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Job Number: 523331 | Vacancy Link
Locations: Middle East and North Africa: Algeria
Work Type : Consultancy
CALL FOR TENDER – TERMS OF REFERENCE
Position Title: Civil Engineer expert
Level + National / International
P3 level + international
Location: Sahrawi refugee camps, Tindouf, Algeria
Type of contract: Consultant
Duration: Five months – August / December 2019
Start Date: 01 August 2019
Reporting to: UNICEF Deputy-Representative
BACKGROUND
The Sahrawi refugee situation is one of the most protracted refugee crises in the world. The Sahrawi refugee camps located in Tindouf south-western province of Algeria were established in 1975-76 when the end of the Spanish colonial rule over the Western Sahara resulted in the irruption of an armed conflict between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front, and the flight of tens of thousands of refugees. Tindouf is an area characterized by extreme weather conditions of the Sahara with temperatures below 8°C during the winter season and above 45°C in summer. In addition, frequent sandstorms disrupt normal life. Water is scarce and neither clean nor sufficient for the entire refugee population. Most houses and constructions are built using a local technique and material consisting in clay bricks, not very resistant to heavy rain and consequent floods. Basic life is difficult to sustain in this environment where opportunities for self-reliance are extremely limited and the refugees living in these camps are almost fully dependent on humanitarian assistance for their very survival. However, Sahrawi camps differ from most refugee camps in the world by the level of self-organization of the population. Most social services and camp life organization are run by the refugees themselves, with no or only little outside interference.
The camps are divided into five districts – Laayoune, Awserd, Smara, Boujdour and Dakhla – in addition to the administrative camp of Rabouni which host most of the sectoral authorities as well as the Sahrawi Red Crescent. They are spread over a quite large area. While Laayoune, Smara, Awserd, Boujdour and Rabouni are located within one hour drive of the Algerian city of Tindouf, the Dakhla camp lies 170 kms to the southeast accessible by road.
The UN assistance is a critical component of a multi-donor, multi-faceted humanitarian relief effort in support of the refugees. UNHCR and WFP have been providing basic food and essential non-food assistance since 1986 while UNICEF supports maternal and neonatal programmes, immunization and educational activities in addition to assistance to centres caring for children with disabilities and activities for adolescents.
In October 2015, August 2016 and July 2017, the area was affected by severe floods and intense winds with severe damages to the camps, particularly to health and education infrastructures, resulting in serious disruption in the provision of services to children, women and communities. The assessment of education infrastructure facilities carried out by the Education Coordination Group in 2016/2017 established that over 50% of the sanitation facilities in 67 education infrastructures were not functioning affecting more than 40,000 pupils; 27% of the same infrastructures did not have latrines for girls, which in some schools, is a determining factor for girls’ absenteeism. UNICEF, co-leading the Education Coordination Group, is supporting the rehabilitation of some of the most damaged education infrastructures and construction of others, in addition to providing school materials and to building the capacities of teachers and other education personnel.
