Purpose
To assess needs, design and project manage projects to repair extensive irrigation and drainage systems linked to the Helmand and Arghandab river systems in Helmand and Kandahar Provinces, Southern Afghanistan. Most of these projects will be implemented via labor intensive Cash for Work (CFW) schemes. Others will be subcontracted out or be a mixture of the two. It will also be a requirement that the process of identifying, designing, and implementing these projects be documented with a view to constructing a best practice manual for the future.
Background
International Relief and Development (IRD) is currently implementing the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Afghanistan Vouchers for Increased Productive Agriculture (AVIPA) in 14 northern provinces in Afghanistan. The program will be extended for an additional 12 months (September 1, 2009 – August 31, 2010) and expanded in scope with an emphasis on stabilization operations within an agricultural framework in the two southern provinces of Helmand and Kandahar. Entitled AVIPA Plus, the scope of program has four key sectors: Cash for Work, Small Grants, Agricultural Vouchers, and Training and Capacity Development for farmers as well as provincial and district level officials with the Ministry of Irrigation, Agriculture, and Livestock (MAIL). AVIPA Plus will be implemented in close collaboration with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GoIRA) and USG partners, particularly Provincial Reconstruction Teams and US Military and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF). The long-term goals of AVIPA Plus are increased rural family farm production and productivity and strengthened links between the GoIRA and its people.
To achieve these goals AVIPA Plus will:
1. Increase farm family use of high quality agricultural inputs; 2. Support profitable farm family participation in agricultural value chains;3. Implement cash for work projects that enhance rural family farm production and productivity; 4. Implement a grants component that contributes to rural family farm production and productivity;5. Build the capacity of MAIL officials at the provincial and district level through targeted training and extension service development activities.
Objective
AVIPA+ requires a Hydraulic Engineer to take responsibility for the design of irrigation and drainage and hydraulic structures. The Hydraulic Engineer’s work will support a major objective of the AVIPA+ program; to implement CFW projects that will enhance rural family farm production and productivity. This assignment will contribute to this goal by employing local residents and contractors in liaison with local authorities to rehabilitate and/or improve irrigation, drainage and hydraulic infrastructure.
Activities
1. Review documentation on past and any on-going donor funded projects and programs related to maintaining or repairing the Helmand and Arghandab Valley Authority’s irrigation and drainage network 2. Work with AVIPA+ Provincial Agriculture Director, Cash for Work Director, district level community representatives and Helmand Arghandab Valley Authority (HAVA) officials to assess and prioritize projects to progress3. Lead an AVIPA+ survey team and survey works in association with HAVA’s technical staff4. Take responsibility for the overall design of irrigation system related projects5. Draw up plans for projects as necessary (construction and details)6. Draft Bills of Quantity as necessary7. Ensure all projects are environmentally compliant 8. Assist the CFW Director with setting up irrigation system related project management tools9. Assist the CFW Director in setting up project quality control, best practice and assurance systems10. Ensure that paperwork and project management files accord with the process outlined in IRD’s CFW manual11. Identify sources of irrigation system construction and rehabilitation capacity: construction firms with irrigation construction/rehabilitation experience i.e. NGOs, academic institutions private consulting firms12. Assess and describe the capacity of the entities identified in activity 10 above to effectively support AVIPA+’s CFW activities to maintain or repair HAVA’s irrigation and drainage network.
Key Deliverables/Outcomes
1. Completed desk/document review of current condition of irrigation system and its needs in actionable districts by the end of one week.2. Produce drawings as required and present to HAVA for approval 3. Produce a manual documenting the process of identifying, designing, and implementing projects prior to completion of assignment.
Place of Performance
Afghanistan – Helmand and Kandahar Provinces
Key Qualifications
1. Hydraulic or civil engineer with post graduate qualification in hydraulic structures (Essential)2. Minimum 3 years experience in design of major irrigation and drainage systems and hydraulic structures (Essential)3. High level of proficiency in Autocad4. Minimum 2 years experience of major irrigation and drainage system and hydraulic structure project management (Desirable)5. High level of proficiency in English both spoken and written
post engineering jobs without the scary price !
Add to Twitter
