Consultancy - To conduct user needs assessment and develop functional requirements and technical specifications for supply chain analysis tool - Supply Chain Strengthening Centre (SCSC) - SD

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, care

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The purpose of this assignment is to develop updated specifications for a Supply Chain Analysis and Optimization tool translating user needs into functional and non-functional requirements. The consultant will conduct a user needs assessment and requirements elicitation by engaging stakeholders on supply chain design challenges in resource-limited settings including but not limited to data limitations and lack of GIS mapping of supply chain points & local infrastructure. The consultant will translate these user needs into updated specifications/technical requirements for the development of a software solution for supply chain design.

BACKGROUND:

Strong national health supply chains are lifesaving, critical cornerstones for delivering essential supplies to children. UNICEF procures supplies for over 190 countries and works with governments and partners to strengthen national supplies to ensure that supplies reach children and their families at the right time and in the right place.

The design of supply chains is the key construct that outlines the network and structure of a supply chain. System design analysis is a process which creates a plan for how the supply chain should function and allows for analysis of scenarios to optimize operations, reduce inefficiencies and ultimately ensure products are reaching its intended beneficiaries. System design analysis is therefore critical for the sustainment of new supply chain models to meet the rapidly changing needs of existing supply chains in countries. System design analysis tools enable the modelling of the existing supply chain and to visualize the bottlenecks and impacts of alternative scenarios. Existing system design analysis tools however face significant barriers to widespread adoption at the country levels, particularly in LMICs. These include interface complexity, long lead-times between data collection and analysis, high-cost licenses, or explicit need for technical experts to manage the data collection, execution, and/or analysis.

In response to these challenges, UNICEF developed a Supply Chain Analysis and Optimization Tool version 1 to aid countries to conduct simplified analysis of their supply chains and make strategic decisions concerning improvements to their supply chains. Building on the experience and lessons learnt from deploying this tool in countries, an updated tool is required to better fit the needs of countries to ensure increased uptake and application of the tool by countries to optimize their supply chain networks.

Scope of Work:

1. Develop a project plan including, but not limited to assigned tasks, resources, expected completion dates and external dependencies 2. Conduct a comprehensive review of pre-existing requirements 3. Conduct user needs assessment/ requirements gathering, engaging internal and external stakeholders and users to identify key needs, challenges and expectations for a fit-for-purpose supply chain design tool; this includes requirements elicitation, analysis and validation 4. Update project charter clearly outlining how the tool could advance the adoption of system design analysis for supply chain improvements, detailing but not limited to tool capabilities, ease of use and access, visualization features, pre-programmed data elements, linkages to external data sources and analytics to enable rapid supply chain modelling in resource limited settings 5. Develop and document functional and non-functional requirements for the tool with clearly articulated project drivers and constraints including consultations for prioritising requirements drawing on industry standards and methodologies

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone 1: Project Plan Deliverables/Outputs: Comprehensive review of pre-existing functional and non-functional requirements of tool completed Finalized project plan detailing tasks to be completed, stakeholders and users to be consulted, expected completion dates and external dependencies Timeline: Dec 2022

Tasks/Milestone 2: User needs assessment Deliverables/Outputs: Internal and external stakeholder and users consulted to identify key needs, challenges and expectations for a fit-for-purpose supply chain design tool. This includes requirements elicitation, analysis and validation User needs assessments and requirements gathering completed Timeline: Jan – Feb 2023

Tasks/Milestone 3: Develop functional and non-functional requirements Deliverables/Outputs: Functional and non-functional requirements for the tool developed and documented with clearly articulated project drivers and constraints including consultations for prioritising requirements drawing on industry standards and methodologies Timeline: Feb - March 2023

Tasks/Milestone 4: End of project report Deliverables/Outputs: Updated project charter developed, clearly outlining how the tool could advance the adoption of system design analysis for supply chain improvements, detailing but not limited to tool capabilities, ease of use and access, visualization features, pre-programmed data elements, linkages to external data sources and analytics to enable rapid supply chain modelling in resource limited settings Timeline: March – April 2023

The activity deadlines and further specification on individual activities will be specified and agreed after contracted.

Payments will follow the approval of key deliverables itemized above and according to the following estimation of workdays.

1. Monthly basis
2. Payment will be aligned to deliverables as agreed when contracted.
3. All deliverables to be approved prior to payment.

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

• University degree is required (Advanced degree an advantage), preferably in relevant field (e.g., Information Systems, Software Engineering, Business Analysis or qualification in IT/Business Analysis). *Applicable work experience can substitute in cases where university degree is not aligned to a relevant field. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

• A minimum of 3 years of experience as an IT/ Business Analyst, Information Systems/ Software Engineer. Experience developing and validating requirements for software solutions. Good understanding of industry standard methodologies, processes and languages for defining software requirements e.g Unified Modelling Language/ Soft Systems Methodology.

  Sound project management skills.

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

EVALUATION PROCESS:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter
2. Financial quote at a daily rate in US Dollars including all taxes
3. Highest Education Degree (scanned copy)
4. UN P11
5. Examples of previous, relevant work
6. At least 3 References from previous direct Supervisors ( email and phone contact if applicable)

Applications must be submitted through the UNICEF electronic application system by 24 November 23:55 CET. 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.

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 is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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:

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.