International Construction Engineer for EU MNCHN Project at UNICEF

Job Number: 512129
Work Type: Consultancy

Background

• Primary Health Care (PHC) is the cornerstone of the health policy in Nigeria and is the first point of contact for most Nigerians with the health care system.
• The Federal Government of Nigeria has prioritized the revitalization of primary health care as one of their main areas of focus and strategy for the achievement of universal access to health services.
• UNICEF has been working with other partners to support the State Primary Health Care Development Agencies (SPHCDAs) and the State Ministries of Health (SMOH) in the actualization of the vision of the Federal Government towards revitalizing primary healthcare and improving the quality of integrated MNCH services through support to the implementation of the ward minimum health care package in at least 1 Primary Health Care (PHC) center per ward in Kebbi, Bauchi and Adamawa.
• As part of this support within the second phase of implementation of the EU-MNCHN project, 442 health facilities in the three states have been identified be rehabilitated and some to be upgraded to centers of excellence for quality Basic Emergency Obstetric New-born Care (BEmONC) services.
• To support the three states to improve on their poor health indices, the European Union provided 48million to fund the project titled 'Support to Strengthening Primary Health Care and Community Resilience for Improved Maternal, New-born, Child Health & Nutrition (MNCHN) Outcomes in Adamawa, Bauchi and Kebbi States of Northern Nigeria' which commenced in November 2016 as continuation of a previous grant for two of the current states (i.e. Kebbi and Adamawa).
• The purpose of this support is to achieve health related SDGs that will be sustained through strong and well-coordinated health systems implementing innovative, high impact and cost effective, equitable, gender responsive interventions inclusive of foundational determinants of health at community, ward, LGA, states and federal levels.
• As part of the effort to support the states and Local Government Areas implement the Federal Government's strategy for the revitalization of the primary health care, UNICEF working with other partners at all levels will support LGAs and states build the necessary capacity for the implementation of Ward Minimum Health Care Package (WMHCP).

The WMHCP recognizes the overriding importance of key support services and resources including highlighting some strategies for the provision and sustenance of the interventions outlined. To provide quality integrated primary health care services, the WMHCP defined Minimum Standards for PHC service delivery. These set of minimum standards include:

• Health Infrastructure: Types/Levels of PHC facilities including recommended infrastructure dimensions, furniture and equipment.
• Human resources for health: Minimum recommended staff number and cadre for each type of health facility.
• Service provision: Recommended minimum PHC services for each facility type including the minimum requirement of medical equipment and essential drugs (From the National Essential Drugs list) required to achieve these services.
• It is expected that these Standards would be used to guide the further development of PHC in terms of infrastructure, human resource availability and service provision as well as for the provision of qualitative PHC services and in ensuring equity in the availability and provision of the PHC services.

Major Tasks to be accomplished

• Oversee the rehabilitation of 442 health facilities in Kebbi, Bauchi and Adamawa states.
• Assess the situation of the construction unit with regard to resources and objectives, recommend and arrange where necessary changes.  Participate in the formulation and development of the rehabilitation work goals, strategies and approaches for the UNICEF plan of cooperation on this component of the project.
• Design a monitoring and evaluation plan as foundation per the quality assurance strategy within the project.
• Lead the construction activities to plan, implement and monitor the assigned activities.
• Assess the situation of the construction unit with regard to quality assurance and, where necessary, recommend and arrange changes.
• Undertake field visits and surveys in order to monitor and evaluate project implementation. Identify problems and propose remedial action. Identify alternative courses of action to accelerate/improve rehabilitation component delivery.
• Develop the work plan for the implementation for the quality assurance strategy and monitor compliance to ensure targets are met and achieved.
• Assist technically in the recruitment of national staff if necessary.
• Manage and supervise the national engineers who are part of the construction team.
• Ensure high quality work and that activities are within established plans of action and the project budget allotments.
• Participate in the preparation of project progress reports.
• Liaise with the concerned UNICEF sections, especially with the water and environmental sanitation section engineers to ensure technical specifications and contractors works meet the needs and requirements of
• beneficiaries, especially with regard to child friendly designs. It is crucial as the overlap work between the WASH work and the rehabilitation component;
• Coordinate with institutional and other partners at state level to ensure compatible and appropriate standards and costs are used in all the UNICEF buildings;
• Provide expertise in tendering and bidding, review designs and architectural drawings, monitor work in the field for quality and efficiency;
• Work closely with UNICEF supplies team and contractors as well as the states and other partners, to ensure that the programme goals are achieved. Observe and report back to supervisor activities under construction projects and to UNICEF management any concerns about the overall construction process;
• Coordinate regular visits with the construction team to construction sites in the different states; as part of the M&E strategy for quality assurance.
• Ensure detailed records are kept of all construction activities, enabling real-time tracking of construction progress.
• Support other relevant construction activities as the need arises

End Product: (e.g. final report, article, document etc.):

• Bi-weekly Progress Report
• Certification of work done before payment
• Final Report of the consultancy

Qualification/Specialized knowledge and experience

• Advanced Degree in Civil/Building /Construction Engineering, Architecture or related fields.
• A minimum of 8 years experience in the building or construction industry.
• A minimum of 5 years experience in management of construction projects
• Good knowledge of public procurement processes, including legal and ethical aspects.
• Fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN working language is an asset.
• Ability to make timely and quality judgments and decisions and very good training skills and work in stressful environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization.