UNOPS

The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. Supported by more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices—spanning North, West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa—the office advances national priorities through strategic initiatives in Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and Security, Middle-Income Country Support, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Regional Office provides strategic leadership, operational support, and oversight in key areas including Partnerships, Communications, Management and Oversight, Infrastructure and Project Management, Health and Safety, and Security. By promoting excellence in project delivery, fostering knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement, the office contributes to sustainable infrastructure, transparent resource management, and a better quality of life for communities across the continent.

Based in Dakar, Senegal, the West Africa Multi-Country Office (WAMCO) delivers high-quality project management, infrastructure, and procurement services across 16 countries in West Africa and the Sahel, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Togo. Aligned with UNOPS’ mission, WAMCO supports partners in peacebuilding, humanitarian assistance, and sustainable development. WAMCO’s portfolio spans key sectors such as health, climate change, renewable energy, agriculture, water and sanitation, environment, infrastructure, justice, and peace and security. Notable projects include the construction of pre-preschools for early childhood development in Senegal (in partnership with KOICA and UNICEF), capacity-building for national agencies on disaster risk reduction and resource management, and the development of rural mini-grid electrification systems in Sierra Leone. Through these initiatives, WAMCO contributes to inclusive growth and the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the region.

UNOPS is the operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the delivery of peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects worldwide. This assignment directly supports the joint UN DESA and UNOPS project “Localizing the SDGs through more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable infrastructure (Phase II)”, implemented by the Financing for Sustainable Development Office (FSDO) of UN DESA in partnership with UNOPS in six countries: Kenya, Senegal, The Federated States of Micronesia, The Gambia, Uganda and Zambia. 

Building on the foundation laid during Phase I, Phase II focuses on institutionalizing infrastructure asset management (IAM) practices and strengthening enabling policy frameworks. As The Gambia participated in Phase I, a baseline of municipal Asset Management Action Plans (AMAPs) and National Infrastructure  Asset Management Enabling Environment (EE) Roadmap already exists. The focus for The Gambia is therefore evaluating progress, revising and recontextualizing existing plans and roadmap, and providing targeted implementation support.

Under the direct supervision of the UNOPS Country Office and in close coordination with the Project Manager and UN DESA technical teams, the National Technical Consultant will drive the following two core workstreams:

Output 2.1: Technical assistance for local governments’ AMAPs implementation

Output 2.2: Recontextualization of  the National Infrastructure Asset Management Enabling Environment Roadmap

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in engineering, architecture, project management, public administration, urban development, economics, or a related field with 7 years of relevant experience OR 
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in engineering, architecture, project management, public administration, urban development, economics, or a related field with 5 years of relevant experience is required.

Required:

• Relevant experience in architecture, infrastructure, or infrastructure asset management or related areas is required. 
• Demonstrated expertise in asset inventories, lifecycle planning, or institutional capacity development is required.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the national public sector and infrastructure development challenges specific to The Gambia is required.
• Strong command of standard office IT tools and Google Workspace environments (including Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Meet) for technical collaboration is required.

Desired:

• Familiarity with UN IAM tools and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is desirable.
• Proficiency in geographic information systems (GIS) and global asset management standards is desirable.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.