Arba Minch University is one of the leading Ethiopian universities in the field of science and engineering. Situated in south Ethiopia, the university strives to produce skilled people to develop the country and to alleviate immediate challenges.

The university also conducts research to ensure sustainability and is a partner in the EU-funded CLARA project (Capacity-Linked water supply and sanitation improvement for Africa’s peri-urban and Rural Areas).

The GLEN intern would support the research activities within the CLARA project with the main objective of bringing wider access to proper sanitation and water supply for the local population.

The interns will assist to improve the composting practices of a youth group in the area by working closely with them collecting waste from various sources in the community and composting them. In this line, interns are required to identify and make an inventory of the potential sources of inputs for composting and vermicomposting; to characterize (laboratory analysis) the various inputs, to develop a simplified model for a proper compost mixing ratio and derive rules for mixing proportions. To this end, the interns would conduct field-scale vermicomposting and publish the results.

Working with the youth group allows the interns to interchange with the local community. Working in the university laboratories, the interns would also get the chance to meet university students and share experiences.

A prior knowledge or experience in composting/vermicomposting is an advantage. Knowledge of inventory and analysis tools like Excel is useful. Experience in laboratory methods for the analysis of compost is very welcome.