Project Engineer

Background

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. UNDP has been working in Afghanistan for more than 50 years on climate change and resilience, gender, governance, health, livelihoods, and rule of law.

Following the power shift in August 2021, the situation for the country remains largely unchanged, with the majority of Afghans facing increased vulnerabilities affecting their well-being, safety, and security. Among the major challenges, that directly affect human needs and their socio-economic recovery, half of the population, especially women, are disproportionately affected by their limited freedom of space, mobility, their limited rights to education, access to health services, and their right to earn livelihoods, and their participation in the governance system and public life.  Currently, for essential needs, the urgency of the interventions has intensified due to continued neglect of development interventions and focus on humanitarian aid. The absence of an internationally recognized government, and the continued challenge of coordination with the de facto Authorities (DFA) at the national, and provincial levels, continue to test how partners deliver critical services at the provincial level with coherence, which is further exacerbated by the disconnection between the central and local levels in regulations and guidelines.

To reduce deteriorating poverty and vulnerability, UNDP Afghanistan is supporting a localized, integrated response to strengthen local community socio-economic resilience and recovery. Through its Transitional Country Programme Strategy (TCPS) for 2024-2025, UNDP is supporting the restoration of basic services including access to green energy, fostering economic empowerment, especially for women, through livelihoods and private sector recovery including access to finance, tackling climate change and disaster risk reduction, and strengthening social cohesion. UNDP is on the ground helping with the recovery and resilience of communities in dealing with multiple crisis (i.e. affected by drought, floods, earthquakes, poppy bans, internally displaced and returnees from Pakistan).  

Afghanistan remains one of the most gender-unequal countries in the world, with women facing systemic discrimination, reduced access to education, employment and livelihoods, healthcare, and justice. Despite the restrictions, UNDP remains committed to women's empowerment through capacity-building initiatives, livelihoods and self-employment/employment support, enhancing gender-responsive decision-making at community level, and supporting local communities to include women, in line with UNSCR 1325 (Women, Peace, and Security).

Continuing efforts to promote the protection and promotion of human rights in Afghanistan are crucial, especially when there are significant risks to marginalized communities, such as ethnic minorities, women, and children.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of the interconnected nature of development risks and crises that the world is facing and that calls for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

The Area-Based Approach to Development Emergency Initiatives (ABADEI) Project has been designed as a response to the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan upon a call of the UN Executive Committee Working Group for Afghanistan. The ABADEI Strategy is a tailored area-based integrated programming approach to support basic human needs, complementing short-term humanitarian life-saving assistance with the safeguarding of livelihoods and the strengthening of community resilience. It is centered around addressing worsening poverty and vulnerability, supporting community resilience and social cohesion, and enabling the rehabilitation of small-scale infrastructure vital for basic human needs. It supports the creation of immediate sources of income through cash-for-work, cash for market, small businesses and livelihood opportunities with particular focus on agri-business and regenerative agriculture infrastructure and services (critical for food security) that are under threat. It is sensitive to the chronic and newly emerging vulnerabilities of Afghan women and girls and aims at providing them assistance in a manner that does not exacerbate their susceptibility to violence and deprivation of opportunities and rights.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Engineer will be responsible for the designing, planning and execution of the engineering structures, tools development, modelling support, and its application. The Engineer will work with the PMU and Regional Project Office teams and will be responsible to coordinate and establish the linkages amongst all the program team members, partners and relevant stakeholders. S/he will work under the overall direction and direct supervision of Project Manager. S/he will be based in Kabul with frequent field visits.

The incumbent will undertake the following functions:

• Support implementation, monitoring and quality assurance of the ABADEI project infrastructure activities 
• Ensure compliance with the reporting requirements related to projects.
• Ensures knowledge building and knowledge sharing

Support implementation and quality assurance of the ABADEI project infrastructure activities, focusing on the following results:

• Conduct a detailed analysis on the situation and impacts multi hazards and propose the appropriate design structures.
• Prepare database of engineering specific baseline conditions, implemented activities, quality of activities during and after completion of the project works. 
• Provide support and guidance to the project implementing partners, communities, groups, and assists in resolving problems, as necessary. 
• Inspect, monitor, supervise project works ensuring that the work quality meets approved standards.
• Conduct field visits to project location requiring specific technical assistance and, based on performed assessment recommends best solution for project implementation and contracts management, to mitigate any deviation and ensure timely delivery.
• Prepare/review budget estimates based on the recommended solution for project implementation and contracts management. 
• Prepare/review Terms of References for detailed design for reconstruction/ rehabilitation of structures, where needed. 
• Review and refine technical documentation and specifications (e.g., existing and future lay out, Bill of Quantities (BoQ) with estimation of costs, technical description, design and specific drawings, provide technical support to procurement processes under the project). 
• Assess and identify potential impacts of the project, and also carry out the documentation, publish case study, best practices, learning, and knowledge management resources.  

Ensure compliance with the reporting requirements related to projects:

• Ensure proper documentation for final handover upon completion of all project engineering works in coordination with the relevant counterparts, and local communities and groups.
• Ensure necessary supporting documentation is in place prior to issuance of tendering; project implementation, and processing of payments.
• Participate in evaluation of bids and selection of best bidder to the tender for rehabilitation/construction works and assessment of the bidder's competencies and experience against minimum qualification requirements, as per the Request for Proposal/Invitation to Bid requirements. 
• Provides written report about the compliance of the evaluation process with UNDP procurement procedures.
• Provide periodic feedback to PMU and Regional Project Office teams based on available evidence-driven facts.
• Provide backstopping on field activities implemented by local project partners.
• Participate in Technical Review Committee meetings and review all bids against the advertised evaluation criteria and submitted technical specifications.

Ensures knowledge building and knowledge sharing, focusing on the following results:

• Develop knowledge management products on the application for the identified interventions and generate awareness among local communities, relevant professionals, and institutions.
• Organize and facilitate related training, exposure visits, and other project activities, as required.
• Perform other duties within your functional profile as assigned and deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the office.
   

Competencies

Core Competencies 

• Achieve Results: Level 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: Level 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements 
• Learn Continuously: Level 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: Level 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible 
• Act with Determination: Level 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: Level 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Level 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Business Development

• Human-centered Design: Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process.

Business Management

• Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

2030 Agenda: Prosperity

• Inclusive Growth: Urban Community Infrastructure/Assets

Digital & Innovation

• Blockchain engineering: Ability to design and build blockchain-based solutions.

Communications

• Writing and editing: Ability to create and/or edit written content in different UN languages.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Civil Engineering or related area. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in Civil Engineering with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) experience in Civil Engineering.  
• Demonstrated 2 years of experience on water conservation structural design and implementation.  
• At least 2 years of experience in leading a team with civil engineers and construction workers.
• Experience in project implementation, monitoring and quality assurance.
• Ability to work in a challenging, time sensitive, rapidly changing environment, and to work collaboratively with a diverse team. 
• At least 2 years of experience in results-based management methodologies is highly desired. 
• Excellent analytical, writing, presentation, and communications skills.  
• At least 2 years of previous experience within UN would be an asset. 
• Ability to present accurate information in a clear, concise and visually engaging manner.  
• Knowledge of international standards, specifically for civil works related to infrastructure construction/rehabilitation.

Required Languages 

• Proficiency in English is required – both written and oral.
• Fluency in local language of duty station Dari and/or Pashto is required

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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