Mission and objectives

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a key development agency of the United Nations and active in Iraq since 1976, supports the Government and people of Iraq in advancing sustainable development, strengthening institutions, and promoting stability and resilience. Aligned with national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UNDP Iraq works to address social, economic, environmental, and governance challenges through integrated development programmes. UNDP supports efforts to strengthen inclusive and accountable governance, enhance public service delivery, promote economic recovery and livelihoods, build institutional capacity at national and local levels, and enhance social cohesion within and between communities and government. Through partnerships with government institutions, civil society, and international stakeholders, UNDP aims to contribute to a resilient and inclusive Iraq where institutions are transparent and responsive, and where development benefits all segments of society, particularly vulnerable and marginalized populations.

Context

As the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We support countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas: sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience. UNDP Iraq implements programmes that support reintegration, social cohesion, recovery and durable solutions for displacement-affected populations, including returnees and vulnerable community members. These programmes include community-based rehabilitation and service restoration interventions that help reduce barriers to sustainable return and local integration. A key component of UNDP’s support is the rehabilitation of housing for vulnerable beneficiaries, alongside other small-to-medium scale rehabilitation works that may include community infrastructure/facilities and service points (such as Primary Health Care Centres’ MHPSS units and other social service infrastructure) depending on programme priorities and funding. These interventions are implemented through UNDP contracting modalities and/or implementing partners and require strong technical oversight throughout the project cycle. To strengthen technical quality assurance, procurement readiness and implementation oversight, UNDP Iraq seeks a qualified Civil Engineer to support the review and quality assurance of technical documentation (including assessments, drawings, BoQs, specifications, cost estimates and scopes of work), technical support to procurement and partner selection processes, and field supervision/monitoring of rehabilitation works to ensure compliance with UNDP standards, contract requirements, safety and quality expectations.

Task Description

Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Reintegration Specialist, and in close coordination with UNDP programme, procurement, operations and engineering/technical teams, the Civil Engineer will provide technical support, quality assurance and implementation oversight for rehabilitation-related interventions under UNDP programmes, with a focus on housing rehabilitation works (including, where applicable, community infrastructures’ improvements) by carrying out the following tasks: 1) Technical design review, preparation support and procurement readiness - Support the review of requests for rehabilitation/construction interventions and participate in site assessments to identify needs, constraints, risks and recommended technical solutions. - Review and/or support preparation of technical documentation for rehabilitation works, including assessments, drawings, technical specifications, statements/scope of work, Bills of Quantities (BoQs) and cost estimates. - Review design documents prepared by consultants, contractors, Responsible Parties and/or implementing partners, ensuring consistency, constructability and alignment with project requirements. - Verify the adequacy and completeness of technical supporting documentation prior to issuance of solicitations by the procurement unit. - Contribute technical inputs to tender/solicitation dossiers and support clarification of technical requirements during the solicitation process. - Review technical evaluation criteria and compliance requirements for rehabilitation-related procurement packages. 2) Technical support to procurement and partner selection processes - Participate in technical evaluations of bids/proposals for rehabilitation works and services, in accordance with UNDP procedures and the approved evaluation criteria. - Assist in the analysis of measures, quantities and descriptions in bidders’ offers against the advertised BoQs and technical specifications. - Assist in reviewing offered unit rates against cost estimates/BoQs and assessing reasonableness, completeness and consistency of financial submissions from a technical perspective. - Assess bidders’/partners’ technical capacity, relevant experience, staffing and methodology against minimum qualification requirements. - Support preparation of technical comments, evaluation notes and/or technical sections of evaluation reports, including identified risks, clarifications and recommendations. - Provide technical support to procurement and programme teams during pre-bid meetings, site visits, bidder clarifications and responses to technical queries, as requested. 3) Implementation oversight and field monitoring of rehabilitation works - Monitor implementation of rehabilitation works (housing and other facilities) to ensure compliance with approved designs, BoQs, technical specifications, contract documents and UNDP procedures. - Conduct regular field visits/site inspections and prepare site visit reports with observations, progress status, quality findings, risks and recommended corrective actions. - Check completed works before they are covered by contractors/partners, including measurements/sketches and photo documentation. - Monitor progress of works against agreed schedules and flag delays, technical bottlenecks, or implementation deviations in a timely manner. - Verify quantities of executed works and support review of interim/final payment requests/certificates from a technical perspective. - Review contractor/partner submittals (such as material approvals, shop drawings, method statements, HSE documentation, test reports) and advise on compliance with contract requirements. - Support identification and assessment of variations/change requests and provide technical inputs for review/approval processes. - Support substantial completion and final handover inspections, preparation of snag/punch lists, and review of as-built documentation. - Participate in defect liability period inspections when required and support documentation of defects/corrective actions. 4) Quality assurance, health & safety, and compliance - Support implementation of quality control/quality assurance measures for workmanship, quantities, materials and timely completion. - Monitor compliance with health, safety and environmental (HSE) requirements and immediately flag serious risks or non-compliance. - Ensure works are implemented with due consideration for accessibility, inclusion and safe use by women, men, children, older persons and persons with disabilities, in line with project requirements. - Contribute to the documentation and filing of technical records, site memos, reports, photos and correspondence related to construction activities. - Provide factual technical information for progress reviews, donor visits, audits and internal reporting as requested. 5) Coordination, partner engagement and capacity support - Coordinate with programme teams, procurement colleagues, contractors, implementing partners, consultants and local stakeholders to facilitate effective implementation and troubleshooting. - Support communication with local authorities and relevant sector counterparts (such as housing, municipal, health and social affairs counterparts) on technical matters related to rehabilitation interventions. - Contribute to knowledge-sharing and practical capacity support for implementing partners/contractors on BoQ use, technical specifications, reporting, quality requirements and site supervision expectations. - Participate in relevant coordination meetings and provide technical inputs/minutes/actions as requested. - Carry out other engineering-related tasks assigned by the supervisor in support of programme implementation.

Competencies and values

• Achieve Results: Plans and monitors own work, pay attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline. • Think Innovatively: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements. • Learn Continuously: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback. • Adapt with Agility: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty; is flexible. • Act with Determination: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident. • Engage and Partner: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships. • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Living conditions and remarks

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers receive a volunteer living allowance to sustain a basic, adequate, and safe lifestyle. This allowance varies from one location to another depending on local living costs, but all national UN Volunteers in the same location receive the same allowance. Below is a summary of the Conditions of Service. Allowances: The purpose of allowances for national UN Volunteers is to enable the national UN Volunteers to sustain a modest and secure standard of living at the duty station. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the volunteer work. The purpose of this allowance is to cover the basic living costs of the national UN Volunteer, and Her/his family when applicable. The allowance is to ensure that the volunteer can sustain a basic, adequate, and safe lifestyle. • Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) at the amount of USD 1,724.16. • Entry lump sum(one time): USD 400 • Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment): USD 1,724.16. for 12 months • Annual and learning leaves • Medical and life Insurance Free access to different learning platforms. For more information on UN Volunteer benefits, entitlements and support, please visit: https://www.unv.org/volunteer-your-country-conditions-service