PURPOSE
UNICEF is looking for a qualified and experienced Civil Engineer, specialized in construction and rehabilitation as well as in water management and structure. At a critical phase of UNICEF’s programming, this specific expertise will contribute to ensuring UNICEF adequate planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all construction and rehabilitation activities carried out in the five camps, including the WASH facilities and hygiene promotion interventions. The specialist will ensure that issues and concerns from refugee camps in relation to access to safe and inclusive infrastructures are timely addressed.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
* Deliver timely technical support to UNICEF implementing partners for the most appropriate design of infrastructures and of WASH facilities in all targeted infrastructures in line with quality standards
* Support the design and the initial implementation of hygiene promotion interventions by concerned partners and of an overall hygiene promotion programme by the education Sahrawi authorities.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS
1. Oversee the implementation of rehabilitation and construction activities for UNICEF Humanitarian Programme in close cooperation with the relevant authorities, particularly those in charge of Education, Construction and Health, and implementing partners
2. Develop a strong monitoring and evaluation framework, inclusive of specific checklists and assessment tools
3. Undertake regular site visits to monitor the quality and timeliness of rehabilitation activities undertaken by implementing partners, including visits together with concerned officials
4. Design an internal procedure to timely oversee internal/external bidding processes including support documents required (e.g. designs, specifications, norms, standards and contracts)
5. Provide technical support to implementing partners for the rehabilitation or the design of buildings, sanitation infrastructures and water facilities in all targeted education facilities
6. Review and update the education facilities’ rehabilitation strategy together with education and construction authorities and the Education Coordination Group
7. Prepare a contract to ensure external regular oversight and monitoring of construction / rehabilitation work
8. Conduct a WASH in school assessment and develop a WASH in school strategy of intervention
9. Revise and update WinS operational guidelines (WinS minimum standards for school construction & rehabilitation / Healthy and quality school environment for Sahrawi refugee children)
10. Support the design by the Sahrawi Education authorities of a complete hygiene promotion programme to be included in the Sahrawi curricula based on the Hygiene Promotion Manual developed by UNICEF
11. Contribute to the development and implementation of the hygiene promotion interventions carried out by UNICEF partners
12. Contribute to internal and external reports, as well as to information products, including situation reports
DELIVERABLES
Deliverables Expected period
Internal procedure to timely oversee internal/external bidding processes 30 August 2019
Monitoring and evaluation plan, inclusive of specific checklists and assessment tools 10 September 2019
Construction and rehabilitation sites monitoring reports and Technical notes for IP Monthly (one per site)
Technical notes on IPs hygiene Promotion interventions September – December 2019
Technical assistance for the implementation of the KAP survey conducted by IP and the development of hygiene promotion tools 30 September 2019
Updated education facilities’ rehabilitation and construction strategy 15 October 2019
Revised and updated WinS practical guidelines 30 October 2019
Technical guidance and tools for training education staff on building maintenance 30 October 2019
Draft contract for regular oversight and monitoring 10 November 2019
Draft hygiene promotion programme to be included in the school curricula 15 November 2019
Assessment of WASH assessment in 67 schools 30 November 2019
Multi-year WinS strategy 15 December 2019
Contribution to programme updates and donor reports August – December 2019
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES
UNICEF is looking for a Civil Engineer, specialized in construction and rehabilitation as well as in water management and structure with a solid experience in working in a humanitarian context.
* Advanced university degree in civil engineering, construction engineering, architecture or any other relevant technical area
* A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in construction work and management and/or technical assistance
* Two years of work experience in developing country, and rehabilitation / construction programme in a humanitarian context
* Ability to work in a multicultural team environment.
* Good writing skills and training capacities
* Fluency in English and Arabic (verbal and written)
* Knowledge of other languages of the humanitarian operation (French / Spanish) an asset
* Working experience with a United Nations agency; a similar experience with UNICEF would be an asset
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
* Five months from 01 August 2019 to 31 December 2019.
* The consultant will rent a house or a flat in Tindouf city and commute daily (5 days a week) with UNICEF team to Rabouni located 20 minutes far from Tindouf.
* Activities will be implemented out of UNICEF office located in a compound hosting UN agencies and NGOs offices and frequent visits to the camps and project sites are anticipated.
* Life in Tindouf is pleasant, though very hot during the summer (May to September), safe and reasonably cheap (social life, gym, swimming pool, good internet…).
* Tindouf is 02h30 from Algiers by plane (at least 5 flights per week).
* Some specific security arrangements need to be observed and impose some constraints in terms of work schedule.
APPLICATION MODALITIES
Interested candidates are requested to submit their application including:
– A letter of motivation
– A CV and/or a P11 form
– An indication of remuneration level expected by the consultant
Closing Date Sun Jul 07 2019 23:55:00 GMT+0100 (Afr. centrale Ouest)