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Job Title:   Construction Assistant (Moroto and Kaabong)

Organisation: Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI)

Duty Station: Moroto, Uganda

About US:

Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI) is a private development company based in Bethesda, Maryland, US with additional corporate offices in London and Hemel Hempstead in the United Kingdom. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. We work with a wide range of clients, including national and local governments, bilateral and multilateral donors, private corporations, and philanthropies.

About USAID Project Background:

The USAID Uganda Feed the Future Water and Food Systems for Resilient Communities Activity (WFSRCA) is a five year activity (2023-2028) that aims to inclusively and equitably improve food and water security in the Kyoga Basin in northeastern Uganda, specifically three watersheds – Lokok, Awoja, and Lokere, by empowering individuals and communities to mitigate and adapt to shocks and stressors in order to improve livelihoods, maintain nutrition and health wellbeing, address drivers of conflict, and reduce reliance on humanitarian assistance. This area is home to nomadic pastoralists whose livelihoods are at risk due to violent cattle raiding and the effects of climate change (drought and flooding). This part of Uganda also suffers from fragmented markets, chronic underinvestment in public services, and a lack of private sector investment. This Activity is aligned with the Water and Development II (WADI II) scope to access critical technical services in support of the U.S. Government’s Global Water Strategy, Global Food Security and Strategy Refresh, Agency Climate Strategy, and the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience; and is a cornerstone of the USAID Uganda 2022 Country Development Cooperation Strategy Development Objective (DO) 2, Resilient Growth Enhanced.

Job Summary:   The Construction Assistant will support WFSRCA’s infrastructure activities, including coordinating logistics, monitoring quality and compliance, managing costs, and ensuring safety regulations as per the USAID-approved Construction Implementation Plan and USAID rules and regulations. S/he will provide key administrative support to the Climate Resilient Infrastructure (CRI) Lead to plan, track, coordinate logistics for infrastructure activities and maintain meticulous files and organization. The Construction Assistant will be assigned to two of WFSRCA’s three offices, in the following locations: Moroto and Kaabong.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist site-based technical activities that achieve improved management of critical watersheds water resources and related water, WASH, and agriculture market infrastructure (including digital infrastructure);
• With the CISs and CM, facilitate the implementation and completion of start-up and interim assessments conducted in the assigned catchment area by Activity partners according to the annual work plan (such as the Baseline, Infrastructure Gap Analysis, Construction Implementation Plan, Market Systems and Private Sector Landscaping Analysis, among others).
• With CM, CISs and Technical/Cross-cutting team members, support and participate in co-creation/co-design of local interventions where assigned.
• With CISs, facilitate awareness and outreach activities to solicit partnerships via the Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) designed by the Technical and Grants/Procurement teams.
• Provide administrative support to the Climate Resilient Infrastructure Lead, to develop operations and maintenance (O&M) plans and follow up on their implementation;
• Track construction activities for assigned watershed against the annual work plan;
• Ensure site specific Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QAQC) strategies are developed, approved by the CRI Engineer and adhered to and reported by sub-contractors.
• Conduct Quality Control (QC) monitoring of the construction activities at assigned Project sites
• Coordinate logistics for WFSRCA’s construction implementation;
• Support in reviewing and maintaining trackers for costs as well as administrative tasks, to ensure WFSRCA’s construction activities are compliant and within specified budget;
• Keep updated schedules and progress reports on construction activities from assigned watershed, to support with periodic reports to the client and for internal management decisions;
• Report back to Catchment Manager with key progress updates on interventions for inclusion in bi-weekly, quarterly, and annual reports; Provide timely weekly updates to the CRI lead.
• Take notes at relevant meetings and follows up on action items, as relevant;
• Attend assigned local collaboration and coordination meetings and platforms with local authorities, donors, and other implementing partners to ensure the Activity interventions are not duplicative and report back to Catchment Manager for Activity awareness of the implementation environment.
• Schedule meetings of WFSRCA internal staff, partners, grantees, and/or subcontractors as necessary;
• Maintain highly organized and compliant filing system in the shared folder;
• Stay abreast of local, district and national regulations and ensure compliance within catchment areas; collaborate and comply with regulatory agencies such as National Environmental Management Authority, Environment office to obtain necessary permits and approvals for catchment interventions.
• Participate in Activity annual work planning and pause and reflect workshops to plan for and adapt the Activity interventions each year.
• Ensure accurate and timely exchange of information and reporting to external and internal stakeholders.
• Support the organization and hosting of intervention site visits by the client (USAID) and/or others as assigned
• Support and coordinate with the MEL team to capture and report on all infrastructures using web-based applications and handheld GPS.
• Other tasks as assigned by Climate Resilient Infrastructure Lead or COP.

 




Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years of relevant professional experience and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Environmental or Agricultural Engineering or related field; or 4 years of relevant professional experience and National Diploma in Civil or Water Resources Engineering in lieu of a Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience and a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil, Environmental or Agricultural Engineering, an advanced degree is preferred; or 5 years of relevant professional experience with a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• Knowledge of AutoCAD Civil 3D, GIS will be a plus
• Prior experience in USAID or donor-funded water-related programs in Uganda is preferred.
• Basic Knowledge of Construction Project management is desirable.
• Professional proficiency in English is required, and proficiency in local languages is preferred.
• Highly organized.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication written and oral communication skills.
• Attentive to details and accuracy
• Proactive and result oriented

How to Apply:

All candidates should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 5^th February 2024

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