Construction Site Engineering Consultant to Provide Roving Technical Supervision and Monitoring Support to Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu & Kiribati, 12 Months

Consultant Programme & Policy Medical & Health

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, health.

We operate in the Pacific, specifically in the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. These 14 Pacific islands countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth. They inhabit more than 660 islands and atolls that stretch across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean. This area is comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.

All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. However, only a third are on track with reporting obligations. You can explore the different areas of our work at the link provided here: www.unicef.org/pacificislands .

Background of Assignment:

UNICEF Pacific WASH Programme supports government and partners to provide climate-resilient WASH infrastructure in communities, schools and health care facilities across Pacific Island countries and territories.

Currently, there are ongoing construction projects in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Micronesia, Vanuatu, Samoa and Tuvalu.

In view of this, UNICEF Pacific MCO, proposes to recruit a construction site engineering consultant, to provide construction quality assurance, and ensure alignment with relevant national construction codes and government guidance.

The main task will be to provide supportive technical supervision and monitoring of WASH facility construction and rehabilitation works in communities, schools and health facilities in Fiji, Samoa, Tuvalu & Kiribati.

OBJECTIVE / SCOPE OF WORK

1. Collaboration with UNICEF WASH section and Government counterparts to provide construction project supervision/management; Provide assistance to Programme sections through involvement in construction project proposals, planning, and preparation of relevant terms of reference; analyze the project context and suggest the appropriate implementation modality. In collaboration with the Government counterparts, develop and produce innovative cost-effective climate resilient construction designs using local construction materials; compile and update list of best practices in construction and building designs. Attend steering and technical cooperation meetings; prepare presentations on projects' progress; undertake site visits and follow-up actions in relation to project implementation and monitoring.
2. Provide WASH section with information on projects' quality assurance, progress, undertake appropriate actions to overcome technical obstacles; draft relevant sections of project reports required for management, annual reports, etc.
3. Preparation of design and technical documents: Prepare the scope of construction works based on Programme requirements, budget and site limitations; define deliverables and payment modality. Apply UNICEF and government norms and standards to construction projects, taking into consideration the local environment and available materials; verify if compliance with green building standards is required. Check technical documents related to construction (design drawings, technical specifications and bills of quantities); verify whether they are clear, complete and compliant to programmatic and construction needs, climate resilient, ecoefficiency and accessibility requirements; undertake the actions required to endorse these technical documents by relevant ministries. Follow up with the designing firms and government entities for obtaining all permits required for construction activities prior initiating works in various locations.
4. Monitoring of construction projects: Conduct the kick-off meeting of construction works with the construction company, the engineering firm and relevant government counterparts. Provide close monitoring on construction activities by undertaking regular site visits and conducting regular technical meetings including joint monitoring with relevant Government technical services; follow up progress for each activity per milestones and review site supervision reports to ensure work compliance with norms, standards, and timeline; verify quality and precautions on health and safety standards on ground. Use effective monitoring and supervision tools to ensure easily assessment of works quality, progress, and performance of engineering firms and construction companies during the entire duration of the project; apply multi-layered approach to construction supervision and quality assurance; use documented hold and inspection points, where applicable. Certify payments/variations and compile supporting documents; monitor construction expenditures and progress certificates; prepare and maintain relevant table for each construction activity. Provide support to UNICEF Contract Administrator on contract management, amendments, variations, duration extensions, applying liquidated damages, etc. Ensure all documents/information required for contract management are available, complete and properly archived. Participate in the partial, substantial and final reception of works after verifying the correction of all defects during the defect liability period; prepare and issue relevant certificates. Draft Contract Performance Evaluation; provide support to UNICEF Contract Administrator on contract closeout in finance system; prepare the final completion report with the lessons learned for submission internally as necessary.

Please refer to the ToR ( TOR for Construction Site Engineering Consultant.MCO.pdf) for further information on the deliverables and the timelines.

GUIDANCE FOR APPLICANTS:

Please submit a separate financial offer along with your application. The financial proposal should be a lump sum amount for all the deliverables and should show a break down for the following:

• Monthly / Daily fees– based on the deliverables in the Terms of Reference above.
• Travel (economy air ticket where applicable to take up assignment)
• Living allowance for duty station / Suva
• Miscellaneous- to cover visa, health insurance (including medical evacuation for international consultants), communications, and other costs.
• Travel outside of Suva duty station would be planned separately and re-imbursed based on actual cost of economy flights and living allowances will be paid based upon standard UN rates.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

• A university degree is required in civil engineering, construction engineering, architecture or other relevant area.

Experience/Skills Required

• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience, at the national and/or international levels, in project management, site supervision, quality assurance and/or other directly-related technical fields is required. Understanding of development and humanitarian work. Emergency experience an advantage.
• Ability to resolve difficult, complex and sensitive situations often under pressure.
• Ability to initiate and manage change in a diverse environment;
• Ability to clearly and concisely express ideas and concepts in written and oral form;
• Ability to manage and monitor the effective use of resources;
• Ability to supervise and direct a team of professional and support staff working on construction projects;
• Ability to work strategically to realize organizational goals, develop strategies, set clear visions; Strong communication and negotiation skills to establish and maintain trusted partnerships for achievement of objectives and to develop close and effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders;
• Ability to identify and analyze systemic issues, formulate opinions and make conclusions and recommendations to resolve them; Skill in the identification of new opportunities or requirements to meet challenges in the field and propose changes;
• Strong knowledge of latest developments and technology in construction industry; Strong understanding of construction project cycles, from programme needs assessment, through planning, procurement and contracting, monitoring the execution of work and evaluation of project outcomes; Strong overall knowledge and understanding of UNICEF programmes, public procurement principles, financial and legal aspects of construction issues, ethics and risk management of construction projects.

Language:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or national local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Remarks:

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process for this consultancy.

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Added 2 hours ago - Updated 35 minutes ago - Source: unicef.org