Consultancy: Programme Coordinator (Oxygen Therapy), UNICEF Supply Division, Copenhagen

UNICEF Supply Division is seeking a consultant (11.5 mths) in the position of “Programme Coordinator (Oxygen Therapy)” to manage and drive the entire oxygen therapy project from its beginning to deliverables. The project will develop and promote interagency technical specifications and guidance, tender agreements, and an interagency software tool to enable more efficient and informed selection, procurement, installation, and maintenance of technologies to supply or monitor oxygen critical to health interventions and that lead to safe and appropriate use of oxygen according to WHO guidance.

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For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.

Consultancy Title: Programme Coordinator (Oxygen Therapy)

LOCATION/DURATION:

Duration:  11.5 months with possibility of extension

Location: Copenhagen

Travel: Paid for by UNICEF. Expect ~4 trips to programme countries plus travel to ~2 conferences.

Start Date: TBC

Reporting to: Chief, Innovation, UNICEF Supply Division, Copenhagen

BACKGROUND:

In 2015, UNICEF, in collaboration with governments and partners, procured a record $3.428 billion in supplies and services for children, including $1.755 billion procured on behalf of 102 governments. Much of UNICEF Supply Division’s (SD) work focuses on working with suppliers and a range of partners to ensure the availability of life-saving products.

Despite the evidence that improved oxygen systems save lives, the availability of oxygen supplies remains limited in regions of the world where they are most needed.  In low and middle income country settings, poor oxygen system planning often results in an inconsistent or low, oxygen system functional capacity.

The oxygen therapy project, funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) is a strategic collaboration between UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) to access to and utilization of safe and appropriate oxygen system products in resource limited settings.

UNICEF Supply Division is seeking a consultant in the position of “Programme Coordinator (Oxygen Therapy)” to manage and drive the entire oxygen therapy project from its beginning to deliverables. The project will develop and promote interagency technical specifications and guidance, tender agreements, and an interagency software tool to enable more efficient and informed selection, procurement, installation, and maintenance of technologies to supply or monitor oxygen critical to health interventions and that lead to safe and appropriate use of oxygen according to WHO guidance.

OBJECTIVE:
The objective of this full-time consultancy is to project manage the oxygen therapy project, driving the success of the project and ensuring all deliverables as outlined below are delivered in a timely manner.

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT:

The Programme Coordinator will manage and drive the oxygen therapy project, primarily coordinating the development of an online tool for oxygen system planning. This oxygen planning tool will utilize interagency technical specifications and an updated UNICEF catalogue, outputs which are also part of this project brief. The programme coordinator will have responsibility for ensuring the project has a sharp scope, proper planning, communication, and implementation, and achieves timely results. In addition, the person will be responsible for technical and financial monitoring, donor reporting and communications.

The Programme Coordinator will proactively collaborate with all key stakeholders in the oxygen space, not least WHO and BMGF, as well as UNICEF country offices, and drive the oxygen therapy project to achieve results as follows:

Project Management (40% time allocation)
• Ensure that the project has and maintains a sharp scope
• Ensure proper planning and implementation and drive through obstacles to achieve timely results
• Convene advisory committee of technical experts (manage meetings)
• Coordinate kick-off meeting and regular project team calls
• Data collection for annual reporting to US Fund for reporting to donor 
• Activities scheduled and completed per project timeline
• Coordinate end-year consolidation of lessons learned, with input from UNICEF SD’s Evaluation Manager

Specifications published (10% time allocation)
• Coordinate drafting and publication of WHO/UNICEF interagency oxygen delivery system product specifications

Catalogue updated (10% time allocation)
• Support Technical Officer in coordinating all activities related to updating UNICEF catalogue
• Coordinate with relevant programs/initiatives to advocate for use of the updated catalogue

Manage scoping and development of oxygen planning tool (40% time allocation)
• Coordinate draft and implementation of systematic user needs questionnaires for oxygen systems
• Coordinate needs definition and functional analysis for an interagency oxygen planning software tool (oxygen system upgrade planning and management e-platform)
• Coordinate the translation of tool business requirements into technical specifications
• Engage and contract developers for development of oxygen planning tool prototype
• Oversee the developers of the oxygen planning tool prototype
• Collaborate with country offices to coordinate field trials of oxygen planning tool prototype

KEY DELIVERABLES:

The consultant will be responsible, through highly skilled and effective project management, for ensuring the following deliverables are achieved.
1. Publication of tier one interagency oxygen delivery system product specifications (in collaboration with WHO and Technical Officer)
a) Prioritized list of tier 1,2,3 products approved and interagency specifications for tier 1 products completed
b) Updated product specifications and guidance published online and promoted through country offices 
2. UNICEF catalogue updated for procurement of oxygen components (in collaboration with Technical Officer)
a) Updated UNICEF catalogue
3. Interagency software tool (oxygen system upgrade planning and management e-platform (OSUPME)
a) Systematic user needs questionnaire to define tool
b) Tool interface mock-up version
c) Contracting of developer to develop tool
d) Functioning prototype
e) Plan and execute in-country field trials of tool
f) Create full specifications for a first release version of tool

