Background

The Groundwater Access Facility Initiative, launched in May 2024 in Jijiga, Somali Region of Ethiopia, aims to enhance groundwater resource management in the Horn of Africa.

As part of the GAFA initiative, in August 2025, UNDP and CIFF agreed to implement the Productive Use of Water program pilot phase project in Somali region aims to proof overall feasibility of ground water access and availability focusing on shallow and deep borehole and water supply infrastructure development. The project will deploy two drilling rigs to drill a total of 20 wells, each designed to provide a minimum yield of 3 liters per second using solar-powered pumps operating for eight hours per day. Each site will include a minimum water storage capacity of 100,000 litres to ensure consistent supply. The wells will provide safe drinking water and domestic-use water to approximately 150,257 people, of whom 60% are adults of 27.5% are women and 40% are children. In addition to benefiting households, the project will also support 59 health facilities, collectively serving around 170,000 people, and improve water access for 66 schools across the northern and southern parts of the Somali Region.

Outcome: The pilot phase aims to ensure the overall feasibility of the ground water access and availability by drilling shallow and deep borehole and developing ground water supply scheme and infrastructure such electromechanical components, water supply pipeline and water storage and quality maintenance infrastructure.

Outputs to contribute to the outcomes:  
Output 1. Drilled 20 shallow and deep boreholes in the four identified sites in Somali 
Output 2. Installed water use schemes and Infrastructure by integrating solar powered electromechanical component, water supply pipes and water storage and quality maintenance reservoir.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

Provision of reliable and secure driving services focusing on the following key activities:

• Apply defensive driving principles at all times and conditions
• Check availability of fuel, water, and oils every day before start traveling
• Ensures that the assigned vehicle is kept clean and ready to provide transport services
• Provide satisfactory and punctual transport services to staff

Proper use of vehicle and rig maintenance including daily maintenance and documentation focusing on the following key activities:

• Takes care of day-to-day maintenance services of the vehicle, check oil, water, battery, brakes, tires, etc
• Perform minor repairs and arrange for other required repair services of light vehicles. 
• Properly fill log sheets and make sure they are signed by users on daily basis
• Perform and support maintenance services of drilling machines, compressors, trucks and field vehicles for the smooth drilling operation on site level.
• Regularly inspect and maintain records on the condition of drilling machine, compressors, trucks and field vehicles for the smooth drilling operation
• Engaged in the routine, periodic and annual services of drilling machine, compressors, on-boarded engines, trucks, and light vehicles.
• Identify and troubleshoot drilling machines and trucks problems and timely report for needed replacement or purchases of spare parts if any.
• Engage in preparation of detail specification of spare parts and fast-moving parts and request for purchase and follow up the procurement process.
• Keep records of moving spare parts, replaced parts and maintenance works/history.
• Compile and monitor vehicles log sheets.
• Timely inform the project manager or administration assistant when maintenance service is required.
• Make sure that all staff on board are UNSMS and/or allowed to be onboard by supervisor(s) for official purposes

Performs other duties as assigned by the office focusing on the following key activities:

• Assist programme and operations staff while receiving guests, arranging workshops, meetings and conducting procurements
• Support programme and operations team in delivering and receiving messages to and from partners
• Support the procurement team in making minor purchases and collect urgent purchases from local suppliers as requested

While on board and enroute, ensure UNSMS, UN properties and Assets Safety and Security focusing on the following key activities:

• Apply defensive driving principles at all times and conditions
• Ensures that the steps, rules, and regulations are taken in case of reporting an accident
• Timely reporting accidents to direct supervisor, field level UNDSS and local police/traffic
• Collect and share facts to medical personnel and police officers, when necessary.
• Ensures availability of all the required documents/supplies including vehicle insurance, vehicle logs, office directory, map of the city/country, first aid kit, necessary spare parts.
• Deal effectively and tactfully with officials and visitors that use his/her vehicle and other assignments given from supervision 

Institutional Arrangement

Under the overall guidance of the CRES Unit TL and direct supervision of Project Manager based in Jijiga, the Driver contributes towards sustainable functionality of drilling rigs, compressors, support trucks and light vehicles so as to ensure smooth drilling operation and effective delivery of the overall project activities. The incumbent works in close collaboration with programme and operations staff in the country office.

Competencies

Core Competencies 

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Administration & Operations: Vehicle and rig management - Knowledge of policy & procedures on fleet and rig management

Administration & Operations: Documents and records management - Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving

Business Management: Operations Management - Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the organizations business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner.

Business Management: Customer Satisfaction /Client Management 

• Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs.
• Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy.
• Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests.
• Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

Business Management: Communication - Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience

Business Direction and strategy:

Strategic Thinking - Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.

Systems Thinking - Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary Education with a valid driver’s license.
• Diploma in Auto Mechanics, General Mechanics and other related fields of study is an asset.

Experience:

• Minimum 3 years’ work experience (with high school diploma) in international development organizations is required.  
• Proven experience as rig mechanics with government and international organizations. 

Required skills

• Valid 3^rd grade driving license 
• Training/certificate on defensive driving
• At least three years of driving and basic maintenance of drilling machines experience;
• Computer literate

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the competencies section

• Knowledge of driving rules and regulations and skills in driving and repairing different 4WD light vehicles;
• Skill in maintenance of drilling machines, compressors, trucks and field vehicles for smooth drilling operation

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in spoken and written English and the national language is a requirement.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors.

• A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

   

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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