The UNOPS Office in Zimbabwe falls under the purview of the UNOPS KEMC (Kenya Multi-Country Office). Located in Nairobi, Kenya, the KEMC manages a growing portfolio of engagements, including associated strategic and operational risks. The KEMC sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Centre in Nairobi/Kenya which manages a portfolio of engagements in multiple countries in East and Southern Africa. This includes a large portfolio of infrastructure, procurement, and project management service projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and several Island states.
UNOPS manages a range of infrastructure projects in Zimbabwe in different sectors including education, health, agriculture, transport applying different implementation approaches such as labor-based and outsourced designers/contractors but always with direct supervision from UNOPS.
Following the devastation caused to life, livelihoods, and property by tropical storm Idai in March 2019, the WB has allocated up to US$ 75 million to finance a recovery project for Zimbabwe and the African Development Bank has allocated US$ 25 million. The projects address both early and mid-term recovery needs in multiple sectors (livelihoods, health, education, agriculture, transport). UNOPS manages the WB funds and has established a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) to engage multiple UN partner organizations to deliver specific components of ZIRP. UNOPS is the Implementation Agency for the AfDB project.
UNOPS is in the advanced stages of negotiations with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement, Zimbabwe and IFAD to support the implementation of rehabilitation works for irrigation schemes in Manicaland province.
Background information – job specific
UNOPS is looking for a Lead Civil Engineer, with specific expertise in the development and rehabilitation of irrigation systems to head all agricultural works under the UNOPS Zimbabwe portfolio. The Lead Civil Engineer will act as a sectoral Pillar Lead.
Functional responsibilities
The Lead Civil Engineer must be able to apply with direction, the duties and responsibilities of the project success criteria. The incumbent will have regular travel to different districts and will work in close collaboration with other sectoral pillar leads. The Lead Civil Engineer will work under the guidance and supervision of and report to the Infrastructure Manager to direct and monitor the activities under his/her pillar which include a mix of works implemented by contractors and by direct implementation through community workers.