Verification of Structural and Engineering aspects of the Agriculture Centre in Nyamlel

Terms of Reference for Verification of Structural and

Engineering aspects of the Agriculture Centre in Nyamlel

March 2013

1.      Background; 

Republic of South Sudan (RoSS) is the 193^rd member of the United Nations became independent on 9 July 2011.  South Sudan (along with Sudan) has a Human Development Index ranking 169 out of 187.  Although not disaggregated, South Sudan is thought to be much lower due to the lost decades of development affected by protracted civil conflict with its northern counterpart.  The population of RoSS is estimated to be 8.26 million with 83% of being rural and 51% of the population live below the poverty line.  South Sudan also faces humanitarian challenges due to insecurity both internal and external; high risk of natural disasters, in particular flooding and the government having little capacity to respond.

South Sudan with an 85% of land uncultivated and the effects of insecurity and flooding is at high risk of food insecurity.  This is coupled with poor market conditions affected by border closures with Sudan and a heavy reliance on imports from Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia which is faced with crippling road infrastructure.  These factors contribute to a surge in food prices during the “hunger gap”^[1].  While there were above average harvests in 2012, states affected by flooding, insecurity and refugee influxes will be at Stressed and Crisis Levels by March 2013^[2].  In addition following the CPA, thousands of returnees have come back to South Sudan with the most vulnerable lacking any means to re-establish themselves or engage in food production.  In 2012 there were 132,807 arrivals in South Sudan^[3]

NBeG is prone to flooding, particularly in lowland areas.  2012 saw flooding affecting 7,902^[4] people with crop losses in lowland areas of cultivation.  NBeG also has the highest numbers of returnees out of all the states.  During February 2007 to August 2012 with 456,860 returning^[5] and in 2012 the state saw the fourth highest arrivals with 13,907 returnees^[6].  These factors along with poor agronomic practices mean seasonal high rates of malnutrition reflected by high Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) and Severe Acute Malnutrition Rates (SAM) rates of 25.8% and 4.1% respectively in Aweil West^[7].  Food insecurity has also been affected by border closures with Sudan which is the main source of trade, reducing food availability at markets and resulting high prices throughout much of the year.

2.      Concern’s country programme;

Concern Worldwide works with the world’s poorest people to transform their lives. Concern Worldwide is an international humanitarian organisation dedicated to tackling extreme poverty and suffering in the world’s poorest countries. Concern Worldwide works in partnership with the very poorest people in these countries directly enabling them to improve their lives, as well as using Concern Worldwide’s knowledge and experience to influence decisions made at local, national and international level that can significantly reduce extreme poverty. Concern implements both emergency responses and longer term development interventions in 25 countries in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.

Concern Worldwide has been working in South Sudan since 1998 implementing emergency and early recovery programmes.  Currently Concern operates in NBeG in two counties (Aweil North and Aweil West).  The country office is in Juba with its role being logistical and financial support for the programme areas.  The main field office is located in Nyamlel, Aweil West with a sub office in Marial Bai.  Concern is supporting integrated health and nutrition interventions, food and livelihoods security through the Food, Income and Markets (FIM) programme, Non Food Items (NFI) assistance to the returnees and internally displaced persons (IDP) as well as working with the local government authorities to improve their capacities and infrastructure. 

The purpose of establishing the Agricultural Centre in Nyamlel is to support and enable the SMoAF (State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) run Demonstrations, Trainings, Research & Learning Centre for land management, seed improvement and demonstration of improved agricultural technics. This aims to accelerate the transfer of knowledge to beneficiaries and adoption of improved production systems by demonstrating new agricultural practices and technologies at the local level.  The construction works was initiated in early 2012, comprising of three offices, a library, a large training room and two detached toilet blocks.

3.      Purpose

To ascertain the quantity and quality of physical construction work so far completed by the contractor (SABRIN General Construction and Trading Company Ltd) on the construction of the agriculture resource centre against the original agreed BOQ estimates. Specifically, the Consultant will:

Ø  assess the extent in which the structural and engineering execution of the agricultural centre meets the architectural specification provided by Concern Worldwide;

Ø  determine the quantity and quality standard of the materials used by the contractor against the agreed BOQ estimates;

Ø  demystify any compromised quality standards and subsequent effects of such variations to the overall purpose of the agricultural centre;

4.      Specific tasks to be undertaken;

Ø  Peruse contractual paper trail and financial payment schedule to be provided by Concern finance office in Juba to identify any inconsistencies.

Ø  Audit approved architectural designs, BOQ estimates and any other construction inputs to the Centre.

Ø  Review progress reports from the contractor in line with the contract terms.

5.      Output;

Ø  A detailed technical verification report showing the amount of work completed as a percentage of original BOQ, the methodology used.

Ø  A detailed report on variations (e.g. additions, gaps, defects) of actual work against original scope of work and specifications.

Ø  A summary opinion and recommendations on the way forward.

6.      Line of communication;

Ø  The consultant will be responsible to Concern South Sudan Programme Country Director though the overall management of the consultant will be the discretion of the Assistant Country Director Programmes.

Timeframe;

The consultant will devote 5 working days for both field travel and report writing as per schedule below:

Schedule	Task
Day 1	Travel to Juba, Briefing with Country Director
Day 2	Travel to the field, Briefing with Concern’s Head of Office
Day 3	Technical assessment on site and report writing
Day 4	Technical assessment on site and report writing
Day 5	Travel back to Juba, briefing management on findings

7.      PAYMENT

Payment will be made within 15 days after completion of the assessment and submission and approval of the report. Concern Worldwide will provide transport and full accommodation (food and shelter).

8.      QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRED INPUTS

As a minimum, the Consultant should meet the following

• Qualified Civil Engineer
• Track records in execution, due diligence expertize and counter expertize in  civil engineering work

Applications quoting the should be sent to following email address: nairobi.hr@concern.net addressed to:- The Human Resource Manager, Concern Worldwide, P.O. Box 13850-00800, Nairobi by Friday, 22 March 2013.

Applicants will be short-listed based on their qualifications and work experience. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for interview.

Concern has a Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from abuse and exploitation.

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[1] “Hunger gap” is generally April to September

[2] FEWSNET South Sudan Food Security Outlook Oct 2012-Mar 2013

[3] OCHA South Sudan Weekly Humanitarian Bulletin 31 Dec 2012-6 Jan 2013

[4] OCHA South Sudan Weekly Humanitarian Bulletin, 29 Oct-4 Nov 2012

[5] IOM Emergency Returnee Statistics Weekly Statistic Report, 28 September-4 October 2012

[6] OCHA South Sudan Weekly Humanitarian Bulletin, 7-13 Jan 2013

[7] Concern Worldwide Findings of Nutrition Assessment and Retrospective Mortality Survey in Aweil West County NBeG, May 2012