Debris Management Analyst, NPSA9 – National Position

Office/Unit/Project Description 

The escalation of the war since February 2022 has caused severe damages to the increasingly fragile social and humanitarian, and public health situation in Ukraine.

One of the imminent needs for rehabilitation and recovery in Ukraine is effective, speedy and scale debris removal, disposal and management with appropriate measures for mine/explosives, hazardous materials and environmental safety. The widespread presence of debris and damaged buildings/infrastructure are also severely impeding the return of residents as well as posing a risk to human health from hazards such as asbestos, hazardous waste and unstable buildings.

The large quantities of debris strewn in streets, open public spaces and on land plots will inhibit the safe return of residents, restart of businesses and public services.

UNDP is implementing demolition and debris management projects combined with hazardous material treatment and mine action initiatives. The goal of UNDP’s work is to enable the rehabilitation and reconstruction of infrastructures to support the resilient recovery of war-affected communities in Ukraine, ensuring a safe and sound environment, free from dangerous and hazardous materials.

To this end, UNDP is recruiting a national Debris Management Analyst to ensure the effective and timely implementation of debris removal and management, including recycle and reuse work, in accordance with the guidance of the Head of Debris Management Unit, under the overall direction of the Project Manager. The incumbent will also provide advisory support and supervision to ensure the quality and efficiency of demolition and debris management works for relevant projects under the Energy and Environment pillar.

The services will support activities and projects related to Debris Removal and recycling through providing his/her technical expertise to help plan, overview and supervise the emergency demolition and debris management works in the war-affected areas in Ukraine.

1. Coordinate effective project planning and implementation:

• Guide and coordinate the national technical team and individual consultants of Debris Management Unit, including supervising national engieers within the unit.
• Propose and implement new and innovative ways of debris management strategy/plan on debris removal, disposal, and recycling in Ukraine; engaging more other units and teams creating senergies and more connections with our various projects and teams.
• Collaborate selected cities and final beneficiaries (municipalities, other public bodies including private sector and communities) to assess the needs, identifying priorities regarding debris removal and management, including building demolition;
• Review and provide advisory for the debris management specialist on the existing capacities for removal, sorting, recycling and reuse in the country;
• Prepare relevant data, maps and technical assessments for debris management.
• Review, check and appraise the engineering and technical design, cost estimates and drawings of social and economic infrastructure facilities, which qualified and competitive local engineering companies will prepare in addition to the needs for advanced equipment and machines;
• Ensure adherence to relevant government laws and regulations as well as selected direct administration procedures and verify compliance with debris removal and management;
• Ensure control for carrying on debris removal, demolition and recycling work in targeted areas;
• Design specifications and/or scope of works for the procurement of needed construction and demolition /rubble removal and related equipment for debris management and support the relevant evaluation committee;
• Provide input to the UNDP Recovery & Resilience Building Strategy for Ukraine and ensure cohesion between debris management activities and recovery process, including mine-action, durable solutions, and city planning.
• Guide and coordinate community mobilizers to ensure active participation and collaboration in debris management initiatives.
• Promote a culture of community engagement and empowerment by fostering strong relationships with local communities, encouraging their involvement in decision-making processes, and ensuring their needs and perspectives are integrated into debris management strategies.
• Incorporate innovative methods, such as AI, satellite and drone technology, for accurate quality and quantity estimation in debris management.
• Guide the heritage site preservation practices and the ability to integrate them into debris management strategies.
• Collaborate with the project team in:
• Identify unit costs and standards for typical and concrete activities, and assess cost deviations for all activities.
• assessing any indications of poor/unsatisfactory performance of UNDP’s contractors and/or defective equipment that could cause malfunctioning and promptly informing the Head of Debris Management Unit and respective Project Managers.

2. Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set:

• Ensure efficient and effective delivery of the Project activities of debris removal and management:
• Contribute to preparation of work implementation plans, and other related documents for timely commencement and implementation of the activities;
• Contribute to preparation of supporting documents in line with Project objectives and tasks;
• Ensure coordination/partnership with relevant governmental, non-governmental and international organizations, including UN agencies and projects at national level and regional level for mutually reinforcing impact;
• Take measures to prevent and eliminate defects and make propositions on optimization;
• Provide technical support to Debris Management Unit to improve the supervision and monitoring system of debris removal contractors and supervision engineers.
• Provide project monitoring and quality assurance through regular visits to the project sites, reviewing implementation progress against agreed plans and milestones;
• Maintain close liaison with regional and local project partners, ensuring optimum participation and promoting ownership of authorities in the implementation of the Project;
• Ensure the handover of the completed works to the relevant authorities.
• Participate in relevant meetings and share information with partners and UN agencies.
• Contribute to the preparation and implementation of the Project communications strategy and plan;
• Provide technical inputs for environment impact assessment, hazardous waste and mine/EO risk analysis.
• Provide continuous analysis of completed work on debris management to improve the system of removal, sorting and recycling in the country; prepare the CO to scale up the ongoing activities.
• Support with the preparation of project reports, including progress and annual reports, as well as ad-hoc technical reports and presentations;
• Review norms, certification and other requirements (esp., environmental safety and energy efficiency) and provide technical advice in case selected projects require permissions and construction certificates, other permitting documentation, as required;
• Ensure preparation of necessary technical documentation besides documenting and developing lessons learned and knowledge products.

3. Build partnerships and open channels of communication:

• Contribute to the preparation of standard operating procedures, manuals, guidelines, infographics and instructions/procedures documents for rayon-, city- and/or oblast authorities to follow;
• Provide advisory support to final beneficiaries and assess adequacy of operations;
• Develop and implement strategies to enhance community and private sector engagement and empowerment, ensuring that local communities are actively involved in debris management processes and benefit from project outcomes.
• Engage with research and academic institutions to advance debris management testing and experiment methodologies.
• Support local communities in the preparation of related documentation, and collaborate with local authorities in view of projects’ implementation for debris removal and management.
• Contribute to the preparation of operational and management guidelines for implementation of supported projects, including site works reporting on debris removal and management
• Liaise with respective governmental organizations to ensure the component activities are implemented in a timely and efficient manner;
• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities, particularly in the areas of donor relations, partnerships, and resource mobilization;
• Work with the Programme/Communication teams both in Ukraine CO and TRO to ensure all knowledge products are captured, updated, readily available and in the right order, as and when necessary.
• Lead and ensure mainstreaming of gender equality considerations in the field of expertise, promotion of a safe and enabling environment free of any kind of discrimination and abusive behaviour, and gender-responsive communications based on corporate principles.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Debris Management Analyst works under the direct supervision of the Debris Management Specialist, who serves as the Head of the Debris Management Unit, and collaborates with the respective Project Managers.