Located in Nairobi, Kenya, the Kenya Multi Country Office manages a growing portfolio of engagements, including associated strategic and operational risks. The KEMC/East and Southern Africa sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Centre in Nairobi/Kenya which manages a portfolio of engagements in multiple countries in East and Southern Africa. This includes transactional projects in partnership with the Nairobi based UN Agencies, UN-Habitat and UNEP, and multiple ‘operational’ projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and several island states.
In 2020 KEMC established an Office in Lusaka, Zambia. The Government of Zambia (GoZ) has prepared the Irrigation Development Support Project (IDSP, P102459, IDA Credit #48740) in the amount of SDR74.70 million (US$115 million), approved in April 2011 by the World Bank. The Project’s original objective was to increase yields per hectare and value of diverse products marketed by smallholders benefitting from investments in irrigation in selected sites served by the project.” Originally the project had four components (i) Irrigated Agriculture Support Services, (ii) Public Infrastructure; (iii) Private and Cooperative Investment; and (iv) Management and Coordination.
In March 2020, the government requested Additional Funding of US$ 30 million and a time extension of 24 months to allow: (i) the completion of the ongoing works under IDSP and cost replenishment (US$ 14 million); (ii) the implementation of Phase 2 of the remedial works for ten dams (US$ 15 million) and (iii) Drought Emergency Response (USD 1 million).
Ten dams have been built on selected rivers in Zambia as a part of the Zambia Water Resources Development Project (WRDP). These are all earth fill dams, with walls varying in height from 8 m and 10.7 m. Four of the dams were pre-existing and were rehabilitated while the remainder were new dams. Most of the construction was completed between 2016 and 2018. In late 2018, work was stopped due to persistently poor performance by the contractors. A performance review of dam safety and safeguard concerns, including a review of all safeguard instruments, was undertaken for each dam site to guide the requirements for completion of remedial work under the Additional Financing.
The dams now present risks to the local communities and the Government and the World Bank (“Funder”) want to have these dams secured and retrofitted. The remediation works will be financed by the WB through the IDSP. IDSP engaged UNOPS as implementing partner in a Phase 1 to provide services including planning (support of surveillance and emergency preparedness) for 10 dams and design, updating of environmental and social safeguards documentation to comply with WB social and environmental policies for 10 dams and tendering of the works for 10 dams.
In Phase 2, UNOPS will be implementing the identified solutions and lead on the remedial and rehabilitation works on the 10 dams.
Purpose and Scope of Assignment
UNOPS is looking to engage civil engineers to lead the contractors’ supervision at each of the 10 dams sites: Ngolongozya, Nachibanga, Ndondi, Makaba, Kanyika, Kawiko, Nabowa, Katembula, Chibalashi, Chikowa.
Specifically, the incumbent will be responsible for the following substantive tasks. The tasks would involve but not limited to:
- The Civil Engineer shall be responsible for the progress control and quality control of construction works. S/He will be responsible for supervision of all works of the contractor and thereby ensure onsite quality control of construction works
- Review and analyse existing documents
- Review and analyse investigation reports
- Supervise site engineers
- Calculate quantities
- Liaise with technical, procurement colleagues and client and funding representatives as required
- Monitor implementation progress to ensure quality, safety and efficiency
Technical tasks:
- Implement approved work packages (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Project Managers
- Manage the production of the required products, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary
- Liaise with any external suppliers or account managers
- Prepare and review progress reports that address specific clients and stakeholder requirements when necessary
- Review contractor’s method statements, safeguards requirements and monitor compliance with approved documents
- Work closely with other technical professionals and contractors in the planning of work, scheduling of tasks
- Advise the Project Managers of any deviations from the plan. Identify areas where alterations to approved design may be required and lead the process to secure approval through UNOPS’s agreed channels
- Identify and manage risks so that maximum benefit to clients and stakeholders is achieved. Manage and review product quality and ensure products are accepted
- Monitor and evaluate the performance of service providers
- Ensure the documents prepared meet the quality standard requirements
- Responsible for timely delivery of the expected outputs to project coordinator and manager
- Able to produce civils bills of quantities
- Highlight possible non or late delivery prior to the event
- Carry out site inspections and assessments as required
- Monitor contractor’s progress during Defects Notification Periods and compile reports as required
- Develop specifications, procedures and QA/QC protocols when required
- Proactively assist senior staff in managing the design projects, ensuring that they meet the high standards expected by UNOPS, while delivering the program within its time and budget constraints
- Liaise with clients and address requirements when required
- Carry out technical reviews as appropriate
Personnel Management:
- Lead and motivate the Construction teams
- Ensure that behavioral expectations of team members are established
- Ensure that performance reviews are conducted
- Identify outstanding staff and bring them to the attention of the Supervisor
- Have a thorough understanding of UNOPS personnel contract modalities (including ICA and Staff). Ensure safety and security for all personnel and comply with UN DSS standards
- Travel to remote sites is required
Final Product
- Assist in ensuring high project construction quality, observing all local/international and UN standards applicable; and all relevant health and safety procedures.
- University Degree (Bachelor’s degree / first level) with a combination of 5 additional years of relevant professional experience in Civil & Structural Engineering or other relevant discipline is required;
- Advanced University Degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering or other relevant discipline is desirable.
- Minimum 7 years’ experience in Infrastructure Engineering Design and implementation is required with at least four (4) years’ experience in supervising and construction activities incorporating bulk earthworks is required;
- At least two (2) years experience in rockfill/earth fill dams construction or rehabilitation is required;
- Experience working on projects in Conflict and post-conflict and Post-disaster and reconstruction experience prone areas will be an advantage;
- Experience working in Africa and Indian Ocean Islands is an asset.
Fluency in written and oral English language is required.
More Information
- Job City Zambia
