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For every child, safety!

Organizational Context and Purpose for the job

The County Office is utilizing procurement services as a platform to support the national procurement and supply chain systems strengthening and to increase access to strategic and essential medical and other supplies for children. The Ministry of Health is the national partner working with UNICEF on procurement services activities. The Republic of Uzbekistan without any access to preferential pricing structures, may either pay high prices for new vaccines and other essential supplies or forego procurement due to lack of alternative affordable options. High prices have been identified as one of the principal barriers preventing the introduction of new vaccines and other non-immunization and other non-medical supplies. The County Office will play an active role in the entire process from forecasting to support in final dispatch of the supplies.

The primary function of this role is to support and optimize the operational effectiveness of the supply chain for strategic and essential medical and other supplies. The post will perform follow function amongst other activities:

• In close collaboration with Supply Division of UNICEF, design and support the implementation of a model for the planning and budgeting of procurement of immunization, pharmaceutical, medical and nutrition non-medical supplies up to the last mile, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other relevant technical and financial partners.
• Support the transition of the operational capacity to handle health and non-medical supply chains, including staffing, customs clearance and logistics functions from UNICEF to the Ministry of Heath and other partners.
• Support Government/Ministry of Health and other national partners to enhance efficient, effective and timely procurement and delivery of essential supplies; and build capacity for the management and monitoring of supplies for transfer to government ownership.
• Support MOH on the deployment and successful implementation of COVID-19 vaccination program. Advocate/ensure all COVAX vaccines’ legal documents (indemnity agreements, side letters, etc.) are processed timely in order to avoid delays with the supplies of COVID-19 vaccines.
• Provide analytical input to support the engagement with the Global Fund-funded project supporting the countries in transition focusing on strengthening national capacities in HIV supplies quantification, forecasting, planning, supply budgeting, etc.
• Provide analytical and operational input to increase domestic resource mobilization for immunization and other essential supplies, and effective deployment, that includes facilitating intersectoral cooperation.
• Map and strategic assess essential supplies where there are access or affordability issues, where leveraging UNICEF’s procurement services could help either introduce or improve coverage/access.
• Provide support to the introduction of Vaccine and Logistics Management Information System (VLMIS) by the Government.
• Advocate that health supplies are adequately considered in relevant strategic planning.
• Advise the MOH on global best practice in supply and logistics for essential supplies with support from SD.
• As new, complex projects materialize, the post will contribute to the coordination and organization around the identification, planning and execution of such projects.

The post holder will be expected to support the Chief of Health to manage procurement services.
The Programme Officer (Procurement Services) provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for the health and other programmes within the Country Programme, from development planning to delivery of results, by preparing, executing, managing, and implementing a variety of technical and administrative programme tasks to facilitate programme development, implementation, programme progress monitoring, and evaluating and reporting of results. This will be completed with a lens of systems strengthening within the context of seeking to leverage the government’s domestic resources.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to programme development and planning
2. Effective Oversight, monitoring and delivery of results
3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation
4. Networking and partnership building
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

1. Support to programme development and planning

• Conduct and update the situation analysis for the development, design and management of health and nutrition related supplies and commodities. Research and report on development trends (e.g. political social, economic, health) for higher management use to enhance programme management, efficiency and delivery of results.
• Contribute to the development and establishment of sectoral programme goals, objectives, strategies, and results-based planning through analysis of health needs and areas for intervention and submission of recommendations for priority and goal setting.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing and administering a variety of technical programme transactions, preparing materials and documentations, and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support programme planning, results-based planning (RBM), and monitoring and evaluation of results.
• Prepare required documentations and materials to facilitate the programme review and approval process.

2. Effective oversight, monitoring and delivery of results

• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss operational and implementation issues, provide solutions, recommendations, and/or to alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and decisions. Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts to assess and to report on required action/interventions at the higher level of management.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Conduct regular programme field visits and surveys and share information with partners and stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support and/or refer to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results.

• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners, and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, and best practices on health-related issues to support programme implementation, operations and delivery of results.
• Provide technical capacity building to government counterparts on planning, forecasting, and budgeting, in the context of essential health supply priorities.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with health sector government counterparts and national stakeholders, including Ministry of Finance, through active sharing of information and knowledge to enhance programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to deliver concrete and sustainable results.
• Draft communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances, and support fund raising for health programmes.

• Participate in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) programmes to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on operational planning and preparation of programmes/projects, and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF’s position and strategies with the UN development and planning process.
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Identify, capture, synthesize, and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders.
• Apply innovative approaches and promote good practices to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Assist with oversight of research and ensure results are available for use in knowledge products.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders.

Impact of Results

The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Programme Officer (Procurement Services) to programme preparation, planning and implementation facilitates the delivery of concrete and sustainable results that directly impact the improvement of the health and wellbeing of the most marginalized and vulnerable women and children in the country. This in turn contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to continue to provide procurement services to protect the rights of children, and to promote greater social equality to enable them to survive, develop and reach their full potential in society.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: A university degree in one of the following fields is required: Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Procurement,
  Contract/Commercial Law, International Development, Health, global/international health, health policy or related field of studies.
• Work Experience: A minimum of two years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: public health/nutrition planning and management, maternal and neonatal health care, or health emergency/humanitarian preparedness.
• Skills: Experience working in supply chain or health system strengthening.
  Language Requirements: Fluent in English, Russian and Uzbek is required.

Desirables:

• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization 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

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. 

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.