Market Research Officer

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

Through the Markets and Supplier Financing Centre (MSFC), UNICEF Supply Division seeks to positively influence the market dynamics to ensure commodities are fit for purpose, available, affordable, and produced by a competitive supply base, as well as to encourage product innovation of essential commodities to meet the changing needs of children in the SDG era. While MSFC will coordinate the efforts of influencing markets across UNICEF Supply Division’s different procurement centres and units, with each procurement centre playing a critical role in identifying and defining the procurement approaches required, MSFC will assist and facilitate this body of work with strategy design/review, market research, analysis, supplier financing, communication, leveraging partnerships, and promoting market information transparency.

As part of its broader commitments to information transparency and recognizing that the free flow of information and correcting information asymmetry is critical to underpin an efficient COVID-19 vaccine market, UNICEF published in November 2020 the COVID-19 Market Dashboard, the go-to public resource for the latest information on the world’s COVID-19 vaccine market and the COVAX Facility’s vaccine deliveries, which have received +700,000 unique page views since its launch.

Taking the experience from the development of UNICEF’s COVID-19 Market Dashboard, MSFC continues its efforts to supply internal and external stakeholders with market intelligence with the overall objective of fostering market information transparency – in particular for health-related products, such as vaccines/immunization markets. UNICEF is the largest procurer of vaccines worldwide – in 2022 alone, UNICEF procured $3.736 billion USD on vaccines/biologicals, and $149 million USD on pharmaceuticals. In this line, MSFC is looking for a consultant to support efforts in gathering market information and translating it into information tools, as well as into market intelligence products, in order to support UNICEF Supply Division’s efforts to ensure equitable access essential products for children and adolescent worldwide.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Market Research Management or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Market Research Officer will:

Through the Markets, Supply Financing Centre (MSFC), UNICEF Supply Division seeks to influence positively the market dynamics to ensure products and services are fit for purpose, available, affordable, and produced by a competitive supply base, as well as to encourage product innovation of essential products to meet the changing needs of children in the SDG era.

While MSFC coordinates the efforts of influencing markets across UNICEF Supply Division’s different procurement centres and units, with each procurement centre playing a critical role in identifying and defining the approaches required, MSFC assists and facilitates this body of work with market research, analysis, strategy review and design, innovative procurement and financing approaches, as well as market communication and information transparency.

Purpose for the job Under the supervision of the Market Research Manager (Markets and Supplier Financing Centre – MSFC), the incumbent will be expected to support Supply Division’s market research and analysis efforts to uncover market barriers and engage in strategic market shaping initiatives to improve market conditions and increase access to key strategic products and services for children.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities: Under the supervision and guidance of the Market Research Manager, MSFC, the incumbent will be expected to: - Facilitate the collection, collation, and analysis of market intelligence on different global or local markets for existing and innovative products and solutions, and report on/present findings. - Contribute to the work on development of market influencing strategies for essential products and services for children by interpreting market research and discerning how procurement approaches, financing mechanisms, industry engagement and information-driven interventions can positively improve market outcomes for children. - Support Supply Division Procurement Centers in sourcing strategies and conduct market scoping to identify and map stakeholders relevant for improving access to essential supplies and to foster local markets development, particularly for new/future products, services and markets with a strong focus on health, nutrition, water & sanitation, and education products/services used in predominantly low- and middle-income countries, or emergency settings. - Support priority countries in developing and implementing innovative sanitation market interventions. - Support localization strategy with well-designed research, analysis and implementation plans. - Engage, collaborate and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to achieve the objectives of market shaping interventions; organize and attend stakeholder meetings; support engagement with market actors through industry consultations. - Support the development of tools to share best practices and lessons learnt to improve understanding of the fundamentals of market dynamics and market shaping, in a context where sustainable local markets development is a priority.

Any other duties or assignments that could be relevant, as requested by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities;
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/expected outputs: • Solid market analyses are conducted as an input to market influencing strategies and UNICEF’s strategic engagement with key market actors to foster the development of healthy, dynamic and sustainable global or local markets to improve access of affordable and quality assured products / services for children. • Implementation of country-level interventions is supported effectively in coordination with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and through rigorous monitoring of progress, including adjustments as needed. • Best practices and lessons learnt are collected, maintained and shared across Supply Division, Supply Community, Country Offices and Regional Offices.

• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Communication • Flexibility • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEF’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

market research, market shaping, business development, project management or economics is required. • Experience in market dynamics and market influencing strategies relating to health, nutrition, water, sanitation including market-based sanitation, education services and/or products used in resource-poor settings is required. • Market research in different industries (health, nutrition, water, sanitation or education) is required.

Desired experience/qualifications: • Experience in report writing and dissemination of information for a broad audience; • Knowledge and experience in market research and/or market data analysis is considered an asset; • A high level of attention to detail; • Proven ability to work independently; • Commercial activities in developing and industrialized countries is required.

Prior relevant work experience in the UN system, other international development organization or national government, is desirable.

Copenhagen is a modern northern European capital city with no security issues. The city is served by a large airport easily accessible by public transport services. All facilities and infrastructure as expected for a Scandinavian city. Copenhagen has been, for several years voted a the second most livable city in the world.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.