Sudan nationals: Consultant Civil /Water Engineer

UN Women

Home-based/Remote

Background

United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) strives to promote gender equality and women’s human rights, strengthen the implementation of gender-sensitive policy and legislation, and eliminate all forms of violence against women. UN Women is strategically positioned at both the national and provincial levels in moving towards the realization of gender equality and women’s empowerment. UN Women provides support to innovative initiatives that promote women’s human rights, with a special focus on their economic security, governance/ political participation, freedom from violence, as well as access to justice.

With the financial support of the EU, UN Women in partnership with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AIC)is implementing a project titled Women’s Empowerment for Resilience, Inclusion, Sustainability and Environment in the Eastern States. The project aims to create a conducive environment for the economic empowerment of women living in the most vulnerable situations in the Khartoum, Kassala, Gedaref, and Red Sea states. Specifically, the project objectives focus on improving access of young women and men, living in vulnerable situations, to a more inclusive market system. As part of the project intervention, UN Women focuses on enhancing women’s entrepreneurial capacities for effective engagement in value chain and gender inequality transformation. The implemented activities include enhancing the system of water harvest through the construction of wells, water collection areas, and any other suitable means through which women beneficiaries of the project can benefit from the rains and from the water sources to support enhancing their productivity of the agricultural products including farming, livestock, and forestry. In this regard, UN Women which is grounded in the vision of achieving gender equality and women empowerment seeks to recruit a qualified national consultant to assess the water harvest potentialities in the targeted communities, and localities in the project areas in the Red Sea, Geadrif, and Kassala states, develop the technical and functional specifications of the proposed water harvest methods, irrigation pumping and conveyance solution in the project target areas. The Consultant will evaluate the technical risks, potential impacts, and benefits of the Project.

The overall objective of the assignment is to provide detailed information that the UN Women can use for the Project and take a decision on the prospective financing of the activity, also to develop the project sufficiently designed to be progressed to the pre-tender stage.

Duties and Responsibilities

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the UN Women Project Manager, the incumbent will be responsible for the following functional responsibilities:

1.            Feasibility study, planning, design, and procurement.

2.            Health, safety, and environmental management.

3.            Construction monitoring.

4.            Quality management.

5.            Knowledge management.

Feasibility study, planning, design, and procurement

Planning phase

  • Conduct feasibility study needs assessments and site investigations; carry out the assessment and evaluation of site data; liaise with stakeholders and write monthly progress reports.
  • Provide input to the planning and concept design processes prior to project implementation.
  • Review and report on previous feasibility studies undertaken by project stakeholders; cost estimates and compile the database of local construction rates.
  • Support the Project Manager with capacity building and training of water source users to enhance their asset management system.
  • Provide input to the project feasibility study and inception phase reports managed by the Project Manager.
  • Prepare concept design, schematic drawings, bills of quantities, specifications as well as cost estimates for water harvesting sources and other infrastructure.
  • Identify project risks, assess, and prepare mitigation measures for review by the Project Manager.

Implementation phase

  • Work with the Project Manager & procurement officer to select and appoint the water infrastructure contractors and define roles and responsibilities.
  • Ensure the implementation of the feasibility study recommendations, stakeholder engagement, and outstanding data collection requirements.
  • Provide ongoing capacity building and training of Water users to prepare an asset management plan for the selected areas).
  • Assist the procurement team with the preparation of technical specifications; conditions of the contract; tender analysis; evaluation and issuing works contracts.

Health, Safety, and Environmental Management

  • Assist with the planning and preparation of environmental management plans, as required by national regulations, to inform the design process.
  • Research health, safety and environmental management national standards, codes, and guidelines.
  • Comply with safety and security standard operating procedures, and always carry out duties in a professional and ethical manner and in all relationships.
  • Assist with the adoption of safety in design principles during the design process.
  • Research the requirements for gender equality, stakeholder participation, labor standards, biodiversity, cultural heritage, environmental sustainability, and climate change adaptation during the planning, design, and procurement stages.

– Construction Monitoring

Implementation phase

  • Carry out construction monitoring, under the supervision of the Project Manager, as set out in the physical works contract.
  • Identify and report on potential delays and/or cost overruns that can be avoided.
  • Monitor and report on the contractor’s compliance with the health, safety, and environmental requirements as set out in the contract.
  • Prepare bi-weekly and monthly reports, for review by the Project Manager, that cover monitoring activities.
  • Assist the Project Manager by acting as a witness during the post-construction commissioning process.
  • Manage the collection of field data and preparation of As-built drawings by the contractor.
  • Carry out file archiving of all feasibility studies; planning; design; procurement; construction monitoring and contract administration documentation in line with UN archiving procedures.

