Independent Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) Consultant for Construction of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Infrastructure at Tenaru Field Experiment Station

ADVERTISEMENT – Independent Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) Consultant for Construction of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Infrastructure at Tenaru Field Experiment Station

The Solomon Islands Knowledge-Action-Sustainability for Resilient Villages (SOLKAS) Project has a consultancy assignment based in Solomon Islands for interested and qualified applicants to provide independent quality assurance and quality control services for the construction of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) infrastructure at Tenaru Field Experiment Station, Guadalcanal Province.

The Independent QA/QC Consultant will work closely with the SOLKAS Project Management Unit (PMU), the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), and relevant stakeholders to provide objective technical oversight throughout procurement, construction, commissioning, handover, and the defects liability period for the Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Infrastructure Project at Tenaru Field Experiment Station.

The SOLKAS Project is one of the largest locally-led climate adaptation projects in the Pacific region and one of the first with a strong focus on the education, renewable energy, water, fisheries, and agriculture sectors. Primarily funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), with co-financing from the Governments of Australia, New Zealand, and Solomon Islands, the project seeks to reduce children, youth, and communities’ exposure to climate hazards while strengthening sustainable and resilient livelihoods in the face of climate change. The project is a partnership between the Government of Solomon Islands, through the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), and Save the Children Solomon Islands (SCSI).

Working with communities across six provinces, the project strengthens resilience to climate change by building the capacities of governments, communities, and schools to understand, plan for, and implement climate adaptation responses through three project components:

• Community-led development of adaptation plans, climate change knowledge and skills, and access to climate change information.
• Resilient livelihoods, food and nutrition security, improved water security, and school-level infrastructure.
• Institutional strengthening. This consultancy will support the establishment of a nationally significant Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) demonstration facility at Tenaru Field Experiment Station by ensuring that all construction works comply with approved designs, technical specifications, safeguarding requirements, occupational health and safety standards, disability-inclusive design principles, and contractual obligations. The consultant will also participate in the Tender Evaluation Committee and provide technical assessments of contractor bids to support value-for-money decision-making.

We are looking for a suitably qualified and experienced Independent Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) Consultant or Engineering Firm for an estimated period of 7-9 months from contract signing, including procurement support, construction oversight, commissioning, defects liability inspections, and retention payment certification, working closely with SOLKAS PMU staff and partners to deliver in line with the timeframes and deliverables outlined in the Terms of Reference.

Application Requirements
Interested candidates should provide the following documents:

• Cover letter responding to the criteria in the Terms of Reference (TOR).
• Technical proposal outlining the proposed QA/QC methodology and implementation approach.
• Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the consultant or CVs of key personnel.
• Evidence of relevant qualifications, professional registrations, and certifications.
• Evidence of similar assignments undertaken, including at least two client references.
• Copy of valid business registration certificate (for firms).
• Financial proposal detailing all professional fees and associated costs.

Key Responsibilities
The successful consultant will be responsible for:

• Participating in tender evaluation and procurement review processes.
• Reviewing engineering designs, technical specifications, and Bills of Quantities.
• Conducting independent inspections and quality assurance reviews throughout construction.
• Monitoring contractor compliance with technical, environmental, social, and safeguarding requirements.
• Verifying materials, equipment, workmanship, and construction quality.
• Certifying milestone completion and contractor performance.
• Witnessing testing, commissioning, training, and handover activities.
• Monitoring the defects liability period and recommending release of retention payments.

Required Qualifications and Experience
Applicants should demonstrate:

• A degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Construction Management, Agricultural Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum ten years of relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience in QA/QC and construction supervision.
• Experience working on donor-funded infrastructure projects.
• Professional engineering registration.
• Experience working in Pacific Island environments.

Desirable experience includes:

• Greenhouse infrastructure projects.
• Irrigation systems.
• Solar energy systems.
• Water infrastructure projects.
• Climate-smart agriculture projects.
• GCF, World Bank, ADB, DFAT, MFAT, or similar donor-funded projects.

Interested applicants can contact SOLKAS PMU – Human Resources to request the TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) by sending an email to hr.solkas@savethechildren.org.au.

Application Process
Prepare a proposal including:

• Technical approach and methodology.
• Relevant qualifications and experience.
• Workplan and implementation schedule.
• Details of previous assignments of a similar nature.
• CV(s) of key personnel.
• Financial proposal.
• Supporting documentation and references.

Submission closes at midnight, 07th August 2026.

All submissions should be addressed to:

SOLKAS Team Leader
SOLKAS PMU
Save the Children – Solomon Islands Office
Honiara, Solomon Islands
All submissions must be emailed to:
hr.solkas@savethechildren.org.au

Save the Children is a child-safe organisation. All personnel engaged under this assignment will be required to comply with Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct, undergo National Police Record Checks where required, and maintain the highest standards of safeguarding and professional conduct.

NOTE: ONLY SHORTLISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED