Associate Pharmacy Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

The UNHCR, as an agency of the United Nations, is mandated to provide international protection to refugees and asylum seekers. In collaboration with the Government of Chad. Chad hosts a large number of people in a situation of displacement (1,066,444 people), including 578,842 refugees, 4,762 asylum seekers, 406,573 internally displaced persons. In addition, the prevalence of malnutrition is critical beyond emergency thresholds. The leading causes of morbidities are malaria and respiratory tract infections, there is a growing number of non-communicable diseases cases among the refugees and asylum seekers and there is a threat of outbreaks such as measles, cholera, yellow fever, and meningitis. UNHCR in collaboration with the ministry of health through 2 health partners is supporting 33 health centers pour the provision of primary health care service in the camps in the refugee’s camps, there is referral mechanism in place for complicated cases. The medicines and the medical supplies are procured internationally through UNHCR international policies, exceptionally, local procurement could be made to bridge a gap. UNHCR has a medicines warehouse in Ndjamena, the medicines are dispatched upon reception in Ndjamena to the health centers by road. There is a standard operation procedure on medicines management, the main challenges are delay in receiving the international procurement items, inadequate storage capacity in Ndjamena and in location in the field, poor medicines management in the field and inaccessibility of some locations during the rainy season from June to October.
The Assistant Pharmacy Officer will be member of the Public Health team and will support medicines procurment and management, to build capacity of the health partners in the field, to conduct regular inventories of the medecine stores and monitor rational prescription. She/He will provide support to Public health monitoring and evaluation function of the unit with strong emphasis on timelines, completeness, analysis, feedback and disemination pharmacy reports in best practices to the partners at the country office and sub offices. The incumbent will work with the Public Health team to ensure to meet minimum UNHCR and international standards. All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional, and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Senior Public Health Officer or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Associate Pharmacy Officer will:

Manage the medical supply chain and its deliveries (80%) and provide oversight to the medical supply chain in UNHCR Chad operation that will include: • Follow-up on the national medical supply chain for the entire UNHCR Chad Operation Mission. Keep track of the received international medical supplies in country and the remaining pipeline. • Implement a medical supply chain system adapted to a “pull” system: by which medical supplies and medicines are delivered to the partners and regions respecting the needs expressed in the annual quantification (the items and their quantities) validated by the partners and UNHCR. • Ensure that medical supplies and medicines are reaching the field on a timely and coordinate manner. • Follow-up on UNHCR medical pipeline per region and partner; keep a track of the validated medical needs, including what has been delivered and what is still pending per region and partner. • Liaise with UNHCR field offices and partners, increasing their capacity and improve accountability by: • Providing periodically and under request updates regarding the medical supply chain: informs about medical supplies delivered, remaining pipeline, and their timeframe per region and partner.
• Ensuring that partners and UNHCR field offices implement tools to monitor and report on stocks, average monthly consumptions and medical supplies • Performing field visits in order to improve pharmacy management in all field locations. Perform quality control inspections and stock management monitoring (inventories and medical deliveries) • Providing capacity building (training) to all partners, with special emphasis in rational drug use (prescription practices), consumption monitoring and medical supply follow-up. • Sharing with the implementing partners policies, guidelines, protocols and any other materials relevant for pharmacy management • Supporting the quantifications of medical needs in UNHCR Chad Operations: • Using the data (average monthly consumptions and stocks) collected and reported by the field partners, he/she provides critical input during the calculation and design of the annual medical quantification for the entire mission. • In the events of ad hoc local procurement, he/she supports the calculation of the quantities of medicines and medical supplies to be purchased locally and the reviewing of the bids of local suppliers and quotations.

2) Be in charge of the clearance of medical supplies and medicines imported in Chad (20%) • Works as the focal point for the application of the importation permits for medical supplies and medicines imported by UNHCR in Chad • He/she is the technical referent within UNHCR Uganda team for the importation of the medical supplies and medicines: follows-up the applications submitted to obtain the import permits and any technical queries and needs that might rise from the National Drug Authorities in Chad, UNHCR team, or the International suppliers. • He/she is in charge of the communications with the Chad National Authorities, WHO, UNHCR Procurement Service and the International Suppliers in what refers to the medical importations. • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Expected Results: As an active UNHCR Chad team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNCHR Chad and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: Results/Outputs can be modified as appropriate; should not entirely mirror the task description but serve as a basis for workplan and deliverables] • Medicines management standard operating procedures are implemented • Medicines and medical supplies quantification and international procurement is timely done
• Medicines consumption and store balances monitoring is done monthly • Inventories of the medicine’s stores are regularly conducted. • Partners staffs are trained with as will be measured by the IP's ability to adequately manage, quantify and analysis and dissemination reports • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNHCR; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNHCR procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNHCR in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNHCR’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

at the national and/or international level in in pharmacy management and medical logistics. • Good knowledge in supply chain and medical logistic related processes and exposure to provision and support services in a national or international organization. • Experience in medical importations clearing and in dealing with National Drug Authorities • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills in French; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development. • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel. • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Sound security awareness. • Have affinity with or interest in humanitarian, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Ndjamena is the capital city of Chad, the city is ranked as one of most expensive in Africa, N’Djamena has a hot semi-arid climate with a short wet season and a lengthy dry season. Despite the fact that the city receives on average approximately 510 mm (20 in) of rainfall annually, N'Djamena still falls into the semi-arid climate category. The wet season lasts from June to September, with the heaviest rain occurring in August. The dry season essentially covers the remaining eight months. Based on annual temperatures, N'Djamena is one of the hottest major cities on the planet. The capital is served by many airlines, and UN flights are used internal travels, banking facilities, communication infrastructure and basic medical facilities are available.