Local Consultancy - Individual State Consultant at Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Operating in Nigeria since 2008, Mercy Corps has been providing critical relief aid, empowering communities to prevent and respond to violence, inclusive economic development, recovery from crisis, building better lives and transforming their communities for good.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Local Consultant - Individual State Consultant to Conduct Technical Site Supervision (Construction Engineer)

Location: Kano
Employment Type: Contract
Proposed Start Date: 20th September 2023 end 30th December 2023
Reporting Line: The Consultant will report primarily to Conflict Technical Advisor (CTA)
Work closely with: Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP) Program & M&E Team

Background

• Mercy Corps is implementing the Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP) program. CIPP is a five-year project funded by USAID and implemented by Mercy Corps in partnership with Pastoral Resolve (PARE), Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC), Savannah Centre for Diplomacy Democracy and Development (SCDDD), African Radio Drama Association (ARDA) and Social Justice and Human Development for Peace Initiative (JDPC).
• The program is mitigating violent conflict in at-risk communities in six states of Nigeria’s North West (Kaduna, Kano, and Katsina States) and North Central (Kogi, Benue and Plateau States) through an integrated, multifaceted program that (1) empowers communities to prevent and respond to violence and violent extremism by strengthening key skills and relationships, and (2) fosters an enabling environment for peace through policy advocacy, media outreach, and linkages to development programs.
• CIPP is deliberate in its effort to implement a project whose outcomes will live past the duration of the project and thus sustain the gains of peace in areas of implementation.

Purpose / Project Description

• Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) are small-scale, low-cost projects that are planned and implemented within a short timeframe. In peacebuilding programs, quick impact projects are usually local initiatives jointly identified by conflicting groups to promote cooperation and strengthen relations. QIPs respond to the needs expressed by local communities.
• As a result, they cover a wide range of programmatic activities from refurbishing a school to providing women with safe water access points. QIPs are mainly implemented through collaboration between local actors, local authorities, non-governmental and grassroots organizations. As such, the implementation of QIPs projects help build their collaborative management capacities while broadening CIPP outreach at the local level.

Consultancy Summary

• Mercy Corps Nigeria CIPP program seeks a Construction Engineer to provide oversight function on CIPP project site at Rijiyar Lemo, Fagga Local Government Area in Kano state.
• He/she is expected to provide technical leadership for construction of clinic, ensuring the contracted construction company works in line with quality, standard and specification as stipulated in contract signed with Mercy Corps.
• The Engineer will lead and implement technical building program, construction activities, support on both internal and external reports, and selection of projects, preparing design, cost estimation/BoQ, preparing work plans, implementation of the infrastructure projects (Public facilities) and conducting market assessments/price monitoring.

Consultancy Key Activities

• Provide daily oversight function at the construction site, ensure construction is done in accordance with standard, quality, and specification.
• Work closely with the CIPP program team to develop timely and realistic plans.
• Manage the technical construction work including the contractors site Engineering team and provide overall supervision and monitoring of engineering designs and construction activities in the field.
• Provide support to contractors site Engineering team through constructive feedback and coaching to ensure implementation is on track and of good quality.
• Review the technical drawings and bills of quantity (BoQ) prepared by design firms or state government Engineering department and ensure compliance with USAID’s Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) for the construction and renovations of public facilities in targeted communities within the focal LGAs.
• Conduct frequent site visits to provide construction management supervision including oversight of work onsite, materials testing, report development, verification of quantities, processing payment requests and handover procedures.
• Communicate any discrepancies on the designs and BOQs to the project lead
• Provide as built measurements to MC
• Assess and approve all materials supplied by the contractor to the site before use
• Develop/approve detail remote monitoring plan and Q&A plans samples for all infrastructural related activities.
• Lead Quality Assurance /Quality control process during the proposed construction works
• Work with Conflict Technical Advisor (CTA), CIPP program team, and Mercy Corps country office TSU coordinator to coordinate and communicate with local authorities, program third party monitoring consulting firm, donor, and other implementing partners to avoid overlapping and obtain all necessary no objection certifications.
• Adherence to all Mercy Corps infrastructures minimum standard policies and procedures as outlined in MC policies and procedure manuals.
• Prepare/review/approve site visit and quality check reports and contribute to overall program reporting to the donor and the government.
• Working closely with Mercy Corps Ethics Team to support them to conduct spot checks to ensure infrastructure projects are as per technical documents and donor guidelines are followed.
• Provide feedback to the Monitoring and Evaluation system to assess the effectiveness of the projects and impact and propose recommendations for improvements.
• Work closely with finance and program teams to ensure compliance to Mercy Corps procedures and standardization.
• Establish and maintain good working relationships with local authorities, communities, and stakeholders in the MC area of intervention.
• Ensure full adherence to the MC security plans and protocols conscientiously respecting the declared 'go' and 'no-go' zones.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian/development mission in Nigeria.
• Other duties assigned by supervisor.

