Logistics Officer/Specialist

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.

UNICEF's core mission is to promote the rights of every child. The equity strategy, which focuses on the most disadvantaged children and families, reflects this commitment to children's rights. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have the opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential without discrimination, prejudice, or favouritism. To the extent that a child has an unequal chance in life in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions - his or her rights are violated.

It is increasingly clear that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society's most disadvantaged citizens, tackling inequity, will not only give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but will also lead to sustainable growth and stability of countries. Equity accelerates progress towards the realisation of the human rights of all children, which is UNICEF's universal mandate as set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while supporting the equitable development of nations.

To achieve above goals, UNICEF RDC office different programmes sections elaborate annual work plans with sectoral ministers and agreements with NGOs. The activities implementation include requirement for goods and services delivery to achieve the assigned results. The procurement plan for the year 2023 for UNICEF DRC country office is estimated to more than USD 100 million.

The Supply and Logistics Unit support UNICEF program implementation by planning, procurement and delivery of goods and services to implementing partners. Given the humanitarian context in the DRC eastern region leading to population displacement, additional human resources are needed to ensure a smooth supply chain management specifically the logistics operations.

Under the direct supervision of Supply and Logistics Manager based in UNICEF Goma office, the objective of this recruitment is to strengthen the logistics team in monitoring cargo arrivals from neighbouring countries ports, warehouse management, transport, and delivery of supplies. The incumbent will also participate in the training of partners in stock management and supply chain last mile monitoring in the DRC eastern regions.

The UN volunteer will specifically contribute to:

Strategic planning and organisation: • Design and implement logistics strategies (custom clearance procedures, warehousing, trans-portation, and distribution) to support UNICEF's programme response in DRC eastern. • Maintain appropriate processes and systems in place to ensure the efficiency of logistics opera-tions (e.g., customs procedures, receipt and dispatch of goods, transport services, tracking of distributions to end-users). • Organise and coordinate logistics operations for cargo arrivals and delivery operations to part-ners. • Provide technical support to the logistics staff in the Goma, Bukavu, Bunia and Beni UNICEF field offices. • Ensure coordination with partners including the logistics cluster. Logistics and transport: • Plan and implement distribution operations, in close coordination with UNICEF programmes and implementing partners. • Establish routing and scheduling plans for distribution. Coordinate transport planning with field offices and partners. • Develop and integrate a mechanism for tracking and monitoring supplies delivered to imple-menting partners (end-user monitoring), in close collaboration with programmes. • Report bottlenecks to the supervisor for adequate decision making for moving forward. • Provide capacity building to partners for in-country logistics management. Warehouse and stock management: • Ensure the availability of appropriate storage and handling capacity. • Oversee the management of warehouses and stock in the Eastern DRC field offices. • Produce regular reports on stock status and share with programmes. • Monitor the pipeline, plan space requirements and receipts goods in appropriate condition. • Ensure that shipments are prepared in a timely and accurate manner.

Any other tasks that may be requested by the supervisor in supply and logistics function area.

• Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judg-ment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensi-tive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information ob-jectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented. • Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and reg-ulations. • 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 con-current projects/activities. • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender; • 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 posi-tions 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; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and poten-tially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty sta-tions within area of operations as may be necessary;

• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, com-passion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

Logistics and Inventory, Information technology, Administration • Ability to work under pressure. • Experience of working in an international environment would be an asset.

Computer skills: Good experience in the use of computers, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, etc.), databases and web-based management systems.

UNICEF office in Goma has a staff of about 64 personnel, including permanent, fixed term, temporary staff, consultants, and volunteers. The office is in the province of North Kivu and ensures the programmatic coordination of the Eastern zone of the country with the two field offices in Bunia and Bukavu. The office environment is friendly and promotes multicultural integration and learning. The DRC is a complex and challenging country and Eastern DRC in particular is a unique humanitarian operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential. Eastern DRC road infrastructure is poor and therefore air travel is necessary to get to many of the sites where UNICEF’s implementing partners operate. Mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is limited, but available in all UNICEF’s offices. Travel to field sites will be required where living conditions are basic. There are a number of health services available with several evacuation options for serious illnesses. There is reasonable access to most consumer goods. Goma is a non-family duty station in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The city has a relatively good infrastructure, from safe water, electricity, and sanitation to housing. Given recent security events related to M23 attacks in the region, it is imperative that all UN Volunteers familiarize themselves with the security guidelines and the situation upon arrival in the country. UN Volunteers should be aware that they are exposed to several tropical diseases. Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for entry into DRC. Other non-mandatory by strongly advised vaccinations are hepatitis A, B and tetanus, which are available at the medical services in Goma. All UN Volunteers have 24-hour access to a medical services clinic.