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. The activity aims therefore aims to achieve results under the following development objectives:
- Improve water supply and integrated water resource management.
- Increase equitable access to sanitation and hygiene services for households and schools.
- Improved agriculture-based livelihoods.
- Increased consumption of nutritious foods among women and children.
- Expanded access to financial resources for women, men, youth, indigenous people, and marginalized groups.
- Improve local capacity to manage shocks and stressors.
WFSRCA will enhance market systems, strengthen relevant institutions, expand access to climate-resilient services, and—in two of the most vulnerable of the 21 districts covered by the activity—employ “graduation” approaches to assist the ultra-poor. These initiatives will incorporate conflict sensitivity, local leadership, climate change adaptation, and approaches inclusive of women, youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and indigenous groups. The 21 districts include the following:
Karamoja: Amudat, Nakapirit, Napak, Kaabong, Moroto, Kotido, Abim, Kapelebyong, and Nabalatuk
Teso: Soroti, Amuria, Serere, Bukedea, Ngora, Katakwi, and Kumi
Bugisu: Bukwo, Bulambuli, Kapchorwa, Sironko, and Kween
The Climate Resilient Services approach will facilitate access to rehabilitated and/or new water, WASH, and agriculture market infrastructure (small-scale and digital) in four Karamoja districts, with the exception that WASH infrastructure and services can be conducted in all 21 districts (where UNICEF has NOT worked). WFSRCA Consortium partner, Stantec, will provide support to the start-up assessments (Infrastructure Gap Assessments, Construction Implementation Plan [CIP], among others) and overall quality assurance to all infrastructure activities. WFSRCA Consortium partner, IWMI will provide start-up assessments for the Hydrology and Water Balance Assessment and the Water Model Options Analysis, among others while CRS will provide the WASH Market Segmentation analysis. WFSRCA will hire local A&E and construction firms to carry out infrastructure plans in the CIP.
WFSRCA will be implemented from three regional offices, one per catchment area: Lokok, Awoja, and Lokere. Each office will comprise of approximately eight or more Catchment Implementation Specialists (CIS), one Construction Assistant, one MEL Assistant, one Grants Assistant, one Procurement Assistant, one Finance Assistant, and two Drivers. The Catchment Managers (CM) of these offices will directly supervise the CISs in his/her office; indirectly[1] supervise all other support staff; and liaise closely with the Implementation Director, Technical Director (Deputy Chief of Party), Cross-cutting Director, and Director of Finance and Operations, and Director of MEL (all headquartered in the Moroto office).
Role’s Purpose:
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 the Soroti (Awoja Catchment) office.
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
- Grade 5: Minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Environmental or Agricultural Engineering or related field; or 3 years of relevant professional experience and National Diploma in Civil or Water Resources Engineering in lieu of a Bachelor’s degree
- 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.
Skills
- Highly organized.
- Strong problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication written and oral communication skills.
- Attentive to details and accuracy
- Proactive and result oriented
Reporting
Construction Assistants in the three offices will report to the Climate Resilient Infrastructure Lead.
