Programme Associate (Engineer) G6

Duty Station: Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic

Organisational Context:

The Kyrgyz Republic is a small, landlocked, mountainous country bordered by China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan with a population of just over 6.2 million people, mainly living in rural areas. After it gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the economy grew, poverty fell, child mortality declined and life expectancy increased. However, since 2008 there have been a series of economic and political setbacks, and now the pandemic increased the number of poor people in the country, because of reduced economic activities, decreased remittances, price spikes and a growing fiscal gap.

WFP has laid the foundations for a programme of support through social protection, rural development, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation with a view to supporting policy development and institutional capacity strengthening, establishing pilot productive safety nets and optimizing school feeding modalities to bring immediate and longer-term benefits for food-insecure, vulnerable and poor communities. Activities under the Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2018-2022 are aimed at strengthening the national capacities with a view to institutionalizing and scaling up WFP’s interventions with complementary government resources and promoting comprehensive food security governance at all levels to address food insecurity and malnutrition.

Background

Under WFP’s Country Strategic Plan (CSP), the incumbent will provide technical support for construction/renovation of school canteens, water and sanitation facilities and kitchen equipment in food-insecure areas of the northen region (Chui, Talas, Naryn and Issykul provinces) in order to introduce more nutritious rations. The incumbent will also provide support to other programme areas throughout the country, and supervise a junior engineer in Osh.

Under the overall supervision of the Strategic Outcome 1 Programme Policy Officer, the Programme Associate (Engineer) will undertake the following tasks:

• Identify, plan and manage technical aspects of programming (equipment, infrastructure rehabilitation) in line with CSP (2018-2022) and MoES handover capacity strengthening plan
• Project site assessment: technical evaluation; ensure necessary permits for civil/renovation works; development of BoQ and damage statements, and the other necessary documentation;
• Develop the Detailed Technical Design for works to be conducted at the canteens of piloted schools all over the Kyrgyzstan including identification and evaluation of risks, assessment of the compliance with relevant construction codes and local laws related to civil works and other relevant standards. It will also include revision of technical drawings, Bills of Quantities (BoQs), Damage statement (Defect Plan), Cost Estimates and any other related documentation;
• Provide all measures to each of the selected schools to ensure the detailed technical design (including water supply, sewerage, electricity supply and renovation of heating system) is of a high competency and standard, in accordance with all relevant international and national standard and requirements, and fully conform to realistic market prices for the region;
• Interact and collaborate with UNICEF and other partners on planned renovation jobs and jobs done;
• Schedule the project of school infrastructure rehabilitation (outline by the project objectives) in logical steps, elaborate the budget and work-plan including the timeframe required to meet deadlines;
• In regards of tendering process to review the technical specifications against the equipment matrix, project designs, drawings, measures, quantities, description of each item of the Bill of Quantity (BoQ) and ensure it’s compliance with the technological and construction standards for ITB or RFQ, and if necessary, suggest for improvements and modifications and/or additions;
• Review the technical specifications against the materials, supplies, quantities, measures, etc. in the entire scope of works and suggest for improvements/modifications and ensure inclusion of the required items in BoQs;
• Review cost estimations (sourced from design) with on those prevailing on the market and advice on price reasonability for estimated works, materials and supplies, and on compliance with specifications;
• Participation in technical review meetings to evaluate offers (tender bids) and review/analyze submitted bids for compliances with BoQ;
• Conduct introductory meetings with selected CPs and/or contractors to introduce requirements of the infrastructure works and way forward;
• Regular monitoring of equipment and rehabilitation works done by selected CPs and/or contractors with visits to the project sites to ensure adequate and quality equipment and renovation works progress; certification of works performed and internal minutes; reporting against progress and issues; relevant documentation filing; assure works completion state acceptance protocol (required for civil works only) and interagency acceptance protocol (required for renovation works); provide independent supervision of the construction works; ensure that procedures, materials and scope of work comply with approved project plans, specifications and samples, state agreed standards and quality;
• If required, participate in the tender for procurement of NFIs/construction materials required to commence reconstruction works; provide technical advice during those reviews and required amendments to the tender packages;
• Investigate damage, accidents, or delays for equipment and at construction sites, to ensure that proper procedures are being carried out;
• The Programme Associate (Engineer) will be submitting monthly progress reports based on the results achieved stating all actions taken during the assignment. Daily/weekly update and reporting is to be made, once required, for each deliverable result achieved against the deadlines;
• Interact with WFP and educate them on construction quality standards measures and practices.

Qualifications / Experience

• Completion of secondary school education. A post-secondary certificate in the related functional area. Relevant university degree in architecture or civil engineering will be an asset
• At least 5 years of proven experience in the field of civil works and construction, project supervision and monitoring;
• Experience of technical knowledge on designing monitoring and implementing reconstruction/construction at schools, including school canteens, shall be in a strong asset;
• Experience of working with International Organizations is preferable;
• Experience in preparation of Bill of Quantities / Estimates and good knowledge of local market prices;
• Knowledge and understanding of public procurement and tendering rules;
• Fluent Russian language skills with good writing skills;
• Level B English required within the probation period;
• Knowledge of computer skills: Ms Word, Excel, AutoCAD software are an asset.

TALENTED WOMEN ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

We look for applicants with the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian values. We commit to promote diversity, gender parity and equality between men and women.

WFP strives to build a work environment that is safe and respectful, and free of sexual harassment and abuse of authority. We believe in open communication, and every individual at WFP is treated with respect regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religious and political beliefs, etc.

Closing date: 16 November 2021

This position is open ONLY to Kyrgyz citizens or those authorized to live and work in the Kyrgyz Republic according to national regulations. Applicants who do not meet this criterion will not be considered for this position.

WFP does not charge any fees at any stage of its recruitment process.

Only candidates who are short-listed will be contacted.