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, Health Care

With over 850 indigenous languages and one of the most ethnically diverse populations, widespread poverty, and gender inequality make it hard for many children to realize their rights. In Papua New Guinea, UNICEF’s works effectively both ‘upstream’ (with governments) and ‘downstream’ (at the grassroots level) to carry out its mission through a programme of cooperation jointly developed with the government guides our work in the country.

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of the Assignment

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The Papua New Guinea National Department of Health (NDoH), through its Distribution Division, is undertaking reforms to strengthen the health supply chain system. This includes improving distribution efficiency from the five Area Medical Stores (AMS) and implementing recommendations from the Public Accounts Committee. A key priority is distribution mapping to understand facility locations, access routes, and associated costs, which will inform evidence-based budgeting and contracting of Third Party Logistics (3PL) providers. The Medical Supplies Procurement and Distribution Branch (MSPDB) has confirmed two key activities: (a) mapping health facilities in operation across the country, and (b) conducting a national distribution mapping and costing exercise. These activities are foundational to the broader supply chain redesign and optimization effort. UNICEF, in collaboration with NDoH, aims to support this initiative through a comprehensive supply chain system design and optimization analysis, leveraging tools such as SCANIT or similar tools to model and compare alternative network scenarios. This assignment covers both medical commodities and the immunization supply chain, recognizing immunization as a critical component of the national health system.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

Purpose

To analyze current and alternative options for storage, distribution, and network design of health

commodities—including vaccines and dry goods—from AMS to service delivery points across PNG, and to

develop a costed roadmap for supply chain optimization.

Objectives

1. Conduct a landscape analysis of current storage and distribution systems, including transport mechanisms

and network design.

2. Map health facility locations and access routes, estimating transport costs and identifying optimal distribution pathways.

3. Develop cost and performance criteria to evaluate alternative supply chain scenarios.

4. Use SCANIT or similar tools to model and compare scenarios based on KPIs such as cost, availability, equity, and logistics efficiency.

5. Provide recommendations for redesigning the supply chain network, including storage locations and

distribution flows.

6. Facilitate stakeholder consultations to validate findings and develop a costed phased implementation

roadmap.

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

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required

Education

Advanced degree in supply chain management, public health, logistics, or related field.

Professional Experience

1. Minimum 8 years of experience in public health supply chain design and optimization.
2. Experience with GIS mapping, transport modeling, and scenario analysis tools (e.g., SCANIT or similar tools).
3. Proven ability to work with government stakeholders and in resource-limited settings.
4. Strong analytical, facilitation, and communication skills.
5. Experience of working in Emergency context preferred.
6. Strong facilitation skills, with prior training experience in immunization supply chain (ISC) management.
7. Ability to work independently and to meet deadlines.

Language Requirements

Fluency in English is required.

Others

Ensuring you have up-to-date and valid travel documents,

For every Child, you demonstrate… our core values of Commitment, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability. 

This position is a short-term assignment and doesn’t give rise to a long-term permanent post with the organization.

Applicants are required to include in their applications a financial proposal which includes a lumpsum amount for consultancy fees, local transportation, and other miscellaneous costs. Breakdown or details of the fee will be much appreciated.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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 does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, or orientation). 

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