Programme Support Internship – Quantity Surveying

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the agency for human settlements mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. UN-Habitat supports the urban poor by contributing to the transformation of cities into safer, healthier, greener places with better opportunities where everyone can live with dignity.

As part of its mandate, the UN-Habitat implements various normative interventions for sustainable urbanization in Kenya through the Habitat Country Programme Document [HCPD 2023- 2027]. This HCPD identifies key priorities of the Government of Kenya [GoK] as outlined in the Mid-Term Plan and Vision 2030 and one of the key thematic focus areas is on improved access to housing, quality urban basic services and infrastructure and upgraded slums and informal settlements – within which UN-Habitat has provided support to the activities of the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, including the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP).

This position is located within the Regional Office for Africa under the Kenya Country Programme, to support the EU funded Partnership for the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda (PINUA) project.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Human Settlements Officer/ Project Manager for PINUA the Intern will undertake the responsibilities as outlined below:

• Support in preparing project cost estimates and technical evaluations for project team review.
• Support to provide architects with facilities planning, estimating, and project support.
• Support in scoping, estimating, and developing work packages for community-led contracts and minor construction projects and prepare blank bills of quantities and other tender documents to be issued to contractors for tendering.
• Support in analysing contractor proposals for technical adequacy and cost soundness.
• Support technical contract administration, technical designs and physical implementation.
• Participate in the Affordable Housing Design Lab in ensuring contribution of suitable typologies.
• Support the continuous mapping of green materials value chain to harness knowledge management on materials.
• Support the alignment of PINUA with other green materials initiatives across partners.
• Draft clear internal briefing notes and negotiation frameworks to ensure selection of relevant contractors.
• Work closely with key internal and external stakeholders to develop cost reduction strategies and implementation plans.
• Support compliance with safety, energy, environmental, and security policies by reviewing project schedules, quality control plans and safety plans.
• Participate in technical meetings and community engagements.
• Support in proper documentation such as contracts, performance bonds, and all necessary documentation in liaison with procurement team and external consultants on all tender processes including shortlisting of contractors, tender invitations, tender opening and tender evaluation.
• Maintain updated project documentation, technical evaluations, and cost estimates.
• To support the focus delivery of pilots houses and infrastructure under the guidance of a Projects Specialist

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants must at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements:

a. Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher),
b. Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent),
c. Have graduated with Bachelor’s degree, Masters, PhD or equivalent.

Be computer literate in standard software applications (Microsoft Office Suite).

Have demonstrated a keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter.

Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes a willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Preferred areas of study: Undergraduate in Quantity Survey, Building Economics and Finance, Building Science, Construction Management, Architecture, Civil Engineering (structural), Facilities Management or related field.

Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required.

Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Ph.D. Programme.

Proficiency and knowledge in Microsoft suite (E.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is required.

Strong knowledge of construction science and technical estimating is required.

Proficiency in reading technical drawings, scopes, specifications and strong understanding of safety/occupational health principles is required.

Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this  internship position, fluency in oral and written English is required.  Knowledge of another  UN language is desirable.

Intern Specific text

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.