National Consultant for Infrastructure Asset Management

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is the Financing for sustainable-development-office" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Sustainable Development Office (FSDO) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). The FSDO is dedicated to advancing policy and action on financing for sustainable development, supporting Member States and stakeholders in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The organization focuses on providing thought leadership, promoting multistakeholder dialogue, identifying policy options, and offering strategic advice for capacity development in key areas. The FSDO operates globally, engaging with various countries to implement sustainable development initiatives and projects.

Job Overview:
The position of National Consultant for Infrastructure Asset Management is crucial for the successful implementation of infrastructure asset management activities in Zambia. The consultant will work closely with government officials, stakeholders, and FSDO staff to ensure that the project objectives are met. The role involves providing tailored technical assistance and substantive support for the project 'Localizing the SDGs through more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable infrastructure (Phase 2)'. This project aims to enhance the capacity of local and national governments in Zambia to effectively plan, manage, and sustain resilient infrastructure systems. The consultant will be responsible for designing and implementing workshops, conducting diagnostic missions, and developing asset management profiles for local governments, thereby contributing to the overall goal of improving infrastructure asset management practices and sustainability in Zambia.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The National Consultant will undertake several key responsibilities, including:

• Designing and co-implementing an online awareness-raising workshop focused on infrastructure asset management, ensuring that the content is tailored to local realities and emphasizes climate adaptation and inclusivity.
• Liaising with national authorities to confirm participating local governments and developing an implementation schedule and stakeholder engagement plan.
• Conducting diagnostic missions to local governments, applying the UN IAM diagnostic tool, and guiding staff in identifying current practices and gaps in infrastructure asset management.
• Preparing customized Asset Management Profiles for each local government, summarizing current practices and identifying priority reforms.
• Providing substantive input for in-person workshops based on the Asset Management Profiles, including reviewing training materials and co-facilitating discussions and practical exercises.
• Ensuring that all activities are aligned with the project's objectives and contribute to the overall goal of strengthening infrastructure asset management in Zambia.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires several qualifications, including: - An advanced degree in engineering, business, project management, public administration, urban planning, economics, or a related field. - A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in infrastructure, infrastructure asset management, or urban development, with expertise in asset inventories, lifecycle planning, and public sector investment planning. - Knowledge of Zambian public sector and infrastructure systems is essential. - Familiarity with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and UN IAM tools is desirable, as is knowledge of global asset management standards and geographic information systems (GIS).

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree in a relevant field such as engineering, business, project management, public administration, urban planning, or economics. This educational background is critical for understanding the complexities of infrastructure asset management and the sustainable development goals.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in relevant fields such as infrastructure, infrastructure asset management, or urban development. Candidates should have demonstrated expertise in areas such as asset inventories, lifecycle planning, service delivery, and institutional capacity development, which are essential for the successful execution of the project.

Languages:
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
The consultant must reside in and/or have the right to work in Zambia. The position is home-based and expected to last for 11 months. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, ensuring a fair and transparent hiring process.