Individual Contractor: Supply Chain, LACRO, Panama

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UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Monday 26 Jul 2021 at 03:55 UTC

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Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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, commitment

How can you make a difference?

Background

UNICEF promotes the rights and welfare of all children and adolescents in everything we do. Together with our allies, we work in 190 countries and territories to transform this commitment into practical actions that benefit all children, especially focusing our efforts on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded, worldwide.

The UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office is based in in Panama, operating in 36 territories, including 24 country offices. UNICEF works to put the rights and well-being of the most disadvantaged children at the heart of the social, political, and economic agenda, in line with our equity focus, working across our organization and with our partners in government, civil society and the private sector to support shifts in public policy, fuel social engagement, and increase investment for children.

For more information about UNICEF and its work. (www.unicef.org/lac)..)

Considering the scale, frequency, increase and complexity of the emergencies and humanitarian crises in the Latin American and Caribbean Region (LACRO) and the global COVID pandemic, the expectations of UNICEF to deliver on the CCCs in a timely and effective manner will continue to increase. To enhance its ability to meet these expectations and save time and resources in the response of humanitarian crises, UNICEF has been increasingly working to strengthen its emergency preparedness and response standard operating procedures and systems.

As part of this effort to deliver COVID vaccines and provide government support on Cold Chain Equipment and also in response to any other emergency situations in the region, the (LACRO) is currently looking to provide support to several CO in its emergency preparedness and response and the review of their systems and standard operating procedures. Currently, the LAC Regional Office supports 24 Country Offices (COs) both in routine programmes as well as its emergency response. Recommendations from this review, highlighted the need for the LAC Regional office to strengthen its supply and logistics function, including on the emergency preparedness and response fronts given the increased number of emergencies in the past years.

Therefore, and as an essential part to providing principled humanitarian action and delivery, LACRO will be strengthening its engagement with the 24 COs to support emergency response and preparedness exercises with the aim to strengthen the Supply and Logistics function.

Purpose of the Assignment

Under the supervision of the Regional Supply Specialist in the Operations Section of LACRO and working with Emergency team on emergency deliverables in a matrix management setting as well as in partnership with the Country Office Focal points, the purpose of this individual contract is to support the ongoing COVID19 pandemic efforts and also the emergency preparedness and response to the different countries in the LAC region, including the emergency preparedness and response of COs (such as in the Caribbean ahead of the Hurricane season in 2022). In addition, together with the Regional Supply Specialist, the preparation of a Regional Supply strategy will be an important deliverable/product for 2022.

Specific Tasks

Expected Result****Function (How?)Review current COs Emergency Standards- Establish appropriate communication /coordination and Standard Operating Procedures SSOPs) with relevant LACRO, CO operations and programme Focal points, and UNICEF’s Supply Division in Copenhagen (SD). - Assess Supply Chain operations at LACRO and COs and control mechanisms, including CCE needs in the different COs (specifically the Japan Government fund for this equipment) - Propose appropriate actions for other PS related projects ongoing in the region.

Monitoring- Develop accurate and user-friendly supply/logistical management systems to monitor national emergency plans. - Build optimal Supply Chain monitoring tools and capacitate COs in the region (including Workshops and trainings) - Map warehousing, transportation agreements and relevant logistical information at the national level. - Coordinate with the Regional Office, COs, SD and other aid agencies on sharing S&L information to prepare COs and support natural disasters and manmade affected countries - Maintain effective working relations and contact with the Supply Division, to confer on supply procurement and shipping policies and procedures, as well as transnational shipments, deliveries, claims and appropriateness of supplies.

Logistical/Supply support to COs- Support COs, as needed, in preparing their Emergency Minimum Preparedness Standards - Advise the country office on policies and procedures impacting on offshore and local procurement and delivery - Support COs on any S&L needs related to COVID19 deliveries in coordination with Health colleagues

Emergency response- Conduct initial assessments on supplies/logistics after a natural disaster - Support and/or lead as necessary response to L2/L3 regional emergencies in supply, including the implementation of mWIMS technology for logistical management

Deliverables

Description

Duration [in days]

Expected deadline

Weekly coordination calls with CO during the pandemic for supporting any needs related to COVID19 support

Ongoing

End of Pandemic

Mapping exercise on warehousing and logistics/transportation agreements in LACRO as well as the 24 Country Offices, including review of use in each CO (VISION)

Ongoing

End of contract

Coordinate and monitor effective procurement at local, regional and/or offshore levels and reporting monthly

Ongoing

End of contract

Preparedness and contingency plans drafted for each country to respond to emergencies

Ongoing

September 2022

Capacitate emergency-prone offices on logistics on preparedness and the management emergency response (incl. mWIMS application), including on needs assessments capacities after a natural disaster

Ongoing

End of contract

Develop region-wide supply chain monitoring tools and support COs’ optimized supply chain monitoring and reporting

Ongoing

End of contract

AOB needed as part of the RO Supply team

Ongoing

End of contract

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

  • Advanced University degree in Procurement, Logistics, Contract/Commercial Law, Business Administration, Economics, Supply Chain Management or related field.
  • A minimum of 7 years of solid and relevant professional work experience in procurement for high value; including on emergency supply preparedness & humanitarian response mechanisms
  • Demonstrated experience in supply chain management, monitoring and reporting including in context of emergencies. Proven experience in working with SAP, especially with Supply/Procurement Modules (knowledge of UNICEF’s SAP customization an asset)
  • Fluency in Spanish and English is required. Knowledge of French or Portuguese will be considered an asset.
  • Working knowledge of UNICEF systems, policies and procedures is required.

Supervision

The individual contractor will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Supply Manager and in close collaboration with the Regional Chief of Operations and Regional Emergency Adviser.

Duration

This consultancy will have a duration of 11.5 months.

Workplace

The contractor will work from UNICEF's office in Panama.

How to Apply

Application should be submitted online and should include: Resume, Cover Letter and Financial proposal. Qualified candidates are requested to submit daily and monthly fees in their financial proposal.

Travel

It is not yet determined if travel will be involved, in any case, the Contractor shall be ready to undertake international travel during the assignment period, including countries deemed as "Emergency Country".

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

*****

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.

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.

Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org