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education:
• Masters Degree in Public Health, Biomedical Engineering, medical degree or another relevant discipline
• An undergraduate university degree combined with additional years of relevant work experience will be considered in lieu of a master’s degree if the candidate can demonstrate high level of experience with related projects

Work Experience:
• Minimum five years of relevant, progressively responsible, professional experience is required
• Experience with focus on health technologies, medical devices, particularly oxygen delivery systems is considered a strong asset
• Experience of software, tool and app development or working with developers is considered a strong asset
• Project management, donor relations and/or partnership management experience is considered a strong asset
• Experience working in field locations is considered an asset

Technical Knowledge:
• Understanding of technologies in areas of oxygen and global health
• Proven experience in managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders
• Knowledge of MS Office Suite
• Knowledge of the environment in which UNICEF operates
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and/or UN procurement processes is an asset

Language:
• Fluency in written and spoken English is essential.
• Knowledge of another UN language would be an asset.

Competencies:
The successful candidate is also expected to demonstrate the following competencies that are considered to be necessary to this consultancy:

Core Competencies
• Excellent communicator of verbal and written concepts to an international audiences.
• Able to quickly understand instructions, to proactively seek clarification when needed.
• Able to work well in a team environment.

Functional Competencies
• Able to work independently and problem solving oriented.
• Able to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships.
• Demonstrated communication and relationship building skills.
• Proven capacity to work with collaborative teams across different locations and with different technical skills.

UNICEF CORE VALUES

Diversity and Inclusion
Treats all people with dignity and respect; shows respect and sensitivity towards gender, cultural and religious differences; challenges prejudice, biases and intolerance in the workplace; encourages diversity wherever possible.

Integrity
Maintains high ethical standards; takes clear ethical stands; keeps promises; immediately addresses untrustworthy or dishonest behaviour; resists pressure in decision-making from internal and external sources; does not abuse power or authority.

Commitment
Demonstrates commitment to UNICEF’s mission and to the wider UN system; demonstrates the values of UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours; seeks out new challenges, assignments and responsibilities; promotes UNICEF’s cause.

EVALUATION PROCESS:
Qualified candidates are requested to submit:
1. Cover letter/application
2. Financial quote at a daily rate in US Dollars. Financial quote should be inclusive of service fees, and living expenses. Costs for accommodation, meals and incidentals shall not exceed applicable daily subsistence allowance (DSA) rates, as promulgated by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC)
3. Examples of previous, relevant projects and work experience
4. Proposed methodology/approach to managing the project

Applications are to be submitted via this link: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/  (Ref no. 505323) by 02 July 23:55 CET

Please indicate your availability and daily rate to undertake the terms of reference above.  Applications submitted without a daily rate will not be considered.

UNICEF considers best value for money as a criteria for evaluating potential candidates.  As a general principle, the fees payable to a consultant or individual contractor follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.  Please note that consultants and individual contractors are responsible for assuming costs for obtaining visas and travel insurance.

Successful applicants will be invited to a telephone interview and will be evaluated by the following criteria:

  Applicant x
TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION    (max. 80 points)  
Overall Response (20 points) 20
Understanding of tasks, objectives and completeness and coherence of response 10
Overall match between the TOR requirements and proposal 10
Technical Capacity (50 points) 50
Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience 10
Education (as outlined in ToR) 8
Expertise (broken down) as: 22
Experience with focus on health technologies, medical devices, particularly oxygen delivery systems 
Experience of software, tool and app development or working with developers 
Project management, donor relations and/or partnership management experience 
Experience working in field locations 
Willing to locate to Copenhagen 5
References 5

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION - Total Points 80
  
FINANCIAL PROPOSAL     (max. 20 points) 
Daily rate 15
Other costs 5
Total estimated cost of contract  
FINANCIAL PROPOSAL - Weight Combined Score 
  
TOTAL SCORE   (max. 100 points) 

 

General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants / Individual Contractors

1. Legal Status

The individual engaged by UNICEF under this contract as a consultant or individual contractor (the “Contractor”) is engaged in a personal capacity and not as representative of a Government or of any other entity external to the United Nations.  The Contractor is neither a "staff member" under the Staff Regulations of the United Nations and UNICEF policies and procedures nor an "official" for the purpose of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, 1946 (“the Convention”).  The Contractor may, however, be afforded the status of "Expert on Mission" in the sense of Section 22 of Article VI of the Convention and if the Contractor is required by UNICEF to travel in order to fulfill the requirements of this contract, the Contractor may be issued a United Nations Certificate in accordance with Section 26 of Article VII of the Convention.

2. Obligations

The Contractor shall complete the assignment set out in the Terms of Reference for this contract with due diligence, efficiency and economy, in accordance with generally accepted professional techniques and practices.

The Contractor must respect the impartiality and independence of UNICEF and the United Nations and in connection with this contract shall neither seek nor accept instructions from anyone other than UNICEF.  During the term of this contract the Contractor must refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on UNICEF or the United Nations and must not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICEF.  The Contractor must exercise the utmost discretion in all matters relating to this contract. 

