Individual contractor to support customs clearance and logistical arrangements for Country Office and GAVI project

The purpose of this assignment is hire an individual contractor with logistics or customs experience to support Country Office with customs clearance and logistical arrangements during the period till the end of the year.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

BACKGROUND: 

UNICEF supports the Government of Uzbekistan in achieving objectives and aims in the transformational agenda in promoting the rights of children in Uzbekistan. Currently, the office of UNICEF in Uzbekistan is facing an increased volume of shipments (office supplies and equipment, equipment for programme purposes including high volume of cargo for GAVI funded project) arriving to the country and need for their clearance with customs and other authorities. Given the increased workload for Supply Associates (Operations) and (GAVI project), it is important to acquire additional temporary support till the end of the year 2020 for dealing with customs clearance and logistical arrangements.

The assignment is of a temporary nature to support the Country Office operations and GAVI Project and arises due to capacity constraints.

Purpose:

The purpose of this assignment is hire an individual contractor with logistics or customs experience to support Country Office with customs clearance and logistical arrangements during the period till the end of the year.  

Key tasks and responsibilities:

• Customs clearance of incoming supplies and equipment addressed to UNICEF Uzbekistan with guidance from a Supply Associate and overall guidance from the Chief of Operations;
• Arrange transportation and other logistical services for customs cleared items to the warehouse of the Country Office, Implementing Partners or to a final recipient (such as the cold-chain network of the Government in the country for the GAVI Project);
• Support Operations staff with other supply or administrative related matters as requested;
• Liase with local customs authorities, Diplomatic service department of MFA in all customs related issues.

Deliverables:

Payment is made on monthly basis upon submission of deliverables. Procurement plans for below deliverables are annexed to this TOR.

Management:

The selected individual contractor will work under the supervision of Supply Associate and in close collaboration with UNICEF Operations and Programme teams.

Expected resource requirements:

Final decision on selection of the individual contractor will be set up based on the "best value for money" principle. Payments will be done in installments agreed with the contractor and reflected in the contract based on the delivered outputs. Payments might be partially or fully withheld in case of unsatisfactory performance of duties or failure to provide the required services by the agreed deadlines.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Secondary education. University degree in business administration, logistics. Law or related subject is an asset
• Proficiency in Uzbek and Russian. Good knowledge of English is an asset.
• Proven experience in customs clearance and logistics. Experience with UN system organizations is an asset.
• Ability to use ICT as a tool and resource;
• Initiative, analytical judgment, ability to work under pressure, ethics and honesty;
• Strong organizational and communication skills, ability to work in a team;
• Ability to meet deadlines in a result-oriented environment;
• Ability to learn and adapt quickly.
• Knowledge of the local legislation pertaining to the customs code and procedures.
• Experience of working with local customs warehouses (i.e. Bayer Group, Tashkent International Airport Cargo, Diplomatic Service Department of MFA).

Procedures and Working Conditions:

The individual successfully engaged to this assignment is fully responsible for full and quality performance of all tasks laid down in this TOR. The individual contractor should be able to work independently and in close collaboration with responsible UNICEF staff. UNICEF will provide working space during the assignment.

Reservations:

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if deliverable(s) incomplete, not finalized or for failure to meet deadlines. UNICEF will reserve copy right of all developed materials and own primary data collected through this assignment. The materials cannot be published or disseminated without prior written permission of UNICEF. UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. The contractor must respect the confidentiality of the information handled during the assignment. Documents and information provided must be used only for the tasks related to these terms of reference.

The consultant will be responsible for any taxes that might arise because of this assignment and remuneration received by UNICEF, and UNICEF undertakes no liability for taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant on payments made under this contract. 

Medical clearance

The individual contractor is expected to work in the office. The applicants shall be required to submit a statement of good health prior to commencement of work and to take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement, including confirmation that they have been fully informed regarding inoculations required for the country or countries to which travel is authorized.

Special considerations

UNICEF has a clear policy of zero-tolerance on sexual harassment. UNICEF takes allegations of sexual harassment very seriously and is committed to holding wrong-doers accountable. Moreover, UNICEF has a Child Safeguarding Policy that provides guidance on the protection and safeguarding of children across all agency operations. Any consultant or contractor hired by UNICEF should comply with all policies and procedures on any kind of harassment.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.