Job Vacancy at UNICEF for International Consultancy – WASH Construction Engineer
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To learn more about working for UNICEF and our work in Sierra Leone, please visit the following link: www.unicef.org/sierraleone
How can you make a difference?
The UNICEF WASH Programme seeks to hire a Consultant (Construction Engineer) to support the implementation of WASH in Institutions and in communities. The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Chief of Section, and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, and District Councils. S/he will be responsible for the WASH construction administration in UNICEF supported Districts in Sierra Leone.
Presently, the WASH facilities' construction is carried out through PCAs with I/NGO partners in compliance with UNICEF's policy on partnership. While government counterparts will also monitor the construction of WASH in Healthcare Facilities, schools (including ECD Centers), and communities, however, to ensure quality and proper construction administration, as per design specifications and Terms of Agreement (ToA), UNICEF will make quality checks prior to payment at various stages of construction. Construction of the next stage will not proceed without clearance from UNICEF construction engineer. This requires frequent monitoring during the construction period. The construction component of the Programme is managed by the WASH Specialist/Officer under the guidance of the Chief of WASH. With the scaling up of the field activity, it is increasingly difficult for the current staff to cope up with the current workload to review the design and monitor the WASH construction activities for further corrective actions and timely payments. Moreover, a consultant is required by the Programme to ensure quality construction management to be able to suggest corrective actions as per the approved construction documents.
While Sierra Leone has made satisfactory progress in improving water and sanitation services in urban areas, it continues to face an even greater challenge for rural areas and particularly remote rural villages. Nearly 2.95 million people (39 percent of the population) still use unsafe water and 1.4 million people (17.6 percent of the population) practice open defecation. Access to basic hygiene services stands only at 19.3 percent of the household population (JMP 2019 update). Disparities between urban and rural populations further exacerbate the situation. Access to basic water supply services in rural areas is only 50 percent compared to 76 percent in urban areas. In sanitation and hygiene, 26 percent of people in rural areas practice open defecation compared to 6 percent in urban areas. WASH situation in public schools and health care facilities is equally dire, impacting the quality of learning and care at these facilities. According to JMP 2019, only one in every five schools can access basic water supply and sanitation services. The situation is the same in health care facilities, with just 21 percent having access to basic water supply services. WASH priorities for Sierra Leone are well articulated in the Government's Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP 2019-2023) and the 2018 Presidential Parliamentary address on national priorities. An emerging issue is the need to improve the quality and sustainability of WASH facilities. Further, the need of WASH services has increased largely because of the pandemic.
Against the above backdrop, UNICEF has secured funding from FCDO (UK), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), AfDB, Government of Iceland mainly for the construction of WASH facilities in PHUS and Hospitals, schools and communities. Some of the activities are ongoing and others are at the planning phase, specifically the Comprehensive WASH package in 10 hospitals under IsDB support for COVIF-D-19 response. To deliver the results for children, UNICEF has ongoing partnerships with 8 I/NGOS as Implementing Partners-IPs under different funding. The project aims at ensuring inclusiveness (girls and boys), suitability for the use of children with disabilities, and adequate response to risks associated with extreme climatic events, particularly floods. However, some of the partners are facing challenges due to limited capacity to deliver the result on time. The Consultant is expected to provide technical guidance to the IPs on WASH engineering designs and ensure timely delivery of all the ongoing WASH installations.
Purpose and objective
In close collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources and Ministry of Health & Sanitation, the Engineer (Consultant) will lead and manage the construction of WASH facilities in Healthcare facilities, Schools and communities. Further, S/he will provide technical assistance to IP and Government partners to build their capacity to monitor and supervise WASH facilities' construction by ensuring the required standard and quality of construction as per designs and specifications.
Activities, Tasks, Outputs and Deliverables
The technical approaches to be employed by the Consultant include the following:
- Review of existing designs/survey data for all the gravity-fed and solar-powered motorised systems.
- Field visits - to verify technical feasibility/ appropriateness of the selected sites. Also, to identify alternate site if necessary.
- Rectification of errors in the designs.
- On the job training of UNICEF and Government partners.
- Monitor construction activities.
Please see attached ToR for detailed information on methodology and activities of the assignment. ToR Construction Engineer.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...
- Advanced degree (Master's or higher) in Civil/Sanitary engineering.
- A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience at national and international levels in water infrastructure, including the design of GFS and WASH construction management.
- Extensive experience on EPANET software and must have used EPANET to design or review water supply networks at least once in the past six months; experienced in ferrocement technology.
- Experience working with optimization of design or water management capacity building in Rural or large-scale systems.
- Experience with quality assurance and site monitoring for civil engineering projects, including review of change orders, inspection of works, and reporting discrepancies.
- Experience in contract administration and working with multiple stakeholders, especially government partners, in the management of various components of infrastructure contracts.
- Strong communication skills and flexibility working with various government stakeholders.
- Previous work experience with UNICEF or other international organization working in the WASH Sector in developing countries is an asset.
- Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office applications, including knowledge of AutoCAD and MIS/GIS applications.
- Fluency in English is required.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
View our competency framework at
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.
Remarks:
The Consultant will be based in Sierra Leone.
Consultants and Individual contractors are responsible for paying any taxes derived from the earnings received from UNICEF.
Application to include financial proposal that will detail your daily/monthly rate (in Leones) to undertake the terms of reference.
Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered "staff members" under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF's policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.
Advertised: Jan 19 2021 Greenwich Standard Time Application close: Jan 31 2021 Greenwich Standard Time
How to Apply
Qualified and interested individuals should click on the button below to apply.
