Infrastructure Engineer

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 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. The Fiji multi-country office covers ten countries including Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu as well as provides support to regional initiatives.

UNDP in the Pacific has developed its multi-country programme document (MCPD, 2023-2027) to guide its interventions in the next five years in full alignment and directly to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF, 2023–27). The Office covers 10 countries in the Pacific with an extensive portfolio which has grown over time. The UNSDCF and UNDP MCPD are designed in full alignment with the 2030 agenda, Samoa Pathway, and 2050 Blue Content Strategy, which is endorsed by the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) among others. The UNDP Pacific Office next five-year plan strategic priorities are encapsulated under three outcome areas: (i) Planet, (ii) Prosperity, and (iii) Peace.

Resilience is one of UNDP’s six signature solutions – alongside poverty and inequality, environment, energy, governance, and gender equality - to support countries towards three directions of change: structural transformation, leaving no one behind and resilience. As per UNDP’s new Strategic Plan 2022- 2025, and the new MCPD (2023-2027), UNDP Pacific office aims to supporting countries and communities in building resilience to diverse shocks and crises, including conflict, climate change, disasters and epidemics.

Tuvalu, with a land area of 26 km2, is the fourth smallest nation in the world with a population of about 10,000. Due to its geographical remoteness and relatively limited size of the economy, it is one of the least developed countries. It is also one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the impact of climate change induced sea-level rise and intensifying storm events. Recent cyclones have already shown large scale population displacement, significant loss and damage of agriculture resources and infrastructure, contamination of water supplies, coastal erosion and scouring, impacting long term sustainable development of the country.

As such, in response to this climate challenge, the Government of Tuvalu has recently received funding confirmation from Government of Australia to fund an estimated 8ha of raised land protecting an additional estimated 800m of densely populated and exposed foreshore. The project will be known as Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project, Phase 2 (TCAP2). This project aims to reduce the vulnerability of the southern lagoon shoreline of Fogafale Island the urban capital of Tuvalu to the impacts of wave inundation, shoreline erosion and inundation due by sea level rise. It follows the successful demonstration of the infrastructure work under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) resourced TCAP Project, which has built 7.3ha of new raised safe land. TCAP2 follows closely TCAP I design, approach and established management and safeguards work and requirements. The foreshore that TCAP2 will protect and enhance is a continuation of the dysfunctional shoreline protected by TCAP and the Government of Tuvalu’s similar protection work (Queen Elizabeth II Park) and thus, the TCAP2 site starts only 50m to the south, as contiguous with TCAP and effectively an extension of TCAP project.

The project has the following 3 main outputs.

Output 1: Construction of coastal protection infrastructure of the southern lagoon shoreline of Fongafale Island in Funafuti. This is expected to protect approximately 800 m of vulnerable shoreline on the capital as well as provide approximately 8 ha of new safe raised land (reclamation).
Output 2: Building capacity of Tuvalu government and civil society organizations in aspects of coastal protection works, mitigation of impacts, and planning and implementation.
Output 3: Undertake policy and strategic analytical studies that demonstrate the feasibility of vertical adaption (reclamation and land raising) for atoll nations like Tuvalu.

The project has an established Programme Management Unit (PMU) in Funafuti, Tuvalu with national and international professionals supporting the project and coordination with the relevant stakeholders.

The Project desires to recruit an Infrastructure Engineer who will work under direct supervision of the International Project Coordinator and National Project Manager and in close coordination with Coastal Engineer, CTA, SES Specialist and PMU staff.

The Infrastructure Engineer will:

• Ensure quality development of the civil works Projects including Bill of Quantity, drawings, and bidding documents for the tender process. Support the evaluation process as a member of the technical panel; 
• Regularly visit the construction sites for feasibility assessment and/or progress monitoring – report accurately; 
• Report on progress and advise on risk management measures. 
• Engagement with diverse stakeholders and build the capacity of the stakeholders on different aspects of the coastal protection works including land use planning and O&M
   

• The successful candidate will work directly under the direct supervision of the International Project Coordinator and National Project Manager and work closely with Coastal Engineer
• The candidate will work with PMU staff and stakeholders at local and national levels.

Assess the feasibility or progress of infrastructure interventions:

• Conduct field visits to several potential locations requiring specific technical assistance and, based on performed assessment recommends the 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 of Terms of References for detailed design for reconstruction/ rehabilitation of structures where needed;
• Responsible to coordinate the works and oversee the construction and supervise the contractor/s  under his/her responsibility through regular monitoring and quality control/review of works.
• Submit timely report as required highlight the progress, plans and any challenges which need to be addressed.
  Develops technical design documents for construction interventions and provides technical inputs and quality assurance:
• Prepare technical and detailed construction design, costing and workplan of Coastal Protection measures and other infrastructure
• Provide the oversight of the construction work done by contractor/s, including the quality and quantity of the materials, construction techniques and works finishing;
• Certify that construction is done in accordance with agreed methodology, best practices in the industry and prevailing codes to promote resilience ensuring that the Social and environmental consideration and impact mitigation measures including the OH&S and proper waste management 
• Review and refine technical documentation and specifications (existing and future layout, Bill of Quantities (BoQ) with an estimation of costs, technical description, design, and specific drawings, provide technical support to procurement processes under the project); 
• Develop an “Infrastructure Owner’s Manual” outlining for example, maintenance schedules, monitoring requirements, improvements, considerations for future work, etc. 
• Review adherence to warranty provisions and that mobilisation / demobilisation criteria have been met. 
• Ensure that technical documentation on construction sites are maintained in accordance with relevant national laws and standards for building back better and contract for works; 
• Sign off on the final handover documentation upon completion of all(re)construction/rehabilitation works in coordination with the relevant Government counterparts; 
• Negotiate modifications with architects and engineers; dealing skillfully with a diverse range of people including clients; architects; other engineering professionals; sub-contractors;
• Licensing: determines necessary development applications/ construction permits, licenses, and ensures that they are obtained.
• Ensure that the contractor is fulfilling all the requirements included in the contract

Formulates bidding documents in coordination with the relevant functional areas of UNDP and provides effective support throughout all stages of the tendering process:

• Provide technical assistance in the establishment of minimum standards for construction especially coastal infrastructure for the implementation of specific rehabilitation/construction tasks as required by the specific project;
• Develop technical project and tender documentation (ToR, tender dossier, tender evaluation, etc.) for the implementation of specific rehabilitation/construction tasks in partnership with the Government; 
• Ensure that necessary supporting documentation is in place prior to issuance of tender; 
• Participate in the 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; 
• Analyse measures, quantities and descriptions of each item in the offers against the advertised BoQ; 
• Analyse and reviews the offered unit rates against the cost estimate in correlation with BoQs, provided by a design company, and to assess whether they are realistic.
  Technical assistance, Oversight and building capacity of national institutions:
• Provide technical assistance and quality assurance services to UNDP and national institutions; 
• Provides the required technical support to national institutions, contractors, implementing partners and other stakeholders ensuring that they are fully aware of the project requirements and technical/logistical constraints
• Prepare guidance and technical documents as applicable and reviews others as requested by national and local partners; 
• Strengthen national and local capacities, provides training, and participates in capacity building initiatives as well as facilitates information sharing;
• Promote awareness-raising among partners on standards and guidelines.
• Train, coach and mentor national institutions, contractors, implementing partners and other stakeholders - on the designing, BoQ preparation, technical specifications, reporting formats and on the supervision/monitoring of implementation, ensuring quality control and application of international standards. 
• Support PMU in maintaining good relationship with government and relevant communities and assisting in resolving any issues that may arise during the project cycle

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

• Fluency in English is required.