Senior consultant for provision of consultancy services for quality assurance and certification of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) projects, Kigali, Rwanda, 6 months ( Work from home)- For Rwandan Nationals Only: (Deadline 13 June 2023)

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.

For every child, Sanitation

To learn more about UNICEF work in Rwanda, please visit the country website https://unicef.sharepoint.com/sites/RWA/ or watch this video about UNICEF work in Rwanda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7B91m5Yzoc

How can you make a difference?

Background:

UNICEF is supporting the Government of Rwanda in improving access to safe water and sanitation in line with the provisions of National Strategy for Transformation (NST-1). In this context, the key interventions being supported by UNICEF include   strengthening WASH sector enabling environment; provision of safe water supply and sanitation services to vulnerable communities, schools and health care facilities with strong focus on climate resilience; promotion of safe hygiene practices; and strengthening emergency preparedness and response.

Since 2018, UNICEF-supported interventions in Rwanda have resulted in provision of safe water supply to over 100,000 people, basic sanitation to over 700,000 people and basic WASH services to over 200 schools, 90 health facilities and 9000 home-based early childhood development centres.

In order to assure their quality, WASH interventions, especially infrastructure works, need to be closely supervised. In this context, UNICEF plans to engage an individual consultant to provide expert services on need basis for assessment/quality assurance and certification of the WASH interventions being supported by UNICEF.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The main objective of the consultancy is to ensure that the WASH interventions being carried out with UNICEF support are in line with the best engineering practices. There are two elements to the consultancy to allow that objective to be achieved:

1. To provide expert advice and assistance including for technical assessments for the works as well as equipment (e.g. chlorinators, pumps, pipes, water tanks, solar equipment) and preparation of BoQ for WASH infrastructure; and

To ensure that the UNICEF-supported WASH interventions adhere to agreed quality standards, designs, BoQs and specifications (as applicable) through regular supervision of the work and reporting back to UNICEF on progress and challenges.

Key Tasks:

Depending upon the needs/demand, the following specific tasks will be undertaken by the consultant:

1. Assess the progress and quality of the works, use of supplies provided and delivery of WASH services (including emergency WASH interventions);
2. Prepare technical reports in respect of the works carried out, as per agreed timeline;
3. Carry out a technical assessment/feasibility for WASH infrastructure; and
4. Prepare on the basis of the above, (a) detailed specifications for supplies and equipment, (b) designs and  drawings/schedules, and (c) BOQs/cost estimates for the most appropriate technical options. Also provide technical assistance for review of the available designs/BoQs.

To perform the above tasks, the consultant will have to undertake field visits to UNICEF-supported projects sites throughout Rwanda.  It may be noted that, though duration of the consultancy will be 6 months initially, the services of the consultant will on retainership basis and availed only when needed, tentatively 5 to 6 days per month, and as per the workplan to be agreed prior to the commencement of the work under this consultancy.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone:

Undertake regular field visits, depending upon specific needs, for carrying out technical assessments/feasibility, preparation of specs/designs/cost estimates and monitoring of the works

Deliverables/Outputs:

Monitoring/assessment/design/review reports are timely prepared and shared with UNICEF, depending upon specific needs, and focusing on

(i) technical assessment.

(ii) detailed specifications for supplies and equipment.

(iii) detailed designs, BoQs/cost estimates for technical options, and

(iv) Field visits are undertaken to supervise the progress/quality of the works, and technical reports are prepared as per agreed timeline.

Payment 1: 16%

• 1^st technical report covering tasks mentioned under Section C, by 15 July 2023

Payment 2: 16%

• 2nd technical report covering tasks (mentioned under Section C by 15 August 2023

Payment 3: 16%

• 3^rd technical report covering tasks mentioned under Section C, by 15 September 2023

Payment 4: 16%

• 4^th technical report covering tasks mentioned under Section C, by 15 October 2023

Payment 5: 16%

• 5^th technical report covering tasks mentioned under Section C, by 15 Nov 2023

Payment 6: 20%

• 6^th technical report covering tasks mentioned under Section C by 15 Dec 2023.

Selection Criteria

Applications shall be assessed based on their technical and financial proposals. Maximum scores for technical and financial applications will be 75% and 25%, respectively.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• At least 8 years’ relevant experience (10 years for bachelor’s degree holder may be considered) including in supervision of WASH interventions, especially infrastructure works.
• Strong communication skills in English (spoken and written).
• Proven ability to work effectively in cross-cultural and multi-cultural settings and teams.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks: 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

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