In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, the Contractor  (a) will conduct him- or herself in a manner consistent with the Standards of Conduct in the International Civil Service; and (b)  will comply with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICEF relating to fraud and corruption; information disclosure; use of electronic communication assets; discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority; and the requirements set forth in the Secretary General's Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. 

Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the office concerned, the Contractor must not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or other entity external to UNICEF any information that has not been made public and which has become known to the Contractor by reason of his or her association with UNICEF or the United Nations.  The Contractor may not use such information without the written authorization of UNICEF, and shall under no circumstances use such information for his or her private advantage or that of others. These obligations do not lapse upon termination of this contact.

3. Title rights

UNICEF shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to material created by the Contractor which bears a direct relation to, or is made in order to perform, this contract.  At the request of UNICEF, the Contractor shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to UNICEF in compliance with the requirements of the law governing such rights.

4. Travel

If UNICEF determines that the Contractor needs to travel in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, that travel shall be specified in the contract and the Contractor’s travel costs shall be set out in the contract. In cases where travel costs have not been set in the contract, travel may either be organized by UNICEF or reimbursed upon submission of receipts within ten (10) days of completion of a specific travel on the following basis:
 
(a) UNICEF will pay for travel in economy class via the most direct and economical route, provided however that in exceptional circumstances, such as for medical reasons, travel in business class may be approved by UNICEF on a case-by-case basis. 
 
(b) UNICEF will pay for out-of-pocket expenses associated with such travel, up to an amount equivalent to the daily subsistence allowance that would be paid to staff members undertaking similar travel for official purposes.

5. Statement of good health

Before commencing work, the Contractor must deliver to UNICEF a certified self-statement of good health and take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement.  In addition, the Contractor must include in this statement of good health (a) confirmation that he or she has been informed regarding inoculations required for him or her to receive, at his or her own cost and from his or her own medical practitioner or other party, for travel to the country or countries to which travel is authorized; and (b) a statement he or she is covered by medical/health insurance and that, if required to travel beyond commuting distance from his or her usual place or residence to UNICEF (other than to duty station(s) with hardship ratings “H” and “A”, a list of which has been provided to the Contractor) the Contractor’s medical/health insurance covers medical evacuations. The Contractor will be responsible for assuming all costs that may be incurred in relation to the statement of good health. 

6. Insurance

The Contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of this contract as he or she considers appropriate taking into account, among other things, the requirements of paragraph 5 above.  The Contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.  The responsibility of UNICEF and the United Nations is limited solely to the payment of compensation under the conditions described in paragraph 7 below.

7. Service incurred death, injury or illness

If the Contractor is travelling with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF's expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, or is performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval, the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate), shall be entitled to compensation from UNICEF in the event of death, injury or illness attributable to the fact that the Contractor was travelling  with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF's expenses in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, or was performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval.  Such compensation will be paid through a third party insurance provider retained by UNICEF and shall be capped at the amounts set out in the Administrative Instruction on Consultants and Individual Contractors. Under no circumstances will UNICEF be liable for any other or greater payments to the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate).

8. Arbitration

(a) Any dispute arising out of or, in connection with, this contract shall be resolved through amicable negotiation between the parties. 

(b) If the parties are not able to reach agreement after attempting amicable negotiation for a period of thirty (30) days after one party has notified the other of such a dispute, either party may submit the matter to arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL procedures within fifteen (15) days thereafter.  If neither party submits the matter for arbitration within the specified time the dispute will be deemed resolved to the full satisfaction of both parties.  Such arbitration shall take place in New York before a single arbitrator agreed to by both parties; provided however that should the parties be unable to agree on a single arbitrator within thirty days of the request for arbitration, the arbitrator shall be designated by the United Nations Legal Counsel.  The decision rendered in the arbitration shall constitute final adjudication of the dispute. 

9. Penalties for Underperformance

Payment of fees to the Contractor under this contract, including each installment or periodic payment (if any), is subject to the Contractor’s full and complete performance of his or her obligations under this contract with regard to such payment to UNICEF’s satisfaction, and UNICEF’s certification to that effect. 

10. Termination of Contract

This contract may be terminated by either party before its specified termination date by giving notice in writing to the other party.  The period of notice shall be five (5) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a total period of less than two (2) months and ten (10) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor)  in the case of contracts for a longer period; provided however that in the event of termination on the grounds of impropriety or other misconduct by the Contractor (including but not limited to breach by the Contractor of relevant UNICEF policies, procedures, and administrative instructions), UNICEF shall be entitled to terminate the contract without notice.  If this contract is terminated in accordance with this paragraph, the Contractor shall be paid on a pro rata basis determined by UNICEF for the actual amount of work performed to UNICEF’s satisfaction at the time of termination. UNICEF will also pay any outstanding reimbursement claims related to travel by the Contractor.  Any additional costs incurred by UNICEF resulting from the termination of the contract by either party may be withheld from any amount otherwise due to the Contractor under this paragraph.

11. Taxation

UNICEF and the United Nations accept no liability for any taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant and individual contractor on payments made under this contract.  Neither UNICEF nor the United Nations will issue a statement of earnings to the consultant and individual contractor.

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