financing for owner-led construction; Settlement-Based Practice; Secure Land Tenure; Disaster Risk Reduction & Response (DR3). We are currently operating in Nairobi, Laikipia, Homabay, Kajiado, Kisumu, Tana River and Machakos. HFHK has had a longstanding presence in Laikipia since 2015 and collaborates with the county government to address the community's needs. The existence of a working MOU that outlines key strategic approaches and rules of engagement reflects a commitment to transparent and effective partnerships. Joint planning demonstrates a thoughtful and impactful approach. This collaborative model is crucial for the success of community development projects. To complement county government initiatives in water supply, HFHK is implementing water supply infrastructure development interventions in Solio under the BMZ-lions funded grant. HFHK has drilled, equipped and solarized 6 boreholes to provide communities with water for domestic and agricultural production. The grant also supports sanitation, hygiene, agroforestry and climate smart agriculture interventions. In the water supply component, HFHK has facilitated the establishment and training of 6 water user committees. The committees were elected through free and fair elections that saw the election of women to participate in the management of community water resources. The boreholes were solarized to support the community in transitioning from electricity to green energy. Three boreholes were equipped with automated water dispensing machines to promote accountability in the collection of water revenues. To boost management capacity and sustainability the committees have been trained in conflict resolution and management, water governance, environmental health and sanitation, financial management and operation and maintenance of the boreholes. However, during the O&M training, it was observed that most of the borehole committee members were illiterate and could not grasp the technical & practical aspects of O&M of solar powered boreholes. Few members have ability to read and write. This posed a serious challenge in implementing a robust O&M programme. To address these challenges, HFHK in collaboration with the 6 water user committees, local leaders and the project steering committee is in the process of recruiting and training 12 operators/ technicians (2 per borehole) to manage the O&M tasks. The tasks include but are not limited to solar panel cleaning, wiring and connection checks, performance monitoring, inverter inspection, replacement of worn-out parts and safety inspections. The technicians must be young (Below 40 years) residents of Solio with a willingness to learn about borehole operations and serve their community. HFHK, therefore seeks a trainer to equip the 12 borehole technicians with knowledge and practical skills in operation and maintenance of solar powered borehole water systems Purpose and Scope The purpose of this training is to equip the 12 borehole technicians with knowledge and practical skills in the operation and maintenance of solar powered boreholes Methodology- Workshop HFHK is seeking to hire a facilitator to lead a field based 2-day training workshop for 12 borehole technicians (2 technicians per borehole) on operation and maintenance of solar powered borehole water systems in Solio, Laikipia East. Qualification and Experience HFHK is seeking a facilitator/trainer with the following skills and qualifications: Minimum of a bachelors' degree from a recognized university in civil engineering, appropriate technology, and project management Practical experience in borehole drilling supervision, borehole equipment, installation of solar systems and the ability to teach and pass on knowledge to rural communities. Technical skills and experience in development of operation and maintenance plans for solar powered water systems A minimum of 7 years' experience in training of rural community groups (Preferably in the ASAL areas) A good grasp of the Solio context and Laikipia County stakeholders. Proof of prior experience in facilitating workshops of similar nature. Scope of work (tasks and timeframe) Models of solar powered water systems Institutional arrangement for operation and maintenance Operation and maintenance tasks on solar powered boreholes Common borehole problems - Insufficient water supply - Contamination - Pump failure -Clogging and scaling -Corrosion and borehole problems -Possible causes of borehole failure and their solutions Attributes of successful O&M models of solar powered water systems - Dedicated Personnel-Operation and routine maintenance of solar powered borehole water systems -Technical support: preventive and reactive maintenance Non-revenue water Infrastructure sustainability and resilience Practical field sessions Solar panel cleaning Wiring and connection checks Performance monitoring Electrical performance (Voltage & current, system power) Water performance (flow rate, total water output, total dynamic head) Borehole health(water level, borehole recharge rate) Inverter inspection, Replacement of worn-out parts Safety inspections. (wiring & electrical, solar mounting hardware, open gate valves) Report Writing
How to Apply
Applicants must provide: 1. A proposal that clearly shows the following: 1. Approach and methodology for meeting the objectives of this assignment. 2. Number of days it would take to complete this assignment. 3. Methodology and detailed work-plan based on the scope of the Consultancy. 2. Financial proposition 3. A detailed CV showing professional background relevant to the assignment. 4. All applications MUST be sealed in an envelope and must be signed indicating the date and time the bid was submitted Applications should be submitted to: The National Director Habitat for Humanity Kenya CVS Plaza, 3rd Floor Lenana Road Nairobi, Kenya Tender Box Location: CVS Plaza, 3rd Floor Reception Telephone: 0101 454 380 Deadline: 5:00 PM on 06th October 2025