Consultancy: Partnerships and Reporting, Supply Chains for Children - Copenhagen, Denmark

As a part of the Field Results and Coordination Group, the consultant will work in close collaboration with UNICEF Supply Division (SD), UNICEF Regional Offices, Country Offices (COs), Government counterparts, UNICEF Program Division (PD), UNICEF’s Office of Emergency Programs (EMOPS) and other development partners.

LOCATION/DURATION:

Duration: 11.5 months

Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

Field Missions/Travel: Travel costs and DSA (per diem) will be covered in accordance with UN rules and regulations.

Start Date: on/around 1 October, 2017

Reporting to: Chief, Supply Chain Strengthening Centre

BACKGROUND:

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism.   UNICEF Supply Division is committed to supporting national governments to strengthen their supply chain as one strategy to realize the rights of children, especially the most marginalized, to access health, education and protection supplies.

OBJECTIVE:

UNICEF procures over 5000 products to address the needs of children, including on behalf of governments and other partners. Ensuring the global availability of essential supplies through influencing markets for lifesaving commodities such as vaccines, essential medicines, diagnostics, and also books and other educational supplies, UNICEF and our partners are implementing a range of supply chain models to ensure these supplies are delivered to children.

UNICEF in collaboration with partners are accountable for implementing the GAVI Supply Chain Strengthening Strategy; the Copenhagen Consensus on Nutrition Supply Chain Strengthening; The UNICEF Health Systems Strengthening Strategy and the supply chain elements of broader commitments to child survival, development, protection and education. UNICEF will be implementing a new Vision and Strategic Direction for Supply Chain Strengthening as part of the new UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2018-21. 

To progress this work, the consult will be expected to:

1. Deepen organization collaboration with key stakeholders and provide an interface for environmental scanning, knowledge exchange, resource mobilization, and policy influence. S/He may also serve as a focal point and resource for colleagues on specific thematic areas of strategic relevance for partnership development. The key result is to ensure greater visibility for UNICEF and influence in support of its mission.
2. Accountable for developing, managing, coordinating, networking, implementing and monitoring an advocacy and communication strategy and associated products and activities on on-going basis with donors and public audiences, with the objective of promoting awareness, understanding, support and respect for national supply chain strengthening as a means of promoting child’s rights.

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT:

As a part of the Field Results and Coordination Group, the consultant will work in close collaboration with UNICEF Supply Division (SD), UNICEF Regional Offices, Country Offices (COs), Government counterparts, UNICEF Programme Division (PD), UNICEF’s Office of Emergency Programs (EMOPS) and other development partners to:

1. Develop a National Supply Chain Strengthening Communication Strategy: The SCS Centre has a clear communication strategy and associated work plan to get national supply chain strengthening issues into the supply community and public domain (donors primary audience), strengthen political will in support of UNICEF's mission and objectives, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand, and support national capacity building efforts, including UNICEF staff.
2. Draft standard reports:  Provide leadership on meeting UNICEF SD national supply chain strengthening donor and internal/external partnership reporting for the GAVI supply chain strengthening strategy and related activities (UNICEF/WHO Hub for immunization; the Cold Chain Equipment Optimization Platform (CCEOP); and to provide inputs to UNICEF annual reports and other relevant internal and external reporting.
3. Promotes new partnerships and resource mobilization, working with UNICEF colleagues to identify national supply chain strengthening partnership and resource/implementation mobilization needs and support the broker agreements to meet those needs. Scans and scouts external environment within designated partnership area for opportunities and risks and shares information in a timely fashion with relevant UNICEF staff. Provides strategic, logistical and programmatic support to senior management and other UNICEF staff in corporate engagement and interaction with assigned partners.
4. Advocacy:  Contributes to strategies for engagement and the development of communications products to enhance UNICEF’s visibility and influence with existing and prospective partners and key stakeholders by providing analysis of the current environment and trends and formulating recommendations for strategy approaches and message development. Works closely with UNICEF’s colleagues to ensure that policy advocacy and outreach is strongly grounded in the experience and insights of the programs that UNICEF’s supports. Contributes written inputs for communications instruments that best inform and influence decision makers.
5. Develops and maintains deep knowledge and familiarity with current and prospective partners and relevant stakeholders, contributing to a database of key contacts and to UNICEF’s base of knowledge on partnership and resource mobilization. Expands UNICEF’s network of key interlocutors to build stronger relationships between UNICEF and governments, other key-decision makers, regional development institutions, foundations, the private sector, international financial institutions and/or relevant constituencies.

KEY DELIVERABLES:

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education:

A completed Advanced University degree (Master’s degree) in public health, communications, international relations, advocacy or other related field is required.

*A completed 1^st University degree (Bachelor’s degree) and 7 years of relevant experience can be accepted in lieu of advanced degree.

Work Experience:

A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in communications, knowledge management, partnership- building donor relations, grant management in the supply/logistics area or a related field is required.

Excellent written and oral communication skills; strong analytical skills desirable.

Proven experience working with developing country governments and/or networking with global health initiatives in support of countries, e.g. GAVI, Global Fund, UNITAID, etc. is required.

Experience in humanitarian assistance and development programs, and a mix of field and headquarters postings are advantageous.

Technical knowledge of in-country supply chain operations; national government supply chain strategy development; and/or experience in networking related skills to support countries is highly desirable.

Language:

Fluency in English is required.

Fluency in French is highly desirable.

Competencies:

1. Core Values

   • Commitment
   • Diversity
   • Integrity

2. Core Competencies

   • Communication
   • Drive for Results
   • Working with People

3. Key Functional Competencies

   • Relating and Networking
   • Persuading and Influencing
   • Planning and Organizing
   • Learning and Researching
   • Entrepreneurial Thinking

 Required Technical Knowledge:

• Communication skills demonstrated by publication in peer-reviewed journals; media placement; grey literature reports, including to donors; or other communication products delivered to diverse audiences.
• Knowledge of global health partnerships, international development, and donor priorities related to children and experience in managing grants; donor relations or similar experience.
• Excellent research and analysis skills.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills.

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 (if consultancy is not home-based).  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. CV.
4. Examples of previous, relevant work.
5. Proposed methodology/approach to managing the project.
6. At least 2 References
7. P 11 form (which can be downloaded from our website at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html ).

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.