Technical Design of a Locally Fabricable Water Transport Cart for Schools

La mission fondamentale de l’UNICEF est de promouvoir les droits de chaque enfant, partout, dans tout ce que l’Organisation fait – à travers les programmes, les plaidoyers et les opérations. La stratégie d’équité, soulignant les enfants et familles les plus défavorisés et exclus, traduit cet engagement en faveur des droits des enfants en action. Pour l’UNICEF, l’équité signifie que tous les enfants ont l’opportunité de survivre, de se développer et d’atteindre leurs pleins potentiels, sans discrimination, préjugé ou favoritisme. Dans la mesure où tout enfant a une chance inégale dans la vie – dans une dimension sociale, politique, économique et civique – ses droits sont enfreints. Il y a de plus en plus d’évidences pour la santé, l’éducation et la protection des citoyens les plus défavorisés d’une société – luttant contre les inégalités – non seulement vont donner l’opportunité de réaliser leur potentiel à plus d’enfants, mais aussi vont conduire à une croissance soutenue et à la stabilité des pays. C’est pourquoi la concentration sur l’équité est si vital. Ceci accélère le progrès vers la réalisation des droits humains de tous les enfants, qui est le mandat universel de l’UNICEF, comme décrit dans la Convention relative aux droits des enfants, tout en soutenant le développement équitable des nations.

In many areas, schools receive water free of charge from communal standpipes, but students are often responsible for transporting it. To facilitate this process, we aim to develop a dedicated water transport cart adapted to this context. The proposed cart is a two-wheeled chariot with a welded steel frame, designed to carry up to eight standard 20-liter jerrycans (approximately 160 kg of water). It is equipped with large-diameter bicycle wheels (around 28”) positioned centrally, allowing the load to be balanced efficiently and reducing the effort required to move it over uneven terrain. The cart includes low-positioned handle bars adapted to children’s height, ensuring safe and comfortable use. The structure is designed to keep the center of gravity low and close to the axle, improving stability and maneuverability. Beyond reducing physical strain, the cart is intended to support a safe, manageable, and engaging activity for students, making water collection easier and more accessible in daily school routines. The design must be durable, functional, and suitable for repeated local production, while remaining simple enough to be built and maintained locally. DELIVERABLES 2D dimensioned drawings of the cart, clear and directly usable by a local technician for prototype construction 3D model or visual representation to support understanding of the design Key design specifications, including: Dimensions and structure Wheel and axle configuration Jerrycan layout Basic material recommendations A prototype-ready design for initial field testing A revised and finalized design package incorporating field feedback, including: Updated drawings and specifications Clarified construction details The final design and documentation should be sufficiently clear, detailed, and standardized to support a potential tendering or bidding process for larger-scale production.

We are seeking volunteer support to design a water transport cart for school use, suitable for local fabrication. The assignment consists of developing: 2D technical drawings (dimensioned and buildable) 3D visualizations to support understanding The design must be clear, practical, and easy to replicate by local technicians, using simple construction methods and available materials. Special attention should be given to child-friendly ergonomics, including appropriate height, handle positioning, and ease of use. The work will be carried out in two phases: Initial design for prototype construction and field testing Revision of the design based on field feedback