Supply Chain Strengthening 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 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 fulfil 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.

UNICEF is a leading humanitarian and development agency working globally for the rights of every child. Child rights begin with safe shelter, nutrition, protection from disaster and conflict and traverse the life cycle: pre-natal care for healthy births, clean water and sanitation, health care and education. UNICEF has spent 75 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Working with and for children through adolescence and into adulthood requires a global presence whose goal is to produce results and monitor their effects. UNICEF also lobbies and partners with leaders, thinkers and policy makers to help all children realize their rights—especially the most disadvantaged.

The Purpose of the Assignment is to support the Regional Office and the five Country Offices participating into a supply chain strengthening project, aiming at allowing to enhance access to vital supplies and services needed by children and their families.

In collaboration with UNICEF, governments of those five countries will apply the Supply Chain Maturity Model approach to assess the current performance of a national health, immunization, or nutrition supply chain. The assessment covers review of 13 operational and technical supply chain management areas critical for ensuring access to essential supplies such as medicines.

Informed by the assessment, a roadmap for improvement will be developed, which is evidence based, and guide investments to where the need is greatest and will yield the most results. One of the areas of focus will be related to the supply chain workforce by enhancing technical and managerial knowledge of supply chain professionals and their leaders.

The incumbent will report to the Regional Supply Manager. A dedicated national UNV will be positioned in each country where the Maturity Model will be implemented. The incumbent will occasionally travel to those countries and will support their work by:

1. Determining who are the main stakeholders of the evaluation.
2. Implementing the approach of UNICEF’s Supply Chain Maturity Model.
3. Leading and guiding the technical sessions and necessary workshops to implement UNICEF’s Supply Chain Maturity Model in the countries.
4. Generating benchmarks using the countries’ databases to complement the results of UNICEF’s Supply Chain Maturity Model.
5. Interpreting, presenting, and formulating recommendations based on UNICEF’s Supply Chain Maturity Model.
6. Planning and coordinating supply chain strengthening activities based on the results of UNICEF’s Supply Chain Maturity Model.
7. Drafting the national supply chain strengthening strategy, the roadmap for strengthening, and the value flow map derived from the results of UNICEF’s Supply Chain Maturity Model.
8. Supporting countries in the use of UNICEF’s Supply Chain Maturity Model as a tool for monitoring and tracking progress.
9. Preparing evidence-based reports to guide the path that UNICEF should follow at its different levels, along with the different governments and partners, based on the results of the different evaluations and data.
10. Supporting the regional office and the five country offices in profiling the planning documents (situation analysis, country program document, work plan) using the results of UNICEF’s Supply Chain Maturity Model as evidence. Promoting the exchange of knowledge and synergies between countries.

Results/expected outputs

• Stakeholder map, including the source flows that exist in the country or region • Baseline of the program’s supply chain (results of the database analysis) • Results of UNICEF’s Supply Chain Maturity Model (in Microsoft Excel format, online evaluation platform) • Value flow map • Roadmap for strengthening (activities, level of effort, activity assignment) • Proposal for national (s) supply chain strengthening strategy • Detailed presentation of the process, results, and recommendations • Final evaluation report • Technical session program, participant registration forms, minutes, photographs • Workshop program, participant registration forms, minutes, photographs • Approval of the regional supply chain strengthening strategy

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;

• Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority;

• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;

• 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 concurrent projects/activities;

• 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 positions 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; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;

• Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary;

• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards [Insert name of Host Agency]’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

supply, logistics, procurement, contracting, administration and/or other directly-related technical fields at national or international level is required.

Health supply chain management experience is an advantage.

Understanding of development and humanitarian work.

Ability to resolve difficult, complex, and delicate situations, often under pressure. Ability to initiate changes and manage them in a diverse environment. Ability to allocate the appropriate time and resources to achieve objectives, anticipate risks, and consider contingencies in planning. Ability to set clear objectives that are consistent with agreed strategies, identify which activities and tasks are priorities, and adjust priorities as needed. Ability to work strategically to achieve the organization’s objectives, develop strategies, and establish clear future visions. Advanced communication and negotiation skills to establish and maintain trusted partnerships for achieving objectives and consolidate close and effective working relationships with various stakeholders. Insight to detect new opportunities or requirements to address difficulties on the ground and propose changes. Oratory skills, capacity building, and knowledge transfer.

Solid knowledge about the latest advances and technologies in logistics.

Knowledge about UNICEF’s logistics systems and processes.

Panama is in Central America with a population of 4,300,000 million, the official language is Spanish, but most Panamanians are bilingual. Panama has a lower crime rate than many other countries in the region. Panama City is largely a safe city – but care does need to be taken in some areas and with personal property. It is your choice whether you opt for a house or an apartment. Beautiful spacious houses, with gardens are available. Those staff that have opted for an apartment have done so on the basis that they offer more security and more facilities. The US Dollar is used as a legal currency in Panama. There are also coins of the Balboa, which is the national currency, similar in shape and value to the US Dollar. Please make sure to leave Panama only with US Dollar currency, as there are some international difficulties changing the Balboa abroad. Panama has a tropical climate with practically the same average temperature of 27°C year-round with 78% humidity. The rainy season in Panama is from March until November each year, we recommend you bring an umbrella. The air conditioning may be cool at times in the office and in local shops, so we suggest you bring a jacket or sweater. The voltage in Panama is 110v, 60 cycle with two and three prong plugs. Wall plugs are mostly for 110v. In some properties there may by 220v for air conditioning or similar. Current fluctuations are common and electricity cuts are still possible. There are many clinics and medical centers in Panama: For your information, below the largest private hospitals in Panama City. Hospital Paitilla +507 265 8888 +507 265 8800 Hospital Pacífica Salud [former Punta Pacífica] +507 204 8184 +507 204 8000 Hospital San Fernando +507 305 6305 +507 305 6300 Hospital Nacional +507 306 3300 +507 207 8100 There is also an Emergency Ambulance service, government-owned 911. If you open a local bank account, banks in Panama request the following documents. - Reference letter from your bank. - Present original and bring copy of your national Passport, - Employment letter.