Introduction

1. Background.

This ILO technical assistance project forms an integral part of the larger Rural Access and Agriculture Marketing Project (RAAMP) in Nigeria implemented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in 13 States funded by World Bank. Within this framework, the Training and Road Maintenance Technical Officer will manage all activities within the scope of the ILO technical assistance with Training/ Capacity building and Road’s maintenance in 5 states. He/she will contribute to the Training component and “Routine Maintenance and Spot Improvements” and “Decent Work” components along with capacity building of stakeholders through National and International trainings. The Training and Road Maintenance Technical Officer (TRMTO) will be responsible for the technical inputs, organisation of the trainings, management of the ILO TA team and support the national team in policy planning, preparation of guidelines, roads and bridge routine maintenance, OSH and promoting decent work. He/she will act as the ILO liaison between Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU) & States Project Implementation Units (SPIUS) and Government field offices related to Training and Routine maintenance component.
The position is based in Abuja, Nigeria and will contribute to the overall technical and managerial capacity building of Stakeholders and establishment and monitoring of sustainable routine road maintenance system and spot Improvement as envisaged in the RAAMP. To perform his/her duties, the Training and Road Maintenance Technical Officer will be required to spend about thirty five percent of his/her time in the field advising the SPIUs and field teams in the 5 States.

2. Reporting lines

The Training and Road Maintenance Technical Officer reports to the Chief Technical Adviser of ILO RAAMP project. He/she will receive technical guidance and advice from the EIIP specialist based in Dakar and the EIIP team in DEVINVEST, ILO Geneva.

Within the above context, the Training and Road Maintenance Technical Officer will be responsible for the assisting SPIUs in Road maintenance and training planning, field implementation and monitoring of all project activities in as agreed RAAMP projects documents and workplans.

Description of Duties

3. Tasks and responsibilities

The Training and Road Maintenance Technical Officer shall be based in the ILO Office Abuja and will be responsible for providing technical support to FPMU and 5 SPIUS in overall achievements of the training, capacity building and rural roads routine maintenance, spot improvements activities under the project.
His /her key responsibilities shall be to support the FPMU and SPIUs project team in the following areas:

3.1 Training and capacity building of stakeholders

• Contribute to and manage an integrated capacity development framework, including enhancing gender equity and other cross-cutting outcomes. This includes an assessment of the current levels of capacity within partner agencies, contractors, and communities and the use of this information for further detailing the capacity development programme.
• Establish agreed and realistic targets for capacity development within the overall context of the ILO supported outputs.
• Liaise with key partner agencies to ensure that the objectives and outcomes appropriately reflect and consider government policy and practices associated with institutional strengthening, skills development and private sector support.
• Work with the ILO team and RAAMP team to ensure the appropriate selection of the participants for planned trainings that enhanced the required knowledge and skills for project management, quality of the work and efficiency by staff.
• Facilitate in Organising a training management system including finalizing course contents, venues, mobilising trainers, selection of trainees, performance evaluation, certification, registration, and other training activities.
• Conduct training, seminars, workshops, and technical meetings.
• Train counterpart staff and provide instructors and trainers with guidance on training methodology for oriented courses for adult professionals.
• Monitor and report on contents of training, duration, location, number of trainees, etc., and together with other specialists and partners assess the impact of provided capacity development support.
• Participate in development of course material and refine these after the first courses.
• Organise study trips and participation in technical seminars and workshops.
• Ensure timely provision of inputs for training events, e.g., subcontracts, trainers, facilities, equipment, and supplies.
• Support the management of budgets and prepare revisions as required.
• Liaise and collaborate as necessary with UN partners on training activities in areas of common interest.
• Coordinate and provide technical and management support to Field Engineers and schedule inputs to secure their timely outputs.
• Support capacity development and on-the-job mentoring of states officials.

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3.2 Technical Support to Routine Roads Maintenance and Spot Improvements of RAAMP

• Facilitate, Supervise, monitor, and report the works implementation processes for the spot improvement and Routine maintenance of the project’s transport infrastructure such as roads to assure quality, timeliness and transparency in line with project documents and contract agreements with local stakeholders and entrepreneurs.
• Provide guidance to technical, administrative and finance staff concerning the implementation of works and services.
• Facilitate and take part in the timely preparation and management of new and on-going works contracts, conducted by local organisations, contractors and communities.
• Participate in the planning and preparation of works, including field surveys, Inventories, detailed designs, bid documents, tender announcements and reviews and award of contracts and contractor mobilisation.
• Liaise with state government authorities (SPIUS) and communities on access to construction sites, material quarries and the protection of cultural and religious sites.
• Participate in the timely measurement and inspection of works and quality control of works and materials and recommend remedial action, issue variation orders, process interim payments and final completion certificates. Ensure adherence to contractual agreements, recommend amendments and extensions and advise concerned parties on contractual rights and obligations. Organise site meetings and oversee the enforcement of social and environmental safeguards at the work sites.
• Oversee the reporting of work progress, employment generation and other project achievement indicators and compile these into monthly and quarterly summaries.
• Review payment certificates and facilitate timely payments to contractors/ community contractors and community groups, oversee records of payments and commitments and maintain status of active and completed works in the contracts register and prepare cash-flow projections.
• Facilitate and support the measurement of impact of transport infrastructure improvement works and increased employment generation, including traffic surveys and socio-economic benefits.
• Update schedules for civil works and consultant services and participate in associated procurement actions.
• Provide recommendations for follow-up action and technical assistance that will be required regarding: (i) training of technical staff and counterparts, (ii) training of contractors and community groups; (iii) the institutionalisation of sound work methods and approaches within government technical agencies.
• Assist in revision of the existing work norms and specifications guidelines, OSH and Roads maintenance guidelines, standard operating procedures, criteria and formats related to the various engineering aspects of the planning and implementation of the rural road maintenance and spot improvements (including social and environmental aspects) in consultation with concerned government agencies and stakeholders.
• Promote the mainstreaming of gender in the project, ensuring gender perspectives and attention to gender equality on the project.

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Other Duties:

• Assist in the development and maintenance of computerized information systems for use in monitoring and reporting on activities and performance including NiRTIMS and Construction site monitoring by Mobile applications.
• Support ILO and the FPMIU and SPIUs in preparation of briefs, periodical reports, and drafting of TORs for engagement of various sub-consultants and statistical data on status of ILO related programme/project activities.
• Assist in the programming and control of resources, and in the preparation of budget estimates and expenditure.
• Assist in the development and maintenance of computerized information systems for use in monitoring and reporting on activities and performance.
• Coordinate the development of annual rural roads maintenance annual plan in the SPIUS; This will include activities such as data collection, drafting, approval, communication, monitoring, and review on a yearly basis.
• Provide capacity building inputs, implementation support and technical advice regarding the maintenance of rural road works including identification, prioritization, selection and implementation of road works, with quality control and quality assurance.
• Assist in monitoring progress of project activities by reviewing, verifying and analysing work-plans, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness.
• Undertake missions to project sites and/or accompany other team members and officials.
• Supervise the work of support staff in the DTOs and sub-consultants as relevant.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in civil engineering. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in the aforementioned field with an additional two years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience

• At least 5 years of experience including at International level in managing rural transport infrastructure works in the field of employment intensive rural road rehabilitation and maintenance.
• Experience in working and engaging with governments’ agencies, the private sector, donors including World Bank and UN agencies
• Experience in capacity gap analysis, training planning, curriculum and training materials development, implementation of different trainings related to Infrastructure projects especially Road’s construction, Maintenance, spot improve, contract procurements and managements and decent work.
• Experience in working with heterogeneous team composed of National/ International consultants, specialists, staff and local collaborators of different educational and cultural background, in remote/difficult settings.

Languages

Excellent command of English.

Competencies

⦁ Proven ability to take ownership of all responsibilities, to act with integrity and transparency by maintaining social, ethical and organisational norms, and to meet all commitments within the prescribed time, cost and quality standard.
⦁ Excellent leadership and collaboration skills, ability to work effectively in a team and excellent interpersonal skills.
⦁ Ability to conduct discussions and liaise with governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, non-governmental organization and other agencies
⦁ Ability to promote knowledge sharing and learning culture in the project, and to focus and guide others to meet objectives at individual and group level.
⦁ Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write accurate reports and to build networks to obtain cooperation with partners.
⦁ Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes with respect for diversity.
⦁ Proven knowledge in the planning and implementation of rural transport infrastructure works maintenance.
⦁ Extensive experience in the development and implementation of employment-intensive (labour-based) public works and a solid understanding of the ILO decent work agenda,
⦁ Experience in Rural Roads Maintenance involving community contractors and local contractors including capacity gap analysis, implementation of capacity development technical and management trainings.
⦁ Sufficient knowledge and understanding of principles and designs of MIS and GIS system to be able to provide guidance and direction to RAAMP officers in the operation of the systems including mobile monitoring.
⦁ Working Knowledge of World Bank funded projects will have added value