UNDP
Job Vacancy
Field Engineer
General
Description of assignment title: Field Engineer
Assignment country: State of Palestine
Expected start date: 22/08/2022
Sustainable Development Goal: 11. Sustainable cities and communities
Volunteer category: National UN Community Volunteer
DoA reserved for persons with disabilities: No
Host entity: UNDP
Type: Onsite
Duration: 6 months (with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments: 1
Duty stations: Gaza
Advertisement end date: 08/08/2022
Details
Mission and objectives
UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP) derives its mandate from the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 33/147 of 20 December 1978. Called upon by United Nations Member States in that year, UNDP was requested “to improve the economic and social conditions of the Palestinian people by identifying their social and economic needs and by establishing concrete projects to that end”. UNDP/PAPP is a responsive development agency that works together with the Palestinian people to fulfil their aspiration for sustainable human development based on self-determination, equality and freedom.
Context
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations.
The UN Volunteer will be assigned to the Jerusalem office of UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP). PAPP was established through a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20 December 1978, calling upon UNDP “to improve the economic and social conditions of the Palestinian people”. In partnership with Palestinian institutions, civil society, communities and donors, UNDP’s goal is to empower the Palestinian People to establish a viable State that is able to realize the right to development for its people and support their socio-economic resilience. Since its establishment, UNDP/PAPP has delivered over USD 1.5 billion in development assistance to the Palestinian People. UNDP/PAPP places empowerment, resilience and sustainability at the center of its operation and focuses on three priority areas: the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and Area C of the West Bank, where the needs are the greatest. The UNV is assigned to the Investment Programme for Resilience (IPR).
This Project is a comprehensive, inclusive and integrated response to the needs of the most vulnerable/marginalized communities in Palestine. It is designed based on a sound analysis of the risks and problems posed by the COVID-19 crisis and its immediate implications. It is also based on the analysis of previously existing multisectoral development challenges.
Outcome 1 of IPR focuses on addressing short term-immediate needs by enhancing the preparedness and response capacity of the health system through (1) provision of medical equipment and supplies, (2) deployment of health personnel and workers in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, and (3) procurement and placement of medical waste treatment systems in health centres.
Outcome 2 of IPR seeks to address community needs through investments in community infrastructure and basic services within a strategic approach in reducing disparities, strengthening social cohesion, and enhancing community engagement and ownership (particularly women, youth, and people with disabilities), and also contribute to creating short-term employment opportunities through construction/ rehabilitation works and long-term sustainable jobs for the operation and management of the new services provided.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of Programme Analyst in the Gaza Strip, the UN Community Volunteer will:
1. Assist in monitoring activities and in documenting progress
- Assist the project team to perform daily supervision tasks for different processes needed to properly implement the project. The UN Volunteer will be expected to assist in office work including preparation of correspondences to the different contractors and/or counterparts.
- Conduct field activities to accomplish daily tasks related to the implementation including monitoring site visits to the current activities in order to provide the necessary technical advice and/or to identify issues to be followed by the senior engineers in the team;
- Assist the Project Engineers to ensure the delivery of different projects through reviewing the submitted payments, against the original project timeframe and inform the senior engineers about any serious delays.
- Assist the Project team in collecting necessary information from the different sites for the preparation of progress reports;
- Maintain a proper filing system for all sites related documents during the life cycle of respective contracts;
- Monitor the time schedule of the project implementation and raise relevant issues to direct supervisor.
2. Assist in providing quality assurance to the community infrastructure work
- Follow up on different materials testing results and relevant approvals and attachments as essential documents within the submitted payments;
- Assist in conducting market survey for construction materials in the local market.
3. Perform any other related tasks as may be assigned by the supervisor. Furthermore, UN Community Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers 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 a 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 take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
- Be 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.
Eligibility criteria
Age: 18 - 80
Nationality: Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
0 years of experience in
- Experience working/ volunteering in marginalized communities on infrastructure projects.
- Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and engineering software
- Very good oral and written skills.
- Good communication and team building skills.
Area(s) of expertise
Architecture and settlements, Community development
Languages
Arabic, Level: Mother tongue, Required English, Level: Working knowledge, Required
Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in Civil Engineering or Architecture
Competencies and values
• Professionalism • Integrity: • Teamwork and respect for diversity: • Commitment to continuous learning: • Planning and organizing: • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; • Flexibility: • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNDP/PAPP’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
The duration of the assignment is indicated above with the possibility of extension subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.
The current Conditions of Service for national UN Volunteers will apply to UN Community Volunteers as an interim measure until a full review of the national Conditions of Service is undertaken, with the following modifications as per Interim Policy Note on UN Community Volunteers.
UN Community Volunteers are expected to be recruited locally and work within their community, they are therefore not expected to travel to the duty station and are not eligible for a settling in grant. In addition, UN Community Volunteers should not require reintegration back into their locales upon completion of their service. Therefore, there is no entitlement to a resettlement allowance.
The applicable volunteer living allowance is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy