Mission and objectives

UNICEF Ethiopia is implementing a 5-year country programme 2020-2025 which is fully aligned with the UNSDCF. UNICEF will work collaboratively within the UNSDCF on a joint strategy to strengthen national systems for data collection, analysis, monitoring and applying adjustments to promote equity. Evidence will be used to monitor the situation of children, tracking progress towards equity and scale, and to inform advocacy to adjust policies, strategies and budgets. Monitoring and corrective actions will be undertaken through UNICEF staff, partners and third-party monitoring, and through mechanisms for community feedback and accountability to affected populations.

Context

Ethiopia is situated in the Horn of Africa and is the second most populous country on the continent with an estimated population of 115 million. It borders six African countries: Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan, and covers 1,104,300 square kilometres. Approximately 85 per cent of the population lives in rural areas. Ethiopia represents a melting pot of ancient cultures with Middle Eastern and African cultures evident in the religious, ethnic, and language composition of its people. Over the past two years, children and their families across Ethiopia faced multiple and complex emergencies, such as the conflict in northern Ethiopia and the drought, which resulted in millions of people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. UNICEF has programs in Child Protection, WASH, Health, Nutrition, Social Policy, and Education and serves over 15 million children in Ethiopia. Join UNICEF Ethiopia to contribute to improving the lives of children and women. UNICEF-Ethiopia has initiated the construction of a new shared Field Office Premise in Jijiga, Somali region, aiming to reduce recurrent expenditure on the leased premise and improve staff welfare and efficiency by providing an adequate working environment for her growing staff population. The construction will also ensure a green, sustainable, and inclusive construction, thus aiming to reduce UNICEF’s carbon footprint and meet UNICEF Level-3 accessibility requirements. Based on the value and complexity of the construction project, the UNV- Construction Site Engineer will oversee day-to-day site supervision, coordinating activities of both the Quality Assurance Contractor and the Construction Contractor. This assignment is reserved for UNICEF National staff (NO & GS) from East and Southern Africa (Regional Office and all Country Offices) and Middle East and North Africa (Regional Office and Yemen Country Office).

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of the Construction Manager, the Construction Site Engineer will undertake the following tasks: 1. Preparation of design and technical documents for re/construction-related activities: – Prepare the scope for re/construction works based on assigned task Operations requirements, budget, and site limitations; define deliverables and payment modality. – Apply UNICEF norms and standards (child-friendly, accessibility, MOSS, MORSS, etc.) to re/construction projects, taking into consideration the local environment and available materials; verify if compliance with climate-smart and green building standards is required in coordination with DFAM Field Support Unit. – Check technical documents related to re/construction (design drawings, technical specifications, and bills of quantities); verify whether they are clear, complete, and compliant with programmatic and re/construction needs, eco-efficiency and accessibility requirements; undertake the actions required to endorse these technical documents by relevant ministries (where apply). – Review shop drawings and design submittal for compliance with specifications 2. Support to procurement processes – Conduct surveys to identify potential construction companies and engineering firms available in the local market; prepare terms of reference required for establishing local Long-Term Arrangements for engineering services (design and site supervision). – Prepare tender documents in relation to re/construction works and engineering services; attend bidders’ conferences and present the technical components of the tender; prepare answers to technical questions raised by the bidders during the tendering. – Support the Supply section in organizing bidders’ conferences and site visits; conduct the evaluation of technical proposals received and prepare the evaluation report; provide support to the Supply section on the analysis of financial proposals. 3. Monitoring and quality assurance of re/construction-related activities. – Conduct the kick-off meeting of re/construction works with the construction company, the engineering firm and relevant government counterparts at the national, regional and world levels. – Provide close monitoring and quality assurance on re/construction activities by undertaking regular site visits and conducting regular technical meetings including joint monitoring with relevant Government technical services; follow up on progress for each activity per milestones and reviewing site supervision reports to ensure work compliance with norms, standards, and timeline; verify quality and precautions on health and safety standards on ground. – Use effective monitoring, quality assurance and supervision tools to easily ensure assessment of work quality, progress, and performance of engineering firms and construction companies during the entire duration of the project; apply the multi-layered approach to reconstruction supervision and quality assurance; use documented hold and inspection points, where applicable. – Certify payments/variations and compile supporting documents; monitor re/construction expenditures and progress certificates; prepare and maintain relevant tables for each re/construction activity. – Provide support to the UNICEF Contract Administrator on contract management, amendments, variations, duration extensions, applying liquidated damages, etc. – Ensure all documents/information required for contract management are available, complete, and properly archived. – Participate in the partial, substantial, and final reception of works after verifying the correction of all defects during the DLP; prepare and issue relevant certificates. – Prepare Contract Performance Evaluation; provide support to UNICEF Contract Administrator on contract close-out in VISION; prepare the final completion report with the lessons learned for submission to the STEP PMO and Construction Unit (SD) and AMS/NYHQ as necessary.

