Consultancy - Supply Chain Management, P-3, Monrovia, Liberia, 7 months (onsite)

Contract

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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.

For every child, nutrition is a must!!

How can you make a difference?

Background:

The Government of Liberia (GoL) recognizes the importance of optimal nutrition and the essential contribution it makes towards national development, specifically human capital, and economic growth. The Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PADP), Pillar 1 emphasizes the reduction of stunting to 22% by 2025. Liberia has made some progress in stunting reduction from 45 % to 30 % between 2000 and 2020. This progress puts Liberia amongst 50 countries globally which are on track to meet the World Health Assembly (WHA) 2025 targets (40% reduction) for stunting reduction among children under- five years old, which is 28 % for Liberia. However, stunting continues to affect around one-third of children under five years (close to 265,000 children).

According to 2019-20 Liberia Demography and Health Survey (LDHS), 3 % of children under- five are classified with acute wasting while 11 % are underweight. Anemia is a major public health problem in Liberia affecting 71% of children, 55 % of adolescents and 52 % of pregnant women. Exclusive breastfeeding among children younger than age 6 months has remained stable at 55% since the 2013 LDHS. The Rapid Food Security Livelihood Nutrition and Market Assessment (RFSLNMA), result reveals that Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) prevalence is at 7.1%, Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) is 4.6% and Severe (RFSLNMA), Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) is 2.5%. The deteriorating trend in prevalence can be explained by the food insecurity that has existed over time. The acceptable threshold for GAM 5% placing Liberia at the alert/stress level making the country vulnerable to further shocks, Margibi (9.6%), Grand Gedeh (5.8%), and Grand Kru (5.8%) are in alert/stress phase and require close monitoring.

The availability, quality, and proper use of life saving nutritional commodities, especially the ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), are essential conditions for a quality integrated management of acute malnutrition (IMAM). The visibility of the flow of nutrition commodities up to the last mile is a key for sustainable results. The End User Monitoring and maturity assessment conducted in December 2022 in five counties (Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Nimba, Grand Gedeh, and Sinoe) results showed that there is a need to strengthen the supply chain management and provide technical and advisory support to government, national systems, and partners on supply chain management.

The nutrition unit is recruiting a P3 supply management consultant to support nutrition supply chain management system strengthening. There has been a major challenge with the forecasting and quantification of nutrition supplies, poor management of nutrition stock leading to frequent stock out at the health facility level, lack of a Standard Operating Procedure to clearly define UNICEF’s and Government role in the management of nutrition supplies. The staff will work under the direct supervision of the nutrition specialist and will be responsible to provide technical guidance to the government in developing a standard approach and tools to be used at all levels (national, county and district) for the proper management of nutrition commodities which is key to the effectiveness of the supply chain system.

Purpose of Assignment:

Provide technical support to the government and partners in nutrition supply chain management system strengthening. The consultant will support with defining supply interventions to meet programmatic needs, and provide technical and advisory support to government, national systems, and partners on supply chain management. Assist in the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and capacity building for consistency and quality control.

Basic objectives of consultancy/contractor (assignment) services (2-5 Objectives).

1. Provide support to government to strengthen supply chain management, determine areas of improvements and recommend concrete actions to strengthen the availability, quality, and proper use nutrition commodities.
2. Support with the development of a SOP and tools for capacity building.

Objective 1: Provide support to Government to Strengthen Supply Chain Management:

Key Activities/Tasks

Outputs/Deliverables

Time frame

Payment schedule

1. Promote/drive supply chain strengthening and change management with governments and partners, to ensure efficient and effective supply chains for children.

2. Support development of a Standard Operating Procedure.

3. Promote innovative approaches and good practices on supply chain management to ensure effective and efficient supply chains for children.

4. Field visit conducted to understand the context and identify issues to be addressed and inception report outlining the recommendations, methodology and next steps articulated

16 days

By 31st July 2023 – 10%

2. Standard Operating Procedure developed and endorsed between GoL and UNICEF for effective Supply Chain

60 days

30 September 2023 – 20%

3. One TOT conducted on the developed SOP including forecasting, quantification and stock management of nutrition supplies, end use monitoring etc

15 days

15th October 2023 – 10%

4. Training, mentorship and coaching in one health region (including 4 selected counties)

30 days

15 November 2023 – 10%

5. Supply workplan developed between MoH/UNICEF/partners to determine priorities and monitor work progress to ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards

15 days

30 November 2023

10%

6. Performance indicators developed and one field visit conducted to ensure appropriate planning, implementation and monitoring of nutrition supplies.

15 days

15 December 2023 – 10%

7. Final consolidated consultancy report covering the work as per ToR.

15 days

15 December 2023 – 30%

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

Education: Advance level university degree (Masters) in a relevant technical field, Business Administration, Management, Economics, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Procurement, Contract/Commercial Law, International Development, Health, or related social science field.

Experience: A minimum of eight (8) years of relevant experience mainly in supply chain management and/or other directly related technical fields is required. Having work with nutrition supply chain is an added advantage

Language Skills. Fluency required in English.

Other necessary/desirable skills/qualifications.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Willingness to travel and work in field environments

4. Other requirements. Interested applicants must submit a cover letter together with their CV. Candidate must include in the cover letter expected monthly consultancy fee (state amount in USD please)

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (3)
• Works Collaboratively with others (3)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (3)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (3)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (3)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (3)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (3)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

General Terms and Conditions of the Contract:

• Under the consultancy agreements, payment is deliverable based as defined in the ToR with mix model of home based and in country activities
• All remuneration must be within the contract agreement.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or Contractor.
• For international consultants outside the duty station, signed contracts must be sent by fax or email.
• Unless authorized, UNICEF will buy the tickets for the consultant. In exceptional cases, the consultant may be authorized to buy their travel tickets and shall be reimbursed at the “most economical and direct route” but this must be agreed to beforehand.
• Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.
• Consultant will be required to sign the health statement for consultants/Individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that they have appropriate health insurance, including Medical Evacuation.
• Mention is it as per the General Terms and Conditions of the Contract.

Remarks:

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

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.

For every child, a future!