Background
The constitution RDTL provides a provision of special status to Oé-Cusse, stating that it shall be ‘governed by a special administrative policy and economic regime’ (Article 71, Clause 2) and a law on Oé-Cusse has recently been passed by the National Parliament.
UNDP has been providing Policy advice to the Special Economic Zone for Social Market Economy (ZEESM) Office since its establishment and has developed a program to support ZEESM conceive, establish and support governance and sustainable and innovative development structures and systems in Oé-Cusse. The framework for UNDP’s support to Oé-Cusse ZEESM is built around two components: (i) governance (ii) sustainable and innovative development. Thus, as part of the roll out process of ZEESM there is a need to formulate policies and provide high quality advice to support priority areas that have clear and strong forward linkages to the ZEESM. The proposed assistance is aligned with the priorities of the Fifth Constitutional Government as articulated under Timor-Leste Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030 to establish special zones of social market economy to transform the lives of the people of Oé-Cusse with an integrated approach to sustainable, social and economic development.
The candidate will support and work under the supervision of the Department of Public Works in the Regional Authority of Oé-Cusse to design and study the implementation of water supply systems in the rural areas.
Primary Objective of the internship: Provide technical inputs, assist oversee in developing, preparation, planning, design and execution of water supply, wastewater treatment, sewerage and drainage projects in the rural areas of Oé-Cusse Region.
Living Conditions:
Timor Leste is half of a tropical island characterized by a rugged mountain chain running east-west that divides the country into a generally warmer north coast and a milder south coast. The capital city, Dili, is in the north. Oé-Cusse (duty station of this contract) is a district of East Timor. Oé-Cusse is a coastal exclave in the western part of the island of Timor, separated from the rest of East Timor by West Timor, which is part of the province of Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia and which surrounds Oé-Cusse in all directions except the north, where it borders the Savu Sea. The capital of the district is Pante Macassar, also called Oé-Cusse Town.
Climate:
The climate along the coast is relatively warm hot year-round with an annual average temperature of 30°C. There are two distinct seasons: the north-east monsoon season, which runs from November to March, constitutes the rainy season throughout the country. The southeast monsoon season, which runs from March to October, constitutes the dry season with some rain on the southern coast but otherwise dry and windy conditions in the rest of the country. The climate inland with its high mountains can be very cold with an annual average temperature of 15°C.
Health: Now, public hospital and private clinic service to community and not listed as a recommended medical facility for UN staff. In case of emergency evacuation to be taken in place through helicopter to capital Dili. However, basic health facilities are available in the region. The intern is responsible for having a health insurance during the mission.
Diet, Food and Water:
Most staple foods can be found in the markets such as rice, meat, vegetables, cooking oil, salt and sugar. There is a variety of food ranging from Western to Southeast Asian fare. You can also find several local restaurants with less expensive meals. The price range for a meal can range from $3 to $11+.
Hotels:
Most of the hotels in Oe-cusse are aimed at internationals and offer a good level of comfort with air-conditioned rooms and en-suite bathrooms. You can expect to pay from $30 to $50 per night.
Permanent Accommodation:
Expect that your accommodation will range from the very basic to adequate, although many private houses in Oe-cusse have been renovated to a reasonable or even considered ‘luxurious’ level of comfort. The rate of reconstruction and renovation in the districts has been much slower than in Dili. Accommodation is far more likely to be of a very basic level.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Project Manager (PM), and the Department of Public Works in the Regional Authority of Oé-Cusse, the selected candidate will execute and ensure specific activities to support farmers groups in the creation of cooperatives and associations. The intern will focus on the following tasks:
• Conduct analyzes of failures of water supply and sanitation systems in Oé-Cusse (WASH programs);
• Analyze and assess performance of remote such small-scale water supply systems put in place by different development partners in Oé-Cusse;
• Investigate and evaluate from an engineering, economic and environmental perspective, improvements in remote water supply systems;
• Provide technical assistance to operational personnel within the Department of Water and Sanitation to generate proposals to improve, maintain, build or rehabilitate different small-scale water supply systems.
• Undertaking investigations, designs, provide notes on contract management and construction of small-scale water supply assets/systems.
• Any other tasks, as assigned by the supervisor.
Expected Results and Outputs:
The intern will execute and ensure specific activities to support the Department of Public Works in the Regional Authority of Oé-Cusse to design the implementation of water supply systems in the rural areas. It is expected that the intern should have or able to :
• Technical knowledge and experience of water supply and sewerage systems, including knowledge of water network reticulation and sewerage system modelling software.
• High level of oral and written communication skills, liaison, and negotiation skills including the ability to interact effectively with people of a different culture.
• Demonstrated ability to research, analyse systems and report accurately and concisely.
• Demonstrated ability to function pro-actively and positively as a team member and establish and maintain good working relationships with other personnel, customers and the general public.
A more detailed work plan and list of outputs will be developed between the supervisor and the intern upon commencement of the internship based on the Unit’s needs and the intern’s skills and interest.
Competencies
• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Self-development, initiative-taking;
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
• Creating synergies through self-control;
• Managing conflict;
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff membe;
• Informed and transparent decision making.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Applicants to the UNDP internship programme 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); Degree in Civil Engineering or related areas.
(b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent); As define in (a).
(c) Have graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation. As define in (a).
Languages:
• Requirement: Fluency in English (Written and Spoken)
• Advantage: Fluency in Portuguese