Expected Deliverables

• Signed site attendance register throughout the entire construction period.
• Detailed weekly supervision work plan (Also briefly stating the succeeding activities in the prior week)
• Generate daily/weekly/Monthly construction inspection reports
• Material quality inspection reports
• Document challenges, mitigation measures, success stories and best practices
• Share minimum of 10 clear Action Pictures and short videos of construction work sections daily.
• Infrastructure work completion report detailing stages of work execution, images, approvals issued and quality and compliance forms.
• Provide response reports to any construction queries from state or federal ministries of works

Mercy Corps Responsibilities

• Provide all relevant documentation and reports.
• Connect consultant with construction firm hired.
• Mobilization of participants/stakeholders
• Provision of accommodation for consultant
• Review Draft Reports
• Approve final reports.

Basic Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• B.Sc, or Master's Degree, in Civil Engineering (or related field) with significant knowledge and experience in the design and construction of large-scale buildings, water and sanitation facilities
• At least 7 years of experience in design and construction of various infrastructural projects, including construction of Health centers,
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel and to be a neutral party with people of different diversity and backgrounds.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Experience in managing contracts with engineering design consultants, and construction firms.
• Experience in reviewing tenders and developing recommendation for award.
• Strong construction management experience including ability to review contractor work plans, budgets and work progress.
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task and process information into action to not delay program activities.
• Strong ability and demonstrated experience in mentoring and building high performing engineering teams.
• Knowledge and experience of USAID funded projects is a plus.
• Prior experience working for/with INGOs is a plus.
• Location: The consultant must be residence in Kano state

Evaluation Criteria
The complete technical proposal (including support documentation) will be evaluated according to the criteria described below:

• Motivation Letter outlining how the applicant meets the requirements of this assignment and Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the applicant (30%).
• Technical proposal detailing understanding of the task and outlining how they propose to undertake this assignment including a work plan (30%).
• Financial Proposal (use the template provided) 20%
• Two previous reports on similar or related work (10%)
• Three referees’ names and contacts related to similar work and successful completion of past project (10%)

Note: Financial proposal guidelines:

• The financial proposal shall include professional fees, local transportation, Meal stipend.
• Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon specific delivery per unit QIP.
• Submit your duly signed financial proposal separately from Technical Proposal in a PDF FORMAT

Payment Terms

• Mercy Corps will make payment based on agreed schedule through bank transfer. Mercy Corps will deduct 5% WHT in line with government regulations.

Application Closing Date
7th September, 2023.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send the followings documents to: [email protected] using  "Local Consultancy - Construction Engineer" as the subject of the email.

Application Documents

• Motivation Letter outlining how the applicant meets the requirements of this assignment and Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Technical proposal detailing understanding of the task and outlining how they propose to undertake this assignment including a work plan
• Duly signed financial proposal separately from Technical Proposal in a PDF FORMAT
• Two previous reports on similar or related work
• Three referees’ names and contacts related to similar work and successful completion of past project
• All documents should be send in PDF format in a zipped folder.