Project Support Assistant, Turkana Water Infrastructure Improvement Project (TWIIP)

The Project Support Assistant will support the implementation of the Turkana Water Infrastructure Improvement Project (TWIIP) by delivering results aligned with the preparation and submission of monthly administrative, operational, financial, procurement, and asset management reports and documentation for the Kakuma project, including coordination outputs, logistics support records, SharePoint-based quality assurance and compliance repositories, procurement and vendor tracking matrices, financial reconciliation documents, and inventory and asset tracking databases in line with UN-Habitat and donor requirements.

Kakuma, Turkana West, Kenya

6 months

Background The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the United Nations agency for Human Settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. For close to forty years, UN-Habitat has been working in human settlements throughout the world, focusing on building a brighter future for villages, towns, and cities of all sizes. Through its Regional Office for Africa (ROAf), located in Nairobi, Kenya, UN-Habitat has implemented several projects in the East and of Africa under the East and Horn Sub-Regional Office. Under the Kenya Country Programme, UN-Habitat has been supporting the Kenyan government to achieve sustainable urbanization and the right to adequate housing for all. Guided by the Kenya Habitat Country Document (2023-2027), this has been implemented through projects that seek to unlock the country’s socio-economic potential through addressing housing, basic services, infrastructure and governance deficits. Within this context, UN-Habitat has increasingly highlighted challenges and opportunities arising from urban displacement, where rapid population influxes place additional pressure on housing, land and basic services on hosting urban areas and communities. The Turkana Water Infrastructure Improvement Project aims to promote integrated water service provision for displacement-affected communities in the refugee hosting municipalities of Kakuma and Lodwar, Turkana County. With funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the project seeks to improve access to water supply and to enhance the capacity of water service providers to operate, maintain and sustain the water supply systems. These outcomes will be achieved through a range of activities that include pipeline extensions and upgrading, solarization of boreholes, construction and rehabilitation of storage tanks, master and bulk metering, development of a water infrastructure asset management strategy and provision of engineering design, planning and mapping technical expertise. Duties and Responsibilities This position is based in Kakuma, within the Kenya Country Programme, in the East and Horn Sub-Regional Office. The position provides essential project administrative, support to the UN-Habitat office in Kakuma and the planning and construction teams in Kakuma and Lodwar, ensuring that field operations run smoothly, risks are minimized, and work packages are delivered according to plan. The Individual Contractor will work under the direct supervision of the Project Technical Coordinator (PTC) and the Project Management Officer (PMO) and under the overall supervision of the Head of the Kenya Country Programme /Project Manager (PM), The Project Support Assistant will be responsible for the following: • Support general administrative activities including scheduling of meetings, workshops and field engagements, preparation of meeting agendas, minutes and presentation slides, liaison with participants, venue bookings and logistics coordination. • Maintain an organized repository of project documentation and technical files, support routine field level reporting to the PMO and Project Manager and preparation of status and donor reports. • Support preparation and standardization of documentation for quality checks, site and material inspections and Environmental and Social Safeguards Standards (ESSS) compliance by maintaining checklists, protocols, inspection records, and tracking contractor submissions. • Provide support to visibility activities by documenting project progress through photography and written records and supporting in the preparation of publicity materials including web stories, newsletters, progress briefs, and social media content for public dissemination. • Support procurement processes including preparation of requisitions, sourcing and coordination with vendors, receiving deliveries for locally procured items, and ensuring compliance of all supporting documentation. • Provide financial management support by preparing cash advance requests, timesheets and payment support documentation, verifying receipts, conducting periodic financial reconciliations for review as required.

Completion of a high School diploma or equivalent is required. Supplementary technical training in Project Management, Business Management, Administration, Construction Management, Economics, Development Studies is desirable. A minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible work experience in the field of project management, finance, procurement, and administration, within donor-funded, NGO or UN projects is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced by two years for candidates who possess a first-level University degree in Project Management, Business Management, Administration, Construction Management, Economics, Development Studies. Experience in supporting construction and infrastructure projects is desired. Familiarity with field-based operations and logistical support in remote or humanitarian settings is desired. Proficiency in financial software/ERP systems and advanced MS Excel, and good knowledge of procurement vendor management, and compliance documentation is desired. Strong skills in document control, filing, and maintaining audit-ready records is desired . Experience supporting work package administration, monitoring tools, and project reporting within field project management frameworks is desired. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while maintaining strong coordination with the office in Nairobi is desired.

English and French are the official working languages used in the United Nations. For this position, fluency in oral and written English is required.

Not available.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.