Consultant to support Rural Water Supply Engineering in Vanuatu

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, a champion

Background and Purpose of Activity/Assignment

UNICEF is hiring an Engineering Mentor to strengthen the Vanuatu Department of Water Resources (DoWR) capacity to create piped water system designs and build quality water system infrastructure. This activity is part of the Water Sector Partnership 2017-2021 between UNICEF and New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and DoWR. The Water Sector Partnership supports DoWR to: (1)strengthen the WASH evidence base, information management and understanding of the water related risks facing rural ni-Vanuatu; (2) operationalize the National Implementation Plan (NIP); (3) pilot the Capital Assistance Programme (CAP) for funding a limited number of priority water projects; and (4) strengthen the DoWR institutional and technical capacity for them to become a high functioning department that effectively implements the NIP to achieve the goal of 100% access to safely managed drinking water by 2030. This consultancy will specifically build the capacity of DoWR engineers, provincial, and procurement staff to implement the technically areas of the NIP and CAP.

How can you make a difference?

The consultant will mentor, provide training and conduct peer review to improve the ability of DoWR Staff to:

• Conduct Engineering Water System Design Surveys
• Create Preliminary Designs and Technical Report for Tenders
• Create Detailed Engineer Designs and Bills of Quantity for Request for Proposals
• Peer review designs by checking calculations, review input data, and improve hydraulic grade-lines
• Supervise Contractors to improve water system construction quality with checklists and Quality Assurance tools
• Write procurement, donor and routine government reports
• Ensure NIP processes are followed, such as supporting risk ranking of DWSSPs
• Create, monitor and report on detailed annual work-plan
• Support routine team meetings to improve planning and coordination

While this consultancy is intended to build the DoWR staff capacity, difficult water system designs may require direct design from the consultant. It may also be necessary for the consultant to directly initiate field visits for new sites and construction supervision. The consultant may need to help create new systems and create tools for the above to occur.

This consultancy will be housed at the DoWR offices but will require travel to remote islands for extended periods, despite uncomfortable boat and road journeys, limited communication options, and basic living conditions. Given that international borders are currently closed and given the need for continuity in DoWR planning and implementation of WASH projects, only individuals currently inside Vanuatu will be considered.

Supervision

The consultant will report to the WASH Specialist who is based in UNICEF but provides overall guidance and support to works that the consultant will do with DoWR. From Suva, the WASH Chief will also be involved in oversight of the alignment of the work with UNICEF commitments as per the WASH Strategy and donor commitments to MFAT.

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

• A Bachelor's University Degree civil engineering with at least 5 years of experience in engineering
• Experience surveying and designing direct and indirect piped water systems in Vanuatu
• Proven experience in engineering capacity building of government staff
• Proven communication skills in cross-cultural contexts
• Ability to coordinate with a diverse range of stakeholders and motivate others, not under your direct control
• Ability to operate at a high level, in a complex, changing environment, anticipate risk and respond flexibly to changing circumstances
• Experience codifying technical knowledge for peer reviewed journals or international conferences
• Strong computing skills, including CAD, GIS, Excel, Word and water modelling software
• Understanding of gender issues in water
• Fluency in written English is required. Fluency in Bislama is strongly preferred with added communication skills

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA)

UNICEF's competency framework: Builds and maintains partnership, Demonstrates self and ethical awareness, Drive to Achieve impactful results, Innovates and embraces change, Manages ambiguity and complexity, Thinks and acts strategically, Works collaboratively with others and Nurtures, leads and manages People.

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:

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.