Consultancy: Supply Chain Specialist (Risk Analyst) 11.5 mths, UNICEF SD Copenhagen

As a part of a Capacity Development network, the incumbent 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 Programmes (EMOPS) and other development partners to provide strategic and tactical advisory to UNICEF and national governments in support of transitioning supply chain operations from UNICEF and/or partners to national governments, building long-term sustainability and ownership of processes.

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

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.

Consultancy Title: Supply Chain Specialist (Risk Analyst)

Terms of Reference

LOCATION/DURATION:
Duration : 11.5 months

Location :
Flexible with up to 60-day commitment on site in Copenhagen, Denmark

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

Start Date: End September 2017

Reporting to: Manager, People and Policy, 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. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

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 and health products, and implementing a range of supply chain models to ensure these supplies are delivered to children are two overarching goals. As part of this, UNICEF in collaboration with partners also provides support to governments for capacity development and strengthening national supply chains with a focus on sustainability and ownership of interventions, and working towards a transition or exit strategy. This also being the era of the sustainable development goals and with increasing graduation of middle income countries, UNICEF recognizes that sustainable supply chains must be planned to ensure that interventions are maintained and institutionalized and this can best be achieved by strengthening together.

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT:
As a part of a Capacity Development network, the incumbent 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 Programmes (EMOPS) and other development partners to provide strategic and tactical advisory to UNICEF and national governments in support of transitioning supply chain operations from UNICEF and/or partners to national governments, building long-term sustainability and ownership of processes :

• Develop a targeted engagement strategy, outlining key elements such as country prioritization, activities, costs, and deliverables, to help ensure that UNICEF and governments are in position to successfully manage risk in planning and implementation
• Develop tools, guidance, and advocacy materials to incorporate risk management strategies into the transition of supply chain operations from UNICEF and/or partners into national governments’ sustainable ownership and operation, taking into account risk perspectives to UNICEF, governments, and beneficiaries.
• Support UNICEF and national governments in identifying, evaluating, and assessing risks, providing risk mitigation strategies and costed, risk mitigation activities within the context of a broader supply chain strategy toward government ownership of supply chain operations.
• Facilitate south to south exchanges between UNICEF and countries, working with counterparts to share experiences, lessons learned and good practices in planning for, designing and implementing the transition and integration of supply chain operations.

KEY DELIVERABLES:
# Deliverable Expected Time (tentative)
1 Inception Report and Project Plan
Engagement Strategy 30 October 2017
2 Country Reports
Draft Risk Management Toolbox 15 January 2018
3 Country Reports (3-4)
Communication materials
Mid-term Report 15 March 2018
4 South-South workshop report 15 June 2018
5 Report on lessons learned, updates to Toolbox 15 July 2018
6 Country Reports
Summary report
Final Toolbox 30 August 2018

The final activity deadlines and further specification on individual activities will be agreed at the start of the contract.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Education:
Completed advanced university degree in business, management, law, procurement and supply chain, social science, public health, pharmacy, or other related field.  First university degree and 10 years of relevant experience can be accepted in lieu of advanced degree.

Work Experience:
• Minimum eight years’ experience in procurement and supply management, preferably in the area of health supply chain, with at least four years being in developing countries
• Proven conceptual understanding of and strong practical experience in supply chain planning and operations, specifically in assessing risks, formulating risk mitigation strategies, and implementing improvements, especially in middle income countries.
• 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.
• Experience in humanitarian assistance and development programmes, 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

Competencies:
1) Core Values
• Commitment
• Diversity
• Integrity
2) Core Competencies
• Communication
• Drive for Results
• Working with People
3) Key Functional Competencies
• Deciding and Initiating Action
• Applying Technical Expertise
• Planning and Organizing
• Relating and Networking
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts

Technical Knowledge:
• Demonstrated knowledge in the field of essential health commodities supply chains in developing and middle income countries
• Knowledge of supply chain operations and risk analysis
• Experience in framing cost/benefit/risk scenarios for supply chain integration or transition
• Excellent research and analysis skills
• Excellent writing and presentation skills

Language:
Fluency in English. Working knowledge of another UN language is considered as an asset.

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

Applications should be submitted online through www.unicef.org/about/employ by 31 August, 2017 5:00pm CET. Vacancy reference number 506541. Queries can be directed to Musonda Kasonde (mkasonde@unicef.org) or Adebayo Adekola (aadekola@unicef.org) with subject line Supply Chain Risk Analysis Consultancy.

UNICEF considers best value for money as a criterion 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:

  
TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (max. 80 points)  
Overall Response (10 points) 
Understanding of tasks, objectives and completeness and coherence of response 
Overall match between the TOR requirements and proposal 
Proposed Methodology and Approach (20 points) 
Relevance and quality of proposed approach/methodology  
Quality of proposed work plan 
Technical Capacity (50 points) 
At least 8 years of experience with public health supply chains in developing countries at global and/or national level  
Relevance of consultant’s experience with similar projects 
Management experience and demonstrated ability to work with a wide range of diverse stakeholders. 
 
References 
TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION - Total Points 
  
FINANCIAL PROPOSAL (max. 20 points) 
Daily rate  
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.

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

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.