UNDP AFG – Programme Engineer (NPSA9)

Contract

This is a NPSA-9 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Personnel Services Agreement. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education. More about NPSA-9 contracts.

Background

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. UNDP has been working in Afghanistan for more than 50 years on climate change and resilience, gender, governance, health, livelihoods, and rule of law. Under the broader framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in close coordination with other UN agencies, UNDP is supporting Afghan people’s aspiration for peace, prosperity, and sustainability. UNDP is currently implementing its flagship crisis response programme, ABADEI (Area Based Approach to Development Emergency Initiatives), as part of the ongoing UN-led response to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and the breakdown of Afghanistan’s economy following the August 2021 shift in power.

The ABADEI Strategy is a tailored area-based integrated programming approach to support basic human needs, complementing short-term humanitarian life-saving assistance with the safeguarding of livelihoods and the strengthening of community resilience. It is centered around addressing worsening poverty and vulnerability, supporting community resilience and social cohesion, addressing climatic vulnerability and enabling the rehabilitation of small-scale infrastructure vital for basic human needs. It supports the creation of immediate sources of income through vocational skills training, cash-for-work, cash for market, small businesses and livelihood opportunities with particular focus on agri-business and regenerative agriculture infrastructure and services (critical for food security) that are under threat. It is sensitive to the chronic and newly emerging vulnerabilities of Afghan women and girls and aims at providing them assistance in a manner that does not exacerbate their susceptibility to violence and deprivation of opportunities and rights.

The Programme Engineer will be responsible for the designing, planning, and execution of the engineering structures, tools development, modelling support, and its application. The Engineer will work with the PMU and Regional Office teams and will be responsible to coordinate and establish the linkages amongst all the program team members, partners and relevant stakeholders. S/he will wo rk under the overall direction and direct supervision of Program Manager. S/he will be based in Kabul with frequent field visits.

Duties and Responsibilities

ONLY CURRENT AFGHANISTAN NATIONALS AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WILLING TO TRAVEL IN KABUL AND THROUGHOUT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN, ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION. ALL OTHER APPLICANTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

The incumbent will undertake the following functions:

• Support implementation, monitoring and quality assurance of the ABADEI program activities.
• Ensure compliance with the reporting requirements related to projects.
• Ensures knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

1. S****upport implementation and quality assurance of the ABADEI program activities, focusing on the following results:

• Conduct a detailed analysis on the situation and impacts multi hazards, and propose the appropriate design structures.
• Prepare database of engineering specific baseline conditions, implemented activities, quality of activities during and after completion of the project works.
• Provide support and guidance to the project implementing partners, communities, groups, and assists in resolving problems, as necessary.
• Inspect, monitor, supervise project works ensuring that the work quality meets approved standards.
• Conduct field visits to project location requiring specific technical assistance and, based on performed assessment recommends best solution for project implementation and contracts management, to mitigate any deviation and ensure timely delivery.
• Prepare/review budget estimates based on the recommended solution for project implementation and contracts management.
• Prepare/review Terms of References for detailed design for reconstruction/ rehabilitation of structures, where needed.
• Review and refine technical documentation and specifications (e.g., existing and future lay out, Bill of Quantities (BoQ) with estimation of costs, technical description, design and specific drawings, provide technical support to procurement processes under the project).
• Assess and identify potential impacts of the project, and also carry out the documentation, publish case study, best practices, learning, and knowledge management resources.

2. Ensure compliance with the reporting requirements related to projects:

• Ensure proper documentation for final handover upon completion of all project engineering works in coordination with the relevant counterparts, and local communities and groups.
• Ensure necessary supporting documentation is in place prior to issuance of tendering; project implementation, and processing of payments.
• Participate in evaluation of bids and selection of best bidder to the tender for rehabilitation/construction works and assessment of the bidder's competencies and experience against minimum qualification requirements, as per the Request for Proposal/Invitation to Bid requirements.
• Provides written report about the compliance of the evaluation process with UNDP procurement procedures.
• Provide periodic feedback to PMU and Regional Office teams based on available evidence-driven facts.
• Provide backstopping on field activities implemented by local project partners.
• Participate in Technical Review Committee meetings and review all bids against the advertised evaluation criteria and submitted technical specifications.

3. Ensures knowledge building and knowledge sharing, focusing on the following results:

• Develop knowledge management products on the application for the identified interventions and generate awareness among local communities, relevant professionals, and institutions.
• Organize and facilitate related training, exposure visits, and other project activities, as required.

Perform other duties within your functional profile as assigned and deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the office.

Competencies

Core Competency

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.

Learn Continuously

LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.

Adapt with Agility

LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.

Act with Determination

LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.

Engage and Partner

LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Cross Functional and Technical Competencies

Business Development

HUMAN-CANTERED DESIGN: Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process.

Business Management

PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

COMMUNICATION: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.EVALUATION: Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks - Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

2030 Agenda: Prosperity

INCLUSIVE GROWTH: Urban Community Infrastructure/Assets.

Partnership Management:

RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT: Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.

Digital & Innovation

BLOCKCHAIN ENGINEERING: Ability to design and build blockchain-based solutions.

Communication:

WRITING AND EDITING: Ability to create and/or edit written content in different UN languages.

Required Skills and Experience

UNDP STRONGLY ENCOURAGES QUALIFIED WOMEN TO APPLY FOR AVAILABLE POSITIONS FOR WHICH THEY MEET THE STATED MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.

Application Requirement

All Applicants MUST complete and attach the UNDP Personal History-P-11 Form (found here) to their applications in the vacancy site.

Submission of personal resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) will not be acceptable and candidates who fail to attach the above required P-11 form will not be considered.

Min. Education requirement****:

• Master’s degree Civil Engineering or related area is required or,
• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or related area with additional 2 years relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master’s degree.

Relevant Experience:

• Minimum of two (02) years with Master’s degree or four (04) years with Bachelor’s degree of relevant professional experience in Civil Engineering or related area.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience on soil and water conservation structural design, implementation.
• Experience in leading a team with civil engineers and construction workers.
• Experience in project implementation, monitoring and quality assurance.
• Excellent analytical, writing, presentation, and communications skills.
• Ability to present accurate information in a clear, concise and visually engaging manner.
• Ability to work in a challenging, time sensitive, rapidly changing environment, and to work collaboratively with a diverse team.
• Experience in results-based management methodologies is highly desired.
• Previous experience with UN agency would be an asset.
• Knowledge of international standards, specifically for civil work works related to infrastructure construction/rehabilitation.

Language Requirements:

Proficiency in English is required – both written and oral.

Fluency in local language of duty station Dari and/or Pashto is required.

ONLY CURRENT AFGHANISTAN NATIONALS AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WILLING TO TRAVEL IN KABUL AND THROUGHOUT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN, ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION. ALL OTHER APPLICANTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.