Readvertisement: Procurement Services Specialist, P-3, TA, 364 jours, Antananarivo, Madagascar, Post #00127905

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, Safety

The overall goal of the UNICEF Madagascar next Country Programme of Cooperation, 2024-2028, is to contribute to the Government of Madagascar’s efforts to implement and decentralize policies related to children, focusing on the most disadvantaged and deprived, to have their rights progressively respected and fulfilled so they can survive, grow and develop to their full potential in an inclusive and protective society. The country programme is aligned with country and UNICEF regional and global priorities (plan 2024-2028), while concurrently working toward the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In Madagascar, 80% of people live with less than USD $2.15 per day and the country ranks 173rd in the latest UNDP Human Development Index (out of 193). 80% of the population lives rurally. Nearly half of the population is under the age of 18 and by 2030, there will be 17 million Malagasy children. Current trajectories suggest that Madagascar is unlikely to achieve any of the SDGs by 2030 although some key indicators for mothers and children have improved slightly over the past decade.  

How can you make a difference?

Procurement services is integrated into the Supply and Logistics section to promote coherence between the different components of the supply operations in the office including Supply chain Strengthening, and to expand the scope of procurement services offered by the Country Office.
Given the budget pressure affecting many countries PS provides an opportunity to facilitate a more optimal use of national budgets (or donor resources) for children, as well as an entry point to provide targeted technical support to national supply chains and systems.

The Procurement Services Specialist reports to the Supply Manager as per the Country Office (CO) set-up. The incumbent will provide guidance, oversight, and direction on Procurement Services, national budgeting for essential supplies for children and supply financing solutions. Directly related to this support, the position will serve as focal point to identify opportunities on adjacent areas such as market access, market intelligence, market development and national supply chain strengthening.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Ensures that UNICEF contributes to capacity building of the relevant government departments including state level in procurement and supply accountabilities and chain management of essential commodities.
2. Responsible for logistics/supply planning with focus on forecasting support for procurement services commodities through coordination with Government and other partners. Provides technical advice on commodities specifications and logistics arrangements facilitating efficient procurement, customs clearance, storage, and distribution in support of the country programme procurement services transactions.
3. Manage the Procurement Services (PS) portfolio.
– Ensures that key elements of Procurement Services transactions are incorporated into national, donor and UNICEF strategies and vice versa.
– Ensures that procurement services activities/transactions are a drawdown from strategies that have been jointly established between Government and UNICEF.
– Works closely with the relevant government department to strengthen pre-ordering and post-delivery activities for existing PS supplies and support them in establishing strategies that will maximize the decisions/impact resulting from the PS partnership.
– Ensures coordination and monitoring of PS transactions, including beyond the point of entry; facilitate an effective PS workflow; and facilitate resolution of any bottlenecks, gaps, or other in-country issues associated with any PS transactions in close collaboration with SD and national counterparts.
4. Facilitates the establishment and maintenance of contacts with the Supply Division, Copenhagen capacity building initiatives and other supply strategies targeting the government counterparts. Interprets and advises the country office on policies and procedures impacting on offshore and local procurement and delivery of supplies. Maintains links with Copenhagen on PS related cost estimates, transnational shipments, deliveries, claims and appropriateness of supplies.
5. Conducts research on supply chain initiatives with donors, identifies and recommends innovative approaches jointly with donors/partners. Maintains accurate/updated data on and evaluates local initiatives and overall performance, (competitive pricing, product quality and timely delivery). Assesses supply operations and control mechanisms and advises on appropriate actions.
6. Manages policy engagements, capacity building and knowledge transfer internally and externally to optimize national supply chain activities related to vaccines, health and nutrition products. Effective collaboration and partnerships with other donors and implementing partners to improve supply chain efficiency in the country. Supports the Ministry of Health counterparts and other government ministries in the mobilization of domestic resources for supplies.
7. Designs and conducts training for government and other partners in supply chain management to improve procurement services supply delivery and national systems.
8. Provides support to the sections especially Health and Nutrition on the implementation of supply chain systems strengthening activities in collaboration with HQ and support the Supply chain strengthening activities in the country. Contribute to Mainstreams PS and supply chain related activities within national strategies and relevant plans, project, and program design from the planning stage in close collaboration with program colleagues and government to ensure a cohesive and integrated approach to program delivery.
9. Contributes to effectively document interventions and lessons learned, define KPI, contribute to the reporting of supply chain activities, measure progress and formulate evidence-informed recommendations that align with national strategies and UNICEF’s capabilities.
10. In collaboration with Programmes and other UN agencies, contribute identifying risks and gaps, challenges that may affect the successful implementation of activities, identity mitigations strategies and support the implementation of sustainable supply chain solutions and innovations tailored to the context of Madagascar.
11. Build the capacity of the locally recruited supply staff about PS and supply chain strengthening-related components.

 Procurement Services Specialist ToR.pdf

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

• An advanced university degree is required in either Business Administration, Management, Economics, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Procurement, Contract/Commercial Law, International Development, or other related social science, administrative or finance field.
• A first level university degree (Bachelor’s) in a relevant technical field (as identified above), in conjunction with seven (7) years of relevant work experience in procurement, contracting, administration, finance and/or other directly related technical field, may be taken in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience, at the national and international levels, in supply, procurement, contracting, administration, finance and/or other directly related technical fields is required.
• Understanding of development and humanitarian work.
• Emergency experience an advantage.
• Health supply chain management experience an advantage.
• Fluency in English and French (verbal and written) is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Functional Competencies

• Analyzing (2)
• Applying technical expertise (2)
• Planning and Organizing (2)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. 

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable Female Candidates are encouraged to apply.

[If Applicable] Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.