The Guinea-Bissau education system is beset by several structural constraints that severely limit children and youth’s ability to exercise their right to a quality education. Compounding this problem are the lack of public spaces for children and youth to congregate and engage in sports and recreation activities. While the population of Bissau has grown rapidly, more than doubling from 224,789 in 2021 to 525,478 in 2023 (and increasing from 78,676 to 183,917 for the 10-18 age group over the same period), the number of school-based or public multi-sports sports complexes has not increased. Furthermore, existing public recreation infrastructure is not effectively managed nor well-maintained, resulting in low-quality facilities that offer little programming or activities, particularly for marginalized groups. Therefore, children and young people in Guinea-Bissau are beset by interlocking challenges: the low quality and availability of education not only constrains the development of key academic and life skills and limits future opportunities, but youth also have few places outside of school to interact and grow and develop transversal and transferable skills.UNICEF, with funding from the French Development Agency (AFD), will implement a project to increase retention and completion rates, improve physical health, and strengthen transversal skills for students at the Agostinho Neto Secondary School, the Kwame Nkrumah Secondary School, the Rui Barcelo da Cunha secondary school, and the Salvador Allende Primary School, as well as children and youth in the Bairro Reno neighbourhood of Bissau (with a focus on adolescent girls and other marginalized groups).To achieve this goal, UNICEF will rehabilitate sports and academic infrastructure and develop a community management model to oversee the efficient administration of sports facilities and provide high-quality Sports for Development programming.
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For every child, the right to a Future
How can you make a difference?
You as the Construction Officer will report to the Deputy Representative – P4 as per the Country Office (CO) set-up and is responsible for providing technical support to construction activities of the country office. The technical support on construction projects includes planning, support to procurement, as well as monitoring of construction works on site. You will collaborate closely with UNICEF Programme/ Operations in defining construction interventions to meet programmatic needs and achieve results for children.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
1. Preparation of construction annual workplan
2. Collaboration with UNICEF Programmes/Operations and coordination with Government counterparts
3. Preparation of design and technical documents
4. Support to procurement process
5. Monitoring of construction projects
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
Construction Engineer, NO-1 JD.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements
- Education: Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in Architecture, civil engineering, construction engineering and any other related fields.
- Work Experience: A minimum of one (1) year of relevant experience, at the national and/or international levels, in project monitoring, site supervision, quality assurance and/or other directly related technical fields is required.
- Skills: Stakeholder Coordination is a required skill
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English or French is required.
Desirables
- Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
- Experience in WASH, Infrastructure rehabilitation, Procurement Compliance is a strong asset.
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
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
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
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.
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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.
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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 female 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.
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UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to UNICEF personnel only).
The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member's original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.
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.
Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.
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.
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