Infrastructure and Basic Services Specialist

Result of Service

To strengthen the capacity of municipalities to plan and deliver infrastructure and services, provide advisory on actions that may trigger substantial environmental and social risks or offend labor management procedures as outlined in the Environment and Social Commitment Plan of each UDG project.

Work Location

Nairobi, Kenya

Expected duration

8 months (part-time)

Duties and Responsibilities

About UN-Habitat The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all. For close to forty years, UN- Habitat has been working in human settlements throughout the world, focusing on building a brighter future for villages, towns, and cities of all sizes. The Urban Practices Branch (UPB) is the tools and methodology production center of the UN-Habitat that develops normative guidance and cutting-edge tools through communities of urban practices and is the operational level responsible for undertaking technical cooperation projects, such as the construction of water and sanitation facilities, shelter and other work. The Planning and Finance Section (PFS) is responsible for supporting urban and territorial planning at all scales, including through the development of planning policy, norms and guidelines, urban design and public space design, urban finance (municipal finance and urban development/projects finance), and local economic development. Background UN-Habitat has been approached by the Government of Kenya and the World Bank to provide Technical Assistance (TA) for the Window for Host Communities and Refugees of the Second Kenya Urban Support Programme (KUSP2) through a Service Agreement. The Window for Host Communities and Refugees (WHR) has been developed under KUSP2 to strengthen the capacities of urban institutions in refugee hosting areas. At the national level, the project aims to strengthen policy and legislative frameworks related to refugees and urbanization, including supporting the implementation of the Refugees Act of 2021, and related policies and legislation. At the local level, the project’s main goal is to establish and strengthen urban institutions and improve access to critical infrastructure and services in refugee and host community areas. The KUSP2 WHR framework, under the special municipalities of Kakuma (Turkana County) and Dadaab-Hagadera (Garissa County), can potentially become a platform for coordination of settlements planning and development interventions in these areas. The project will target both host and refugee communities as residents of the new municipalities, through working with the respective municipal boards. To deliver the required TA to KUSP2, UN-Habitat will design activities that will contribute towards building overall institutional capacity for integrated planning and municipal management, delivery of services, refugee-host integration and strengthened policies on urban planning and development. Overall, the scope of the technical assistance activities will fall within five areas of intervention, as follows: (a) Support to integrated development planning through advisory on planning processes; (b) Capacity assessments and training for skills development; (c) Review and advisory on design and delivery of infrastructure projects; (d) Technical advisory and support to institutional, policy and legislative development; (e) Knowledge management - production and dissemination of normative work. Reporting The Infrastructure and Basic Services Specialist will report directly to the Snr. Programme Management Officer/Project Manager within the Planning & Finance Section. He/she will be part of the UN-Habitat TA team for KUSP2 and will interact with colleagues from other sections within UN-Habitat and liaise with partners, government counterparts and other stakeholders outside UN-Habitat. Duties and Responsibilities Under the overall supervision of the Snr. Programme Management Officer/Project Manager, the consultant will be responsible for the following duties: 1. Provide technical assistance on design and implementation of infrastructure projects for all UDG investments, and advice on infrastructure planning aspects of municipal spatial plans and Integrated Development Plans (IDePs). 2. Provide technical assistance to mainstreaming climate mitigation and adaptation and resilience action in infrastructure design and service delivery. 3. Provide technical assistance on costing infrastructure projects and the preparation (formulation and standardization) of all documentation required for bidding, contracting and technical reporting. 4. Provide technical assistance and advisory advice to counties on the establishment of a municipal asset inventory for infrastructure and facilities. 5. Provide technical assistance to municipalities on formulating a waste management action plan. 6. Review and advise on condition assessment reports of UDG projects. 7. Undertake capacity building training and formulate knowledge materials on infrastructure planning, integrated infrastructure and land use planning and development, and basic services provision.

Qualifications/special skills

Academic Qualifications: University degree (a minimum qualification of a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in Civil Engineering is required. Post-graduate qualifications, and additional training are an added advantage. Work Experience: At least two (2) years of experience in civil engineering, including at least five (5) years in planning, design, construction and/or supervision of infrastructure projects is required. Knowledge of CAD applications and compliance with international environmental and social standards is required. Research and data analytics, policy analysis and drafting, communication and training, and technical report writing skills are required. Registration with IEK is required. Experience in working with public sector clientele, environmental and social risk assessment, stakeholder engagement, grievance redress, and gender mainstreaming are desirable. Familiarity with environmental risk assessment, ESIA, and ESMP implementation. Proven ability to work in multi-agency settings and to engage with Kenya’s devolved government structures is desirable. Experience working in hardship environments is desirable. Work experience within the United Nations System or similar organization is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For the advertised consultancy, fluency in English (both spoken and written) is required and knowledge of other UN languages is desirable. Knowledge of Kiswahili is also desirable.

Additional Information

Competencies: • Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of sustainable development theories, concepts and approaches. Ability to identify and develop sources for data collection. Ability to undertake research, analyze data, make recommendations and write draft reports on sustainable development issues. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. • Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. • Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.