Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

As a trusted, long-term partner of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund, GF), UNDP’s value proposition lies in providing an integrated package of development solutions to strengthen institutions to deliver health services. Through its contributions as interim Principal Recipient and provider of technical assistance in over 53 countries since 2003, UNDP’s provision of integrated policy, implementation and capacity development support to countries has yielded significant health and development results in challenging operating environments. Proactive risk management and investing in sustainability are the cornerstones of UNDP’s portfolio management approach and providing technical assistance to national counterparts during all phases of implementation, strengthening legislation, policies, and regulatory frameworks, and building capacities across key functional areas, including financial management, health information systems, procurement and supply chain management. Within the HHD Group the Global Fund – Health Implementation Support Team (GF/HIST) is a dedicated team providing support to UNDP Country Offices implementing health and development programmes.

In Nepal, UNDP is the Co-Principal Recipient (PR) of the Global Fund GC7 grant for three diseases and work closely with the Government of Nepal. For effective implementation of the Global Fund programme, UNDP Nepal has established a Programme Management Unit (PMU) to coordinate and oversee the implementation and to ensure compliance of the terms and conditions of the grant agreements with the Global Fund and UNDP rules, policies, and procedures.  The PMU coordinates with the national partners particularly the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), the Provincial and local government, government entities at federal and provinces, Non-Government Organizations, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), communities, technical partners, UN agencies, the Global Fund, Local Fund Agent and the Country Coordinating Mechanism.

Scope of Work 

1.Ensure effective implementation of procurement and supply chain management for health and non-health products focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Development and/or enhancement of business processes, internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), guidelines and workflows related to procurement and supply management within the PMU, focusing on client orientation and internal controls. 
• Leadership on the development and implementation of the PMU’s procurement strategy and workplan for the GF-approved Health Products Action Plan.  
• Strengthening the capacity of national staff through tailored training, mentorship, and development initiatives to support long-term sustainability and enable transfer of responsibilities and leadership to the national team.
• Provide strategic leadership to the PMU’s PSM team, ensuring UNDP is effectively resourced to meet its commitments while promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, and fostering a culture of organizational excellence.
• Establish strong collaboration with UNDP GHCS and Regional Procurement Advisors, towards efficient and compliant procurement and supply chain management activities.

2. Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO/Projects and national partners

• Contributes to information sharing activities with the Global Fund (including Local Fund Agent), the Country Co-ordination Mechanism, the Ministry of Health, other national and provincial stakeholders, SRs, and Sub-sub-Recipients (SSRs), NGOs, other CSOs, communities, technical partners, and UN entities. 
• Identifies and helps address national and provincial level capacity development needs in the areas of pharmaceutical management, logistics information management systems, sustainable storage and distribution systems and services for health products; ensures access to appropriate tools and resources in coordination with other donor initiatives. 
• Leads on the engagement with the Global Fund PSM Specialist and develops a strong professional relationship based upon mutual trust and respect and support during missions. 
• At the end of assignment synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices to contribute to strengthening of national supply chain management incl. national and provincial level capacity development needs in the area of PSM.

3.Build and sustain UNDP’s strategic partnerships on PSM and lab strengthening areas, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Provides strategic policy and technical advice to national and provincial stakeholders and implementing partners at all stages of the PSM cycle and to the last mile.   
• Collaborates with national and provincial stakeholders, NGO Sub-Recipients and other PSM partners on supply planning for health products, with focus on stock and consumption monitoring. 
• Provides strategic and technical advice to the National Quantification Committees that facilitates quantifications updates. In addition, helps foster quantification and procurement planning processes at provincial level.  
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with UNDP stakeholders involved in the area of PSM to maximize available expertise and funding sources; prevent duplication. 
• Jointly with national laboratory programme and WHO CO facilitates implementation matching laboratory strengthening funding.
• Participate in meetings and technical committees of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) or the Ministry of Health on PSM-related issues. 

4.Ensure GESI sensitivity in all procurement processes undertaken for the GF:

• Ensure compliance of GESI responsive procurement at different stages of procurement.
• Provide strategic advice and guidance on strategic and policy issues to strengthen gender & social inclusion initiatives during procurement cycle.
• Create a safe working environment by developing respectful and safe organizational culture and supporting practices.
• Fully comply with UNDP’s GESI policy and ensure contribute to the zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, and abuse.
• Collaborate with team members, programme partners, and sub-grantees to ensure safe implementation of programmes at the community level applying Do No Harm approach.

 Institutional Arrangements

The Procurement and Supply Chain Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager. She/He will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment.

Competencies

Core

• Achieve Results:    
  LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
• Think Innovatively:    
  LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
• Learn Continuously:    
  LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility:    
  LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
• Act with Determination:     
  LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner:    
  LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion:    
  LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
   

Cross Functional & Technical competencies 

Business Direction & Strategy

Negotiation and Influence:

• Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and create win-win’ situations

Business management

Communication:

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
          

Customer Satisfaction / Client Management: 

• Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs.
• Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy
• Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests
• Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns
   

2030 Agenda: Prosperity

Inclusive Growth: 

• Social Inclusion
   

2030 Agenda: People

Gender:

•  Innovation for Gender Equality

Procurement

Procurement management

• The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source
   

Sourcing 

• Ability to find, evaluate and engage suppliers of goods and services
   

Supplier relationship Management

• Knowledge of supplier management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations
   

Required Skills and Experience

Minimum Education Requirement

• Advanced University Degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Public Health, Pharmacy, Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related field is required. Or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• CIPS level 4 is highly desirable for this position and candidates holding this level at the time of application will have a distinct advantage. If the desired certification is not available at the time of recruitment, it should be obtained within one year of recruitment. 
• Candidates holding a CIPS certification at Level 2 or 3 at the time of application will have a proportionate advantage. Candidates holding CIPS Level 1 certification shall not have any advantage.
   

Minimum years of relevant work experience    

• A minimum of 5 years (with a master’s degree) or 7 years (with a bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in leading the procurement function at the national or international level is required.
   

Required Skills

• Proven experience with advanced computer skills, including the ability to apply existing systems and contribute to process improvements, is required.

Desired Skills

• Working experience and knowledge of procurement within the UN or other international organizations, particularly with GFTAM, is highly desirable.
• Relevant national / international experience in public procurement and supply chain management of health products is highly desirable. 
• Work experience in developing countries in general and Southeastern Asia in particular is highly desirable.  
• Demonstrated experience in developing and managing effective partnerships with governments in procurement and supply chain management of health products is highly desirable.  
• Demonstrated experience in building capacity of national entities in the area of procurement and supply chain management of health products is an asset. Experience in report writing is highly desirable.
• Strong experience of working with ERP packages is desirable.
• Experience in incorporation of GESI provision in procurement and supply chain is desirable. 
• Experience of handling complex and high value procurement in international or national organization.
• Experience of UN or UNDP procurement policies and procedures is an asset. 

Required Language(s) 

• Fluency in English
   

Non-discrimination

UNDP is committed to achieve work force diversity and has a policy to have gender balance among staffs at all levels. Work experience and/or academic knowledge in relation to gender and social inclusion will be an added advantage. Qualified Women, Persons with Disabilities, gender and sexual minorities and other minorities are specially encouraged to apply.

United Nations has a zero-tolerance against Sexual exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Sexual Harassment (SH). Everyone is responsible for Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (PSEA and SH), and all UN personnel must adhere to the standards of conduct that preserves PSEA principles (both during work hours and outside work hours). All selected candidates will, therefore, go through a safe hiring process.