Background

With the financial support of the EU, UN Women in partnership with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AIC)is implementing a project titled Women’s Empowerment for Resilience, Inclusion, Sustainability and Environment in the Eastern States. The project aims to create a conducive environment for the economic empowerment of women living in the most vulnerable situations in the Khartoum, Kassala, Gedaref, and Red Sea states. Specifically, the project objectives focus on improving access of young women and men, living in vulnerable situations, to a more inclusive market system. As part of the project intervention, UN Women focuses on enhancing women’s entrepreneurial capacities for effective engagement in value chains and gender inequality transformation. Enhancing women’s entrepreneurial capacities in the value chains transformation is one of the key targets of the project intervention. This includes transformation of the pattern of women’s production from first-stage production of raw material to a more valuable production through the value chains techniques and technology. The implemented activities include enhancing the system of value chains through providing of food processing machines and equipment through which women beneficiaries of the project can benefit from service to enhancing their productivity of the agricultural products.

In this regard, UN Women which is grounded in the vision of achieving gender equality and women empowerment seeks to recruit a qualified national consultant to assess the suitable equipment and machines for value chains transformation in the targeted communities, and localities in the project areas in the Red Sea, Gedarif, and Kassala states, develop the technical and functional specifications of the proposed machines and equipment in the project target areas. The Consultant will evaluate the technical risks, potential impacts, and benefits of the Project.

The overall objective of the assignment is to provide detailed information that the UN Women can use for the Project and take a decision on the prospective financing of the activity, also to develop the project sufficiently designed to be progressed to the pre-tender stage.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assess the required machines and equipment for agriculture value chains transformation that suitable for women use in each state.
• Prepare technical assessment and specification of food processing machines based on the needs in each state, as well as cost estimates for the machines.
• Identify project risks, assess, and prepare mitigation measures for review by the Project Manager.
• Assist the procurement team with the preparation of technical specifications; conditions of the contract; tender analysis; evaluation and issuing works contracts.
• Work with the Project Manager & procurement officer to select suppliers and define roles and responsibilities.
• Assist with the planning and preparation of environmental management plans, as required by national regulations, to inform the design process.
• Support the Project Manager with capacity building and training of machines users to enhance their asset management system.
• Comply with safety and security standard operating procedures, and always carry out duties in a professional and ethical manner and in all relationships.
• Identify and report on potential delays and/or cost overruns that can be avoided.
• Monitor and report on the supplier’s compliance with the health, safety, and environmental requirements as set out in the contract.
• Assist the Project Manager by acting as a witness during the installation and post-installation process of the machines and equipment.
• Carry out file archiving of all planning; design; procurement; monitoring and contract administration documentation in line with UN archiving procedures.

Quality Management

• Carry out quality assurance procedures during the inception and implementation phases (planning, design, procurement stages).
• Provide input to the preparation of the Quality Management Plan, which includes the Quality Assurance and Quality Control Plans.
• Managed, monitored, reported, and closed in accordance with UN policies and procedures.
• Assist the Project Manager with the preparation of contract administration documentation: progress reports; suppliers and stakeholder meeting minutes; monitoring reports.
• Examine the supplier’s progress payment claims for accuracy and compliance with the conditions of the contract.
• Liaise with local suppliers to monitor current market conditions and trends.

IMPACT OF RESULTS

The effective and successful achievement of results by the Mechanical Engineer directly impacts on the achievement of project outcomes in terms of sound engineering practice; scope of work; time; budget and meeting stakeholder expectations. This consequently reinforces the visibility and image of UN Women as an effective service provider in project services, management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services.

Competencies

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Functional Competencies

• Strong skills and experience in developing strategies and presenting ideas related to advocacy, outreach, and knowledge management.
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
• Strong communications skills in English (written and oral)
• Leadership and skills to work with autonomy and initiative.
• Knowledge of gender equality and women’s human right
• Knowledge of the UN system

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.
• Ability to work with a multi-cultural and diverse team.

Required Skills and Experience

• university degree in mechanical engineering, or related fields is required.

Experience

Minimum of 4 years’ experience of technical experience in food processing machines

Professional license or registration

• Professional license or registration from a recognized professional body or institution, such as the Papua New Guinea Professional Engineers Registration Board, is an asset.
• Membership in the Institution of Engineers Papua New Guinea (IEPNG) is an asset.

Language requirements

• Fluency in English & Arabic is required.

You can apply by submitting your application via e-mail to:afra.fazary@unwomen.org, indicating the post reference and the title.

Please note that applications without a completed and signed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

UN Women Personal History form (P-11) can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment .

UNWOMEN is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.