WASH Engineer

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects worldwide. UNOPS supports partners in building a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of peace building and humanitarian and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations. 

Project Information

The development objective of the NORTHERN MOZAMBIQUE RURAL RESILIENCE PROJECT (MozNorte) is to improve access to livelihood opportunities for vulnerable communities and management of natural resources in selected rural areas of Northern Mozambique. The project aims to improve the resilience of vulnerable communities in selected landscapes of Northern Mozambique. More specifically, the project will address the following drivers:

• exclusion of local communities and IDP (particularly women and youth) from access to sources of livelihoods depending on renewable natural resources; 

• environmental degradation, climate variability and limited capacity of formal institutions to manage natural resources sustainably and inclusively; and 

• exclusion of local communities and IDP from managing and deciding over the use of natural resources. 

Given the high vulnerability of Northern Mozambique to climate and geophysical hazards, as highlighted in the Climate and Disaster Risk Screening Report carried out for the project, the design takes an overall climate-sensitive approach to help mitigate risks and enhance the adaptive capacity of project beneficiaries. This will translate into promoting climate-smart solutions across all activities and sectors of intervention, from infrastructure to agriculture, fishery, forestry and community-driven activities. The project has four components: 

1. Improving access to livelihoods and community infrastructure; 

2. Improved management of natural resources; 

3. Multi-stakeholder Coordination and Project Management; and 

4. Contingency emergency response (CERC).

MozNorte Project provides bridge financing to stabilise rural livelihoods and to improve the management of natural resources on which most rural livelihoods depend in 18 districts of three provinces (Cabo Delgado, Nampula, Niassa). The target districts of the intervention include: 

• In Niassa the districts of Lago, Chimbonila, Mecula, Sanga, Maua, Muembe; 

• In the province of Cabo Delgado the districts of Montepuez, Mecufi, Metuge, Ancuabe; 

• In the province of Nampula the districts of Memba, Erati, Mecuburi, Ribaue, Moma, Larde, Angoche and Mossuril.

One of the key approaches of the MozNorte project is the Community-Driven Development Fund (CDDF), which aims to generate sustainable livelihoods, promote inclusive and participatory development and strengthen social integration. The CDDF has two windows: the district window and the community window. The target groups are communities. While district authorities implement the district window, the community window will be implemented by community and/or local organizations/consortia/Lead Service Providers.

UNOPS will support FNDS in managing the community window that will support 300 communities across the target 18 districts with a budget allocation of a minimum of one project per community up to USD 120,000, with an average budget allocation per community of USD 90,000 (equaling a total allocation of US$ 27 Million in community grants); variations in allocations and number of projects can be made depending on the needs and the readiness of the community. 

Examples of activities that can be funded under the Community window include, but are not limited to: 

• Climate-smart agriculture systems, including small irrigation systems 

• Community agro-processing, aquaculture, storage facilities 

• Social and WASH projects at the community level 

• Community agroforestry and restoration projects  

• Non-timber forest product value chains 

• Alternative livelihood strategies 

• Sustainable use of energy 

• Sustainable fisheries and fishery value chain  

• Community tourism and culture value chains 

• Integrated agriculture and forestry management

• Initiatives of youth and women economic empowerment  

• Social cohesion activities 

The projects will focus on livelihoods but also include small community infrastructure. The infrastructure components under community grants must follow UNOPS design and quality management guidelines. 

The projects in each community will be selected and implemented in a participatory manner, applying the Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) methodology.  

• Advise the Implementing Partners in the design of the infrastructure interventions

• Develop conceptual designs and prepare design briefs related to water and sanitation works centered on the end user’s needs, which meet stakeholders' requirements, UNOPS quality standards for design and construction, the project’s objectives, and budget constraints. 

• Take into account users' specific needs based on gender, age, disabilities, socio-cultural norms, etc. 

• Consider all stages of an infrastructure life cycle (design and planning, raw material acquisition, materials processing, construction, community training for operation, maintenance, renovation, decommissioning, and recycling) and optimize the proposed infrastructure's value for money.

• Review the budgets of the proposed WASH interventions.

• Prepare detailed, tailored capacity-building plans based on the gaps identified in the needs assessment of the Implementing Partners. 
• Analyze partners' policies and processes and propose modifications to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the WASH services delivered. 
• Conduct participatory workshops with partners to refine the understanding of the causes of service gaps, their capacity-building needs, and their expectations. 
• Develop/review capacity-building methods and material (courses, seminars, workshops, etc.).

• Review the IPs' WASH services/works tender documents, advising them on the best selection criteria. 
• Support the IPs in their tender processes, including—but not limited to—conducting pre-bid meetings, providing clarifications to bidders, conducting site visits, participating in bid openings, etc.
• Participate in evaluating bids, conducting detailed and substantiated technical evaluations and verification/assessment of the references submitted by the bidders (acting in full compliance with the provision of the Procurement Manual), when needed.

• Contribute to setting up and managing remote supervision systems, including but not limited to the setup of remote monitoring systems based on the “UNOPS Collect” application, the design of implementation dashboards (in collaboration with Data Analysts and ICT Specialists), and the review and acceptance/rejection of completed WASH interventions). 

• Conduct regular field visits of WASH interventions implemented by Implementing Partners, assess the quality of the interventions and coordinate with the IPs to address any potential issue. 

• Perform quality assurance and quality control for all WASH interventions.

• Report timely and qualitatively on the progress of the WASH interventions, with a focus on impact, quality, risks and issues and lessons learned. 

• Review and approve all test results related to WASH Infrastructure.

• A Master's Degree in Civil Engineering, Water Engineering, water, Waste, and environmental Engineering, water, Sanitation, and waste Engineering, or hydrology and water Management or an equivalent field is required. 
• A Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Water Engineering; Water, Waste & Environmental Engineering; Water, Sanitation & Waste Engineering Hydrology, & Water Management or equivalent with an additional four (4) years of relevant experience may be accepted in place of a master's degree. 
• A minimum of two (2) years of professional experience in the field of Water Engineering or Water Management is required. 
• Demonstrated experience in WASH infrastructure capacity building is required. 
• Experience with NGOs or governmental agencies active in the WASH sector is an asset.
• Experience working with the UN or other Humanitarian/Development agencies is an advantage.
• Experience in WASH infrastructure in developing countries is highly desired.
• Proficiency in Google Suite is desired.
• Working knowledge in Project planning software is an asset.
• Fluency in written and oral English and Portuguese in required.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• This is an EPP ICA Recruitment process
• This is a local position. As such, it is only open to Mozambique Nationals only
• This position is based in a non family duty station

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete)  in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.