Programmatic Construction and Infrastructure Strategy Development Consultant/NYHQ/Programme Strategy and Coordination Hub Hub/Programme Group/remote/ Req#580646

Consultancy Title: Programmatic Construction and Infrastructure Strategy Development Consultant

Division/Duty Station: Programme Strategy and Coordination Hub, Programme Group, New York

Duration: 01 April 2025 to 15 December 2025

Home/ Office Based: Remote

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment: 

UNICEF is committed to ensuring that children and vulnerable populations have inclusive and equitable access to quality education, health, social protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. The organization also emphasizes the promotion of healthy lives and well-being for all. One of its key strategies to achieve these goals is the provision and management of safe, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure. This involves supporting the construction, rehabilitation, operation, and maintenance of social infrastructure in collaboration with partners across various contexts in its program countries.

To meet the growing needs of children worldwide, UNICEF's involvement in construction and infrastructure development has significantly increased in scope, scale, and complexity. By 2023, approximately 114 UNICEF Country Offices were engaged in construction and management projects, totaling $300 million.

To achieve the best results from construction and infrastructure development projects, it is essential to strategically plan these projects using design and technology that are appropriate for the specific target community. Additionally, effective management is crucial to minimize negative impacts on the community and to promote sustainability. Therefore, as UNICEF increases its involvement in complex construction and infrastructure development, it is crucial to have a clear global strategy to guide these efforts. A comprehensive programme strategy on construction and infrastructure development will help determine when construction and infrastructure projects are the most relevant options for achieving results for children, ensuring resource efficiency, and providing effective safeguards for children, communities, and their environments.

UNICEF is therefore undertaking this consultancy with the aim of developing a comprehensive programme strategy focused on construction management, that ensures that construction projects align with UNICEF's priorities and meet its standards for quality, efficiency, and sustainability, and environmental and social safeguards.

Objectives of the Consultancy:

Objective 1: Conduct a review, to determine the strategic direction for UNICEF’s construction activities and articulate the necessary support to Country Offices.

Objective 2: Establish a framework to support Country Office construction projects, including a programmatic strategy aligned with organizational goals, risk approach, accountabilities, and resources.

Objective 3: Using the results of the strategic review (above), enhance guidance for country offices to support business case development and detailed planning for construction projects

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of Programme Manager, Programme Strategy and Coordination Hub, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Literature Review:

• Review of existing UNICEF knowledge, practices and resources related to how construction projects are conceived, planned and managed.
• Review of documents and resources related to construction and WASH infrastructure projects, including the scope and scale, decision process, oversight and monitoring and supervision.
• Analyze and document best practices from other organizations in the development sector

2. Stakeholder Consultation:

• In coordination with the technical working group, conduct interviews with UNICEF staff managing construction and WASH infrastructure in at least 10 selected Country Offices, Regional Offices and Headquarters