Medical Supplies Specialist

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.

The cross-border humanitarian assistance from Gaziantep, Türkiye, into North-West (NW) Syria is provided by the United Nations and a large number of international, Syrian and Turkish agencies. Established in 2013, the overall coordination of the Syria response from Türkiye is run by UNOCHA. The Türkiye humanitarian coordination architecture is comprised of nine clusters, including the Health Cluster (HC).

Led by the World Health Organization, the HC coordinates the cross-border delivery of humanitarian assistance for the health sector in NW Syria, and works towards restoring the disrupted health care services. The HC has an extensive membership of actors split between formal members (required for agencies wishing to have access to OCHA’s humanitarian funds) and observer members. Currently 53 health cluster partners are directly involved in health service provision in NW Syria, and these submit monthly reports through the HC’s 4W reporting mechanism (Who, What, Where, When).

HC meetings and technical working group meetings are open to NGOs, UN agencies, donors, formally recognized observer members such as ICRC/IFRC, representatives from the Idleb and Aleppo Health Directorates, and the White Helmets. Coordination meetings are held every two weeks, with monthly meetings of a number of technical working groups (TWGs). The HC and TWGs are the decision-making bodies responsible for information management and strategy development for the NW Syria health sector. The UNV will support the WHO Medical Supplies team and the Medical Supply Chain Technical Working Group of the HC.

Under the direct supervision of the WHO Medical Supplies Officer, and with indirect support from the WHO technical team, the UN Volunteer will provide support to the Health Cluster’s Medical Supply Chain Technical Working Group (MSC TWG) to support implementation of WHO’s TAMWIL Project as follows:

1. Participates in the MSC TWG meetings, and supports the TWG by monitoring and re-porting on the progress towards implementation of the TWG Workplan for the TAMWIL project.
2. Supports the MSC TWG in conducting the supply chain assessment of all medicines and medical equipment into North West Syria, in order to gain a better understanding of the types and quantities of medicines and medical materials being sent into NW Syria on an annual basis. This largely involves collation of information from different implementing partners (including WHO) and providing an overview of results.
3. Presents the results of the Supply Chain Assessment to the MSC TWG and supports them in the formulation of recommendations to improve the medical supply chain mechanisms, especially in light of the potential end of the UN Security Council’s Cross-Border Resolution.
4. Contributes to the formulation of a final list of Essential Medicines for the implementation of the Essential Health Services Package in NW Syria by collecting the essential medicines lists used by implementing partners, collating them, and assessing alignment with the services provided through the EHSP as well as recommending medicines in line with principles of optimal use and effectiveness based on the context in NW Syria.
5. Supports the TAMWIL Project team in the development of a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for the revisited Essential Package of Health Services for NW Syria.
6. Provide capacity building support (if and when needed/possible) to the MSC TWG.
7. Any other tasks relevant to the support of the TAMWIL project that lies within the scope of the UNV’s personal capacities.

• Accountability
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Commitment and Motivation
• Integrity
• Knowledge Sharing
• Planning and Organizing
• Technological Awareness
• Working in Teams

pharmaceutical supplies and/or supply chain management, preferably in a humanitarian context. • Demonstrated interest and/or experience in public health programmes, with focus on pharmaceutical supply chain management • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including authorities at different levels; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Experience in the development, implementation and analysis of technical cooperation programmes and activities, including the development of programmatic indicators is not mandatory but will be beneficial. • Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded;

Gaziantep, previously and still informally called Aintab or Antep, is the capital of the Gaziantep Province, in the westernmost part of Turkey's Southeastern Anatolia Region and partially in the Mediterranean Region, approximately 185 km east of Adana and 97 km north of Aleppo, Syria.

The city is served by Oğuzeli Airport, which has commercial flights to domestic and regional international destinations. The city is further served by Turkish State Railways which operates the Gaziantep Railway Station in the City Center. Local transport consists of buses as well as an affordable taxi system. Additionally, Gaziantep has a three line light rail system called the Gaziantep Tram which consists of three lines, is 35 km long and carries 75,000 daily passengers. The city is also easy to walk through.

Gaziantep has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, wet and often snowy winters.

The city is known as the culinary capital of Turkey. Restaurants are plentiful and affordable, mostly offering a blend of Turkish and Syrian cuisine. The city is also famous for its sweet desserts and its pistachios. Most supermarkets and corner shops offer a wide variety of foods, with some foods such as pesto or Asian foods available in specialty shops.

Nearly all homes are apartments, with most buildings housing only a relatively small number of apartments (around15-20). Many apartments for rent are furnished although essentials such as linens and kitchen equipment easily procured locally. Rents are low, around $400-$500 per month for a 2-bedroom apartment with a balcony. Apartment quality varies, but with a little effort a newly furbished apartment can be found with central heating and air-conditioning within the first weeks of stay. Electricity, water and gas are centrally provided and reliable, with electricity cuts a rare occurrence.

For young children, there are no international schools / English language schools available in Gaziantep. Local primary and secondary schooling is all taught in the Turkish language. The city has a few universities, some offering courses in English.

Once a Turkish residency permit is issued you can open a Turkish bank account, which will facilitate payment of bills such as rent, gas, water, electricity. ATMs offering cash withdrawals are scattered within easy walking distance throughout the city, most of which allowing international/credit card withdrawals.

This assignment’s duty station is Gaziantep and relocation is required for the one not living in Gaziantep. Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, this can be within a month after contracted upon agreement with the hiring manager. The UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging her/his own housing and other living essentials. UNV Entitlements in a Nutshell for National UN Volunteer (Specialist ):

• Current Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is USD 937.16 (paid in TRY based on UN monthly rates). The VLA will be adjusted each month according to the UNORE USD/TRY exchange rate. This amount is subject to increase in parallel with revision in allowance of local personnel applicable in each year.

• 100% health, life and dismemberment coverage by CIGNA. As per UN’s diplomatic mission status, it is not included in National Security Institution’s (SGK) system but can be initiated on private basis. • Entitlement to annual Leave at the rate of 2.5 working days per completed month of volunteer assignment • Entry allowance for covering relocation expenses • Exit allowance upon completion of service • Several learning opportunities

Unified Conditions of Service is available on UNV's website.