Quality Management

  • Carry out quality assurance procedures during the inception and implementation phases (planning, design, procurement, and construction stages).
  • Provide input to the preparation of the Construction Quality Management Plan, which includes the Quality Assurance and Quality Control Plans.
  • Assist with the coordination of the Design Review process.
  • Carry out quality control activities to ensure that they are correctly initiated, managed, monitored, reported, and closed in accordance with UN policies and procedures.
  • Assist the Project Manager with the preparation of contract administration documentation: progress reports; contractor and stakeholder meeting minutes; site monitoring reports.
  • Examine the contractor’s progress payment claims for accuracy and compliance with the conditions of the contract.
  • Prepare and check for accuracy the database covering the available materials shipped to the project; the schedules of labor and monitoring of quality during the physical works construction.
  • Liaise with local contractors and material suppliers to monitor current market conditions and trends. 
  • Prepare draft site instructions for review by the Project Manager before issuing to the contractor.

Knowledge Management

  • Take personal responsibility for engaging in continued professional development (CPD).
  • Assist with capacity building and training in sound engineering practice for national and local government personnel.
  • Provide support to the contractor’s training program for their personnel in sound environmental management practices and appropriate health and safety standards during construction.
  • Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for development planning and knowledge building.
  • Participate in the relevant UN Communities of Practice, actively interact with other Engineers and the Engineering community to share case studies, lessons learned, and best practices on the UN intranet Knowledge System.
  • Collaborate with technical team members at country and regional levels including but not limited to engineers, project managers, and quantity surveyors.
  • Ensure final reports and handover reports are completed on time and to the required quality.
  • Performs any other related duties as may be assigned.

IMPACT OF RESULTS

The effective and successful achievement of results by the Civil/Water Engineer directly impacts on the achievement of project outcomes in terms of sound engineering practice; scope of work; time; budget and meeting stakeholder expectations. This consequently reinforces the visibility and image of UN as an effective service provider in project services, management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services.

Competencies

Core Values

  • Respect for Diversity
  • Integrity
  • Professionalism

Functional Competencies

  • Strong skills and experience in developing strategies and presenting ideas related to advocacy, outreach, and knowledge management.
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
  • Strong communications skills in English (written and oral)
  • Leadership and skills to work with autonomy and initiative.
  • Knowledge of gender equality and women’s human right
  • Knowledge of the UN system

Corporate Competencies

  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism.
  • Ability to work with a multi-cultural and diverse team.

Functional Competencies:

  • Demonstrated experience in management and monitoring of civil work projects, especially in the field.
  • Demonstrated experience in using of Engineering software’s, proven sketching and drawing skills, sound computer skills (AutoCAD, arch CAD etc.).
  • Demonstrated strong communication, coordination, and facilitation skills.Strong interpersonal skills and reporting

Required Skills and Experience

Education

  • Postgraduate (Advanced) university degree (master’s or equivalent) in civil engineering, water supply, geology or related fields is required.
  • Undergraduate university degree (4-year bachelor) or equivalent in civil engineering from an accredited university with additional two (2) years of relevant experience may be considered.
  • A Washington Accord accredited qualification or similar accreditation may be accepted in lieu of a 4-year Bachelor of Engineering (honors) degree.

Professional license or registration

  • Professional license or registration from a recognized professional body or institution, such as the Papua New Guinea Professional Engineers Registration Board, is an asset.
  • Membership in the Institution of Engineers Papua New Guinea (IEPNG) is an asset.

Experience

  • A minimum of two (2) years of relevant practical engineering experience with an advanced university degree and with at least one (1) year of specific experience in the practice area of water supply and sanitation infrastructure is required.
  • For a candidate who has a 4-year Bachelor of Engineering degree (honors) with a professional license or registration, a minimum of four (4) years’ relevant practical engineering experience with at least one (1) year of specific experience in the practice area of water supply and sanitation infrastructure is required.
  • Prior experience in contract management is desirable.
  • Experience in structural engineering, including seismic design and design review, is an asset.
  • Experience working with UN or other humanitarian/development agencies is an asset; and
  • Experience working on international and local projects in disaster-prone areas is desirable.

Technical requirements

  • Experience in using a recognized drawing software package. Familiarity with Google Workspace (formally G Suite) is desirable.
  • Familiarity with civil engineering modeling software relevant to water supply and geology engineering; project management software and remote monitoring software is desirable.

Language requirements

  • Fluency in English & Arabic is required.
  • Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

lease note that applications without a completed and signed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

UN Women Personal History form (P-11) can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment .

UNWOMEN is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.


POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

LANGUAGE REQUIRED

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