Reproductive Health Commodity Security Consultant

The Position:

The Sudan Country office in close collaboration with UNFPA Supply Chain Management Unit at Head quarter level, seeks applications from qualified professionals to execute in-country assessments as part of the 2024 Last Mile Assurance (LMA) cycle. In-country assessments are expected to commence in October 2024. UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, is at the forefront of creating a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is realized. UNFPA is the leading UN agency empowering women and young people to lead healthy sexual and reproductive lives. To learn more about our work, visit: UNFPA about us.
UNFPA regularly procures and delivers program supplies to implementing partners (IPs) as part of its program activities. The IPs are responsible for safeguarding the program supplies and ensuring last-mile distribution to service delivery points (SDPs) where communities and clients—primarily women and girls—can access them. The UNFPA LMA process provides visibility into the management of UNFPA program supplies at different levels of the supply chain, allowing for better programming, targeted supply chain systems strengthening interventions, increased UNFPA and IP accountability, and improved ability to discharge UNFPA's fiduciary obligations to donors.
The in-country assessment aims to verify product availability and storage conditions, trace product movement throughout the downstream supply chain (i.e., from the central warehouse until service delivery points at the “last mile”), and obtain additional insight into the information collected in previous LMA process activities. During the in-country assessment, on-the-job training and mentoring of UNFPA, implementing partners, and warehouse
personnel are provided based on gaps identified. Direct output of in-country evaluation is issuing a supply chain strengthening action plan to address findings and recommendations, including identifying potential partnerships for impacting/remedying supply chain capacity gaps.

Under overall supervision of the UNFPA country representative, deputy representative and the humanitarian coordinator, the national consultant will work under technical supervision of the International consultant and in close coordination with the Family planning analyst and the other reproductive health team to support the in-country assessment.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The national consultant will work under the close supervision and collaboration of an international consultant who will provide strategic direction and oversight throughout the one month country assessment process. The national consultant will support the consultant in all aspects of the assessment, including planning, execution, data analysis, and reporting. The national consultant's role is integral to the realization of the country assessment,
ensuring that all activities are conducted in line with international best practices and UNFPA's standards, as guided by the International consultant. This collaboration will ensure that the in-country assessments are thorough, accurate, and effective in identifying areas for supply chain strengthening and that the recommendations
provided are feasible and aligned with UNFPA's broader strategic goals.

You would be responsible for:

1. Assessment Execution:
- Perform in-country assessments at selected facilities over one month by the detailed Terms of Reference (ToR).

- Work closely with the international consultant to ensure alignment with the overall assessment strategy and objectives throughout the assignment.
- Review the availability, completeness, and accuracy of inventory and receipt records for sampled UNFPA-donated programme supplies, with guidance and oversight from