Engineer (Programme)

Engineer (Programme) (166103)

Requisition ID 166103 – Posted 02/06/2022 – Short Term-SC WFP – Asia, Southern – Nepal – Surkhet – Working Job Language (1) – PROGRAMME & POLICY

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Organizational context:
The Government of Nepal (GoN) and the British Embassy Kathmandu (BEK) have developed the Local Infrastructure Support Programme (LISP) and sector Framework to help Nepal to improve the Local Governments’ capacity for delivery of local infrastructure services in an accountable, inclusive, effective, and sustainable manner as demanded by Nepalese citizens. The LISP will be a BEK flagship programme, which will be delivered in three phases: (a) a small design, learning and preparatory pilot phase until July 2023, (b) up to £100m first phase of implementation starting in Nepal financial year 22/23 but with preparatory work starting in 2022, and (c) Up to £50 million second phase of implementation following a performance review of the first phase in 2024/25.

With funding support from the BEK, the design learning pilot phase (LISP Pilot) will be implemented by United Nations World Food Programme (UN WFP) in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in selected 15 local governments (4 Municipalities and 11 Rural Municipalities) in Karnali Province. The pilot aims at gaining evidence and experience on the effective, successful, and replicable operational modalities concerning green recovery job creation and climate-resilient local infrastructure development for scaling-up through the full-fledged LISP. WFP is the lead agency for the LISP Pilot and is responsible for implementation/delivery of incentive/co-financing of the Pilot, and UNDP as support agency is responsible for capacity development related aspects of the Pilot. The Karnali LISP Pilot aims to pilot approaches to support inclusive planning and delivery of local infrastructure and green recovery job creation and to test incentive mechanisms/co-financing together with the selected LGs for better performance, capacity building of local governments and the use of government monitoring and financing instruments.

JOB PURPOSE

A Technical Assistance (TA)/capacity and system support team will be set-up by WFP and UNDP jointly to each Local Government (LG) selected for the pilot. The TA team comprising local governance/planning and local infrastructure/technical advisors to be based in the selected LGs will provide technical guidance, advice, and hands-on support to the LGs in the key focus areas of the Pilot. Hence, the Engineer as technical expert based in WFP Field Office/Surkhet LISP Pilot TA team, will support the LG-embedded TA team, LG’s technical team and provincial Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Urban Development (MoPIUD) in technical/engineering related matters related to LISP Pilot.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

The Engineer will be based in WFP Field Office Surkhet. The responsibilities will include providing technical/engineering backstopping to the LG-embedded TA Team (Local Technical -Support) to enable them to assist the LGs in planning, delivery, and management of climate resilient and green recovery job creating local infrastructure, as well as for selection and implementation of infrastructure co-financed by the LISP Pilot. The incumbent will report to the LISP Pilot Deputy Team Leader (Engineer) based in WFP Field Office, Surkhet. The incumbent will also closely work with the Pilot TA team assigned by UNDP at provincial level.

The main roles and responsibilities of the position:

• Provide expert technical/engineering backstopping support to the LGs through LGs-embedded TA team in planning, implementation, and management of infrastructure sub-projects.
• Provide technical oversight and guidance to the TA team and LG’s technical team to make their local infrastructure more labour-intensive, climate-resilient, and supportive of green recovery and local employment generating through participatory planning and prioritization process.
• Provide expert technical advice to LGs in developing infrastructure related sectoral master plans, Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparation, feasibility studies etc.
• Provide technical backstopping to LG TA team in developing/improving/updating various infrastructure related guidelines, manuals, and procedures for endorsement from the LG executives.
• Provide technical guidance to LGs to enable them to adopt an improved working procedures for effective management and monitoring of local infrastructure services of the LGs, including financial management based on best practices and learning of the Pilot (around effective utilization/management of public fund, procurement, labours mobilization, construction materials handling, community ownership and quality construction; sustainability and regular repair, operations, and maintenances of local infrastructure).
• Guide to and coordinate with LGs TA team and technical team of the LGs for sub-projects construction management/contract administration, compliance to quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) requirements, maintaining documentation of technical supervision and monitoring of the activities by concerned stakeholders including LGs’ monitoring committees.
• Guide the LGs TA team to identify and facilitate for various technical training/hands-on support to the LG’s technical team to increase efficiency of the LG for the implementation of standard specifications, norms, and design guidelines complying with the Local
• Infrastructure Development Directives, Manual, work norms, specifications, etc.
  Support the LG in deciding the execution model for each local infrastructure sub-project, i.e., through reconfigured user committee or contractor or blended contractor & user committee modality.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

Guide the LGs TA team to enable them in providing hands-on support to the Infrastructure Section in the preparation of contract documents, E-procurement, Bill of Quantities, contract administration, technical and functional review, resource planning and scheduling, and bid evaluation for the procurement of works and goods through local contractors and suppliers.

• Review and provide engineering feedback to the LGs in the engineering design, drawing and estimate documents of the prioritized/selected local infrastructure sub-projects.
• Provide technical backstopping to LGs to effectively implement the agreed co-financed sub-projects through an improved working procedures for effective management and monitoring of local infrastructure, including financial management.
• Guide the LGs for improving local infrastructure related data management and visualization, including GIS and LG websites.
• Facilitate and guide the LGs on technical aspects of Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of the local infrastructures ( database , planning, design, implementation and reporting arrangements).
• Technically guide LGs to establish and operate Local Infrastructure Maintenance Support Fund with a fixed initial amount at the municipal level with the Fund Operational Directive approved by Municipal Council and mandatory annual budget allocation to the Fund.
• Guide the LGs to establish a system of regular monitoring of various infrastructure sub-projects whether funded by LGs, co-financed by LISP Pilot or other partners, and develop mechanism for feedback.
• Regularly monitor the field activities, assess risks and gaps; and contribute to preparedness actions, providing technical recommendations and guidance and monitor the management of risks.
• Introduce innovative actions and capture real time learning from success and failures throughout the processes of the LISP Pilot implementation
• Ensure the timely submission of financial and operational reports related to LISP Pilot
• Collaborate with provincial ministries, LGs and other stakeholders for effective knowledge-sharing and lesson- learning.
• Coordinate with LGs and provincial TA team on daily basis for devising and implementing action plan (weekly/monthly) and preparation of internal progress report for submission to LISP Pilot Team Leader.
•  Perform other functions as assigned by immediate supervisor, head of field office and Team Leader of LISP Pilot.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in Civil Engineering or related Engineering discipline or First University degree with additional two years of related work experience and hold or be eligible for Accreditation to become “Professional Engineer” or “Chartered Engineer” status or recognized equivalent by an appropriate national or international regulatory authority.

Language: Fluency (level C) in English language and the duty station’s language, if different.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• At least 2 years of post graduate and professional experience in civil engineering with a focus on hydraulic and structural designs, field layouts, planning and execution of detail surveys for a variety of rural/local infrastructures.
• Professional experience in AutoCAD, hydraulic/structural design software, use of electronic survey equipment will be highly preferred.
• Experience of project management, implementation and monitoring of local/rural infrastructure, and Food Assistance for Assets/cash for work programmes.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and leadership skills, and a strong team player with the willingness to learn and support the learning of others.
• Energetic to work in remote areas with limited facilities yet highly committed to professional work to achieve tangible outcome for the benefits of the most vulnerable people.
• Experience of working in government ministries will be an added advantage.
• Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
• Must be familiar with MS office.
• Nepali Typing skill is an asset

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: 16 June 2022

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.