Competencies and values

– Care – Respect – Integrity – Trust – Accountability – Sustainability – Adaptability and flexibility – Creativity – Judgement and decision-making – Planning and organising – Professionalism – Self-Awareness and Ethical Awareness

Living conditions and remarks

The East Security Area is made up of 6 administrative zones in the Somali Region (Fafan, Sitti, Nogob, Erer, Jarar, Korahe and Doolo). The Area also covers Dire Dawa City Council, Harari, East and West Hararghe zones of the Oromia Region. – The climate is characterized by high temperatures and seasonal precipitation throughout the year. Dry season prevails from October to May while the wet season runs from May to September. The annual rainfall is estimated to be 300-500mm and it varies from location to location. Average temperatures range from 19-40 Degrees C. – The Area is affected by Malaria, and seasonal outbreaks of Cholera, Dengue Fever and Typhoid. – The general security situation in the Area is affected by the threat of terrorism, inter-clan and inter-ethnic conflicts, communal violence and crime. Frequent fighting between Somali clans and sub-clans, mainly over land and water resources is a factor of insecurity and poses significant risks to UN agencies and other humanitarian actors. – Localized inter-ethnic conflict between ethnic Somali versus Afar and Somali versus Oromo persists. Armed militia, using military-type weapons are usually involved in the fighting. Even in the case of fighting between Somali clans, military-type assault rifles and machine guns are used, which explains the significant number of casualties, which result from the conflicts. Also, clashes between unknown armed groups (UAG), the ENDF and other Ethiopian security forces occur from time to time in East and West Hararghe zones in Oromia Region. The activities of these armed groups sometimes disrupt UN programme activities in the affected localities. – Terrorism poses a significant threat to UN personnel in the Area. The threat comes from Al-Shabab militants based in neighbouring Somalia. In July and Early August 2022, Al-Shabab militants crossed the border into several areas of the Somali Region including the Mustakhail and Ferfer areas. IEDs were discovered in the Korahe and Doolo zones. Aside from possible attacks against UN personnel and facilities, IEDs pose a new and existential danger to UN personnel who conduct programme activities in the area. – Violent mob activities are common in the Area. People in local communities often resort to demonstrations to air their grievances against a variety of socio-economic and political issues. Notable among the reasons for civil unrest in the Area are political and regional/district boundary disagreements, struggle for power of the various clans and sub-clans over posts and representation in the local government system, disputes over economic and financial issues and land tenure conflicts. – Crime poses a significant security threat to UN personnel and families in the Area. Opportunistic crime is the main issue of concern to UN personnel. In recent times, the emergence of youth criminal gangs has resulted in an increase in criminality especially in the towns. Murder, rape, drug smuggling/peddling and arms trafficking are among the criminal activities, which negatively impact the lives of UN staff and families. – Various hazards pose serious threats to UN staff and programmes in the Area. Road traffic accidents constitute a significant risk to UN personnel. Most of the roads on which UN staff members travel to deliver programme activities are in poor condition. The East Security Area has been affected by persistent drought, which has devastated the livelihoods of already impoverished communities. Communities resort to violence while competing over scarce pasture and water resources.