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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, Vaccine!

Burkina Faso, located in the heart of the Sahel, has great potential in terms of natural and human resources. The current CPD which ends in 2025 is designed to support the efforts of the government to build institutional and community resilience and provide an effective programme response to the multi-faceted crisis, vulnerabilities, fragilities, and risks that the country has been experiencing for years. 

Supply chain management, particularly vaccine and cold chain management, is one of the key functions of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). The availability of vaccines in both quality and quantity is the backbone of the program. Without vaccines or with poor-quality vaccines, it becomes impossible for the program to achieve its objectives. Cold chain and Supply chain are the major challenges of EPI.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favoritism.

The Cold Chain Officer reports to and works under the guidance and supervision of the immunization specialist, P3 in the program section.

How can you make a difference?? 

Under the guidance of the Immunization Specialist (P-3), the incumbent will work closely with colleagues in the Health and Supply Sections to provide vision, technical leadership, and coordination of technical support to the country office. The aim is to strengthen national vaccine management and immunization supply chain (ISC) systems, thereby enhancing the performance of overall routine immunization programs.

The incumbent will provide technical support to the country to improve Immunization Supply Chain (ISC) management through: (1) Effective Vaccine Management practices and enhancement of supply chain performance, (2) Cold Chain Management and vaccine efficiency (CCEOP, Covax, WB, and others), (3) Vaccine Stock Management to prevent stock-outs and optimize vaccine usage, and (4) Functional National Logistics Working Groups.

The UNICEF Burkina Faso country office is currently seeking a Cold Chain Officer to provide versatile support to the government, ensuring the successful implementation of these initiatives.

The Cold Chain Officer’s role is pivotal in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the immunization supply chain and cold chain, which directly supports UNICEF’s mission to improve child health outcomes. By optimizing vaccine management, strengthening cold chain systems, and building capacity, the Officer ensures that vaccines are delivered effectively, contributing to higher vaccination coverage and better health outcomes.

Key End-Results

• Planning, designing, budgeting, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of immunisation Supply Chain and Logistics (iSCL)/Cold Chain Equipment (CCE) and Systems Management; 
• Immunisation cold chain supplies and logistics forecasting, planning, and development;
• Capacity Development and Management of Immunization Supply Chain Logistics (iSCL)/Cold Chain Systems;
• Cold chain equipment and vaccine stock management including in-country distribution;
• Immunisations supply chain/cold chain and logistics management, monitoring, and reporting;
• Technical Support for RTMD System and Immunization Waste Management System Development;
• Technical support in acquisition, installation and commissioning of PV Systems in selected hard to reach areas;
• Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively performed;

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: SJD Cold Chain Officer NO2.docx

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: A university degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Public Health, Health Sciences, Public Health, Epidemiology, International Development, Medicine, or a field relevant to technical assistance in immunization Supplies, Cold Chain, and Logistics.

• Work Experience: Two (2) years of experience in Immunization Supply chain and logistics systems & Solarization,
• Language Requirements: Fluency in French and a good working knowledge of English is required.

Desirables:

• Experience working in Burkina Faso or West Africa is an advantage.
• Experience in low- and middle-income countries, is preferably in the areas of:
  • Immunization Supply and Cold Chain Logistics management
  • Health systems strengthening
  • Logistics management systems
  • Supply chain bottleneck and root cause analysis
  • Familiarity with inventory policies, allocation, ordering and distribution strategies and other supply chain operations.
  • Assessing and measuring supply chain performance
  • Health Facility Solar Electrification
  • Experience interfacing with national ministries of health an advantage.

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be 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 canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

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

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.