Construction Specialist

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. And we never give up.

UNICEF Malawi Country Programme (2019-2023) is aligned with the Government of Malawi’s Growth and Development Strategy (MDGS III) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The programme supports the Government of Malawi to meet its commitment to respect, protect and fulfil children’s rights in line with international conventions and standards. The country programme is guided by the principles of children’s rights, equity, gender equality, inclusion and resilience, and supports evidence-based, integrative and innovative programming. The vision is that ”all girls and boys in Malawi especially the most disadvantaged and deprived, realize their rights”. The programme focuses on early childhood (parenting, high-impact social services, early stimulation and learning), middle childhood and adolescence (learning, multi-sectoral services, active citizenship), communities (decentralized services and systems, community ownership, social norms), programme effectiveness (monitoring, evaluation, HACT, Innovation, Social Protection and Social Policy and External Communication. The programme is based on “leaving no child behind”, realizing ‘rights for all children in Malawi’. Context UNICEF has a mandate to safeguard the rights of all children, everywhere. That mandate is rooted in the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which sets out universal and indivisible rights that apply to every child, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in 2015, which apply to every country.

This UNV assignment is part of UNICEF Malawi programming initiative on reducing maternal and neonatal mortality funded by China. One of the key components of the current project is to renovate delivery room and newborn corners/small and sick newborn ward in 20 health care facilities (17 primary health care facilities and 3 hospitals).

In addition, the health section is supporting the implementation of rehabilitation in different health care facilities and solarization of primary health care facilities and vaccine regional depot. More infrastructure work in health care facilities is expected if another project will be approved in near future. UNICEF Malawi is also involved in improvement of climate resilient WASH systems in both rural communities and health care facilities.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Chief of Health & HIV or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer (UNV) Construction Specialist will:

Summary of key duties:

1. Regularly update the work plan for construction activities.

2. Coordinate procurement processes for required construction works and services.

3. Support procurement processes for construction works and services.

4. Manage construction projects and associated contracts with vendors.

5. Perform any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Regularly updating the construction work plan: • Consolidate required infrastructure interventions for the Health Section, Operations, and other programme sections. • Determine/revise performance indicators and monitor the progress of implementation to ensure results are achieved according to schedules and performance standards. • Update the work plan regularly to incorporate emerging construction activities and schedules of ongoing projects.

Collaboration with the Health Section, Operations, other Programme Sections, and Government Counterparts

• Provide technical advice in the planning of construction projects in conformance with UNICEF Supply Division guidelines and international best practices. • Provide technical inputs in the development of project proposals and terms of reference that include construction components. • Collaborate with Government counterparts in developing and documenting innovative, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective construction designs. • Participate in relevant multi-stakeholder technical working groups and represent UNICEF Malawi in reporting on infrastructure support provided by the office and in facilitating joint planning and monitoring of construction.

Preparation of technical documents for construction

• Prepare the scope of construction works and services based on requirements, budgets, and site limitations; define deliverables and payment modalities. • Review construction technical documents (drawings, technical specifications, and bills of quantities); verify if the documents are clear, complete, and compliant with programmatic and construction needs, eco-efficiency, and accessibility requirements; undertake actions required to endorse the technical documents by relevant ministries. • Follow up with the appointed third-party quality assurance firms and government entities for obtaining all required development permits.

Support for procurement processes for construction works and services

• Provide technical support to the Supply Unit in the preparation of Local Procurement Authorization (LPA) requests and Contracts Review Committee (CRC) submissions with supporting documents related to construction activities. • Develop terms of reference required for pre-qualifying or requesting proposals from eligible service providers for construction works and engineering services. • Support the Supply Unit in consolidating required documents for the establishment of local Long-Term Arrangements for engineering services (design and site supervision). • Prepare tender documents related to construction works and engineering services. • Support the Supply Unit in conducting the Bidders' Conference (Pre-bid Meeting), presenting technical components of the tender, and providing answers to technical questions raised by potential bidders. • Organize and coordinate site visits when required. • Lead the evaluation of technical proposals and support the Supply Unit in analyzing financial proposals and documenting the recommendation for award. • Support the Supply Unit in preparing cases for presentation to the Contract Review Committee (CRC) following the conclusion of the evaluation of proposals for construction works and/or engineering services; present and respond to all technical aspects during and after CRC meetings.

Management of construction of projects

• Provide close monitoring of construction activities by undertaking regular site visits and conducting regular technical meetings including joint monitoring with relevant Government technical services. • Follow up on the progress of construction through the review of weekly progress reports submitted by the third-party quality assurance firm. • Ensure adherence of construction works and engineering services to established norms, standards, and timelines. • Verify compliance with quality requirements and health and safety standards. • Establish effective supervision tools to enable the identification of challenges affecting quality, time schedules, and cost of construction works and services. • Review payments and proposed work variations; monitor and manage expenditure on construction projects and maintain relevant records for ease of follow-up. • Participate in the partial, substantial, and final reception of works after verifying the correction of all defects during the Defects Liability Period (DLP) and issuing relevant certificates. • Ensure the development and filing of As-Built Drawings and share them with relevant Government counterparts for their record and use when required. • Conduct Contract Performance Evaluation. • Provide support to the Supply Unit on contract close-out in VISION, preparing the final completion report and lessons learned for submission to the Construction Unit (Supply Division).

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteer (UNV) programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and actively participate in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Become acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results, and opportunities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications, websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/expected outputs:

• As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in accomplishing her/his functions, including: o Construction work plan updated at least monthly o Strengthened collaboration with UNICEF Programmes/Operations and coordination with Government counterparts o Design and technical documents prepared in a quality and timely manner o Supported procurement process o Construction projects effectively managed and monitored to completion • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated, and documented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and capacities developed

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