The incumbent will work under the supervision of the Supply and Logistics Manager and will be responsible to support achievement of the construction and rehabilitation of school’s facilities, Health centers, latrines and water points, mobilize local communities, in compliance with project's goals and objectives and national standards and innovations in construction techniques.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, Hope

As part of the implementation of the Country Programme (CP) and Annual Rolling Work Plan, UNICEF provides strategic support to the Government of Burkina Faso in strengthening social sector infrastructure, particularly in the areas of Education, Health, Child Protection, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). This support aims to improve equitable access to quality, resilient, and inclusive basic social services, especially in vulnerable and emergency-affected areas.

In the education sector, UNICEF supports the Ministry of National Education, Literacy and Promotion of National Languages (MENAPLN) in the implementation of the Basic Education and Secondary Education Development Plan. One of the key priorities of the PSDEBS is to expand educational supply and improve the quality of education through the construction, rehabilitation, and equipment of appropriate school infrastructure, including gender-sensitive WASH facilities and infrastructure adapted to the needs of children with disabilities.

The Country Office benefits from multi-year funding allocations for the construction and rehabilitation of several schools each year, notably through contributions from the Japanese Committee for UNICEF and with support from partners such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which contributes to strengthening education and social infrastructure within a sustainable and resilience-oriented development approach.

In addition, UNICEF’s Education Section is strongly engaged in improving access to education in emergency contexts. In close collaboration with government and humanitarian partners, UNICEF oversees the construction of various types of temporary learning spaces, ensuring safe, clean, and protective environments for children and teachers, while complementing permanent infrastructure efforts.

To ensure full compliance with national and international norms and standards for school design and construction—including safety, gender responsiveness, inclusion, and accessibility for children with disabilities—UNICEF Burkina Faso requires the technical support of a construction/civil engineer to assist with planning, supervision, and quality control of infrastructure works.

How can you make a difference? 

The incumbent will work under the supervision of the Supply and Logistics Manager and will be responsible to support achievement of the construction and rehabilitation of school’s facilities, Health centers, latrines and water points, mobilize local communities, in compliance with project's goals and objectives and national standards and innovations in construction techniques.

 He /she will provide technical expertise in designing, assessing, implementing, and monitoring UNICEF's construction projects as well as in development and in the Infrastructure Emergency Response. The incumbent of this position will complement UNICEF's continued focus on supporting local communities to build their capacity to plan, implement and monitor all construction.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Ensure the availability of accurate, complete and up-to-date information required for effective construction projects for all UNICEF Burkina Faso Programme design, implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation, including gender disaggregation; provide support for sharing the information with relevant partners and draft sound construction programme budgets for review by the supervisor.
2. Enhance construction projects efficiency and effectiveness through implementation and monitoring activities with various implementing partners, including monitoring UNICEF inputs, local conditions and resources, flow of supply and non-supply assistance and education construction programme status. Ensure all technical inputs and cost estimates related to the education construction components are accurate.
3. Analyze collected data and information and prepare progress reports including monitoring and reporting indicators by gender; draft changes in country office construction project work plans and assist in identification of required supplies and equipment as well as in the drafting of Country Programme recommendations related to education programme and other construction programme documentation, assuring accuracy and consistency with established rules, regulations and action plans, and provide support for consultation with partners as required on planning and implementation of Country Programme activities.
4. Ensure the appropriateness of financial, administrative and supply documentation; verify that the county office construction projects expenditures are within allotments and that data is consistent with the programme information and database. Follow up on queries, including with and by partners, or initiate corrective action on discrepancies.
5. Compile data, information and evidence about construction projects implementation training and orientation of technical materials, including the Eco-friendly, accessibility to disables persons, concept and child friendly school approach, to promote knowledge sharing with donors and media.
6. Ensure projects coordination by effective communication and networking developed and maintained through partnership and collaboration with all stakeholders.
7. Collaborate with other operations staffs to implement internal controls systems and resolve day-today issues or discrepancies in financial or supply management, as part of the usual tendering construction process, providing support for orientation and training of all implementing technical partners on related construction issues, the Eco-friendly Construction concept and UNICEF financial and supply policies and procedures.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree (Master) is required in civil engineering, construction engineering, architecture or other relevant areas.

• Work Experience:
  • Minimum of five years’ (5) relevant work experience in Education and health infrastructure construction programmes at the national and/or international levels, reconstruction and logistics planning, management, monitoring and evaluation, or in a related field. 
  • Experience in project management, site supervision, quality assurance and/or other directly related technical fields is required. 

• Language Requirements: Fluency in French is required. Good working Knowledge of English is required.

Desirables:

• In depth knowledge of UNICEF’s or UN rules and regulations regarding contracting related to constructions
• Understanding of development and humanitarian work. 
• Background in Emergency programs is an asset.    
• Excellent writing and presentation skills. 
• Ability to work productively in a multi-cultural environment and poor security environment.
• Ability to identify and mitigate construction risks

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable females' candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.