National Technical Consultant

The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. Supported by more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices—spanning North, West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa—the office advances national priorities through strategic initiatives in Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and Security, Middle-Income Country Support, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Regional Office provides strategic leadership, operational support, and oversight in key areas including Partnerships, Communications, Management and Oversight, Infrastructure and Project Management, Health and Safety, and Security. By promoting excellence in project delivery, fostering knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement, the office contributes to sustainable infrastructure, transparent resource management, and a better quality of life for communities across the continent.

Based in Dakar, Senegal, the West Africa Multi-Country Office (WAMCO) delivers high-quality project management, infrastructure, and procurement services across 16 countries in West Africa and the Sahel, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Togo. Aligned with UNOPS’ mission, WAMCO supports partners in peacebuilding, humanitarian assistance, and sustainable development. WAMCO’s portfolio spans key sectors such as health, climate change, renewable energy, agriculture, water and sanitation, environment, infrastructure, justice, and peace and security. Notable projects include the construction of pre-preschools for early childhood development in Senegal (in partnership with KOICA and UNICEF), capacity-building for national agencies on disaster risk reduction and resource management, and the development of rural mini-grid electrification systems in Sierra Leone. Through these initiatives, WAMCO contributes to inclusive growth and the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the region.

UNOPS is the operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the delivery of peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects worldwide. This assignment directly supports the joint UN DESA and UNOPS project “Localizing the SDGs through more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable infrastructure (Phase II)”, implemented by the Financing for Sustainable Development Office (FSDO) of UN DESA in partnership with UNOPS in six countries: Kenya, Senegal, The Federated States of Micronesia, The Gambia, Uganda and Zambia.

Building on the foundation laid during Phase I, Phase II focuses on institutionalizing infrastructure asset management (IAM) practices and strengthening enabling policy frameworks. As The Gambia participated in Phase I, a baseline of municipal Asset Management Action Plans (AMAPs) and National Infrastructure Asset Management Enabling Environment (EE) Roadmap already exists. The focus for The Gambia is therefore evaluating progress, revising and recontextualizing existing plans and roadmap, and providing targeted implementation support.

Under the direct supervision of the UNOPS Country Office and in close coordination with the Project Manager and UN DESA technical teams, the National Technical Consultant will drive the following two core workstreams:

Output 2.1: Technical assistance for local governments’ AMAPs implementation

Output 2.2: Recontextualization of the National Infrastructure Asset Management Enabling Environment Roadmap

The National Technical Coordinator will carry out the following tasks:

A. Output 2.1: Technical assistance for counties’ AMAPs implementation

• Review all AMAPs developed during Phase I in The Gambia and establish active communication lines with relevant local government focal points.
• Develop a workshop methodology and materials, and organize and deliver a workshop where targeted local governments will present their AMAP implementation status, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• Facilitate the identification of high-priority interventions that can be supported through technical assistance/procurement of services.
• Draft ToRs/specifications required to procure services or technical assistance. Provide technical oversight and implementation support to contracted service providers.
• Draft a summary report of workshop outcomes and AMAP actions supported.

B. Output 2.2: Recontextualization of the National IAM Enabling Environment Roadmap.

• Attend mandatory training on the UNOPS EnABLE-IAM methodology.
• Review the EnABLE tool findings, original Enabling Environment assessment, and national Roadmap generated in Phase I to identify components requiring updating.
• Map institutional stakeholders and develop a consultation plan to assess implementation status of Phase I roadmap.
• Design a workshop methodology and materials, supporting the Country Office in the logistics, delivery, and facilitation of a national workshop to evaluate implementation status of the roadmap.
• Draft a workshop report.
• Produce an updated, government-endorsed IAM Enabling Environment Roadmap.

C. Project coordination & knowledge management

• Develop an initial work plan and detailed schedule for the entire assignment.
• Participate in regular coordination meetings with the Project Manager and the UNOPS Country Office.
• Contribute quality technical narrative inputs for internal check-ins and formal progress reporting.
• Participate in project-wide lessons learned discussions and contribute to the recontextualization of global IAM tools.

Deliverables

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in engineering, architecture, project management, public administration, urban development, economics, or a related field with 7 years of relevant experience OR
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in engineering, architecture, project management, public administration, urban development, economics, or a related field with 5 years of relevant experience is required.

Required:

• Relevant experience in architecture, infrastructure, or infrastructure asset management or related areas is required.
• Demonstrated expertise in asset inventories, lifecycle planning, or institutional capacity development is required.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the national public sector and infrastructure development challenges specific to The Gambia is required.
• Strong command of standard office IT tools and Google Workspace environments (including Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Meet) for technical collaboration is required.

Desired:

• Familiarity with UN IAM tools and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is desirable.
• Proficiency in geographic information systems (GIS) and global asset management standards is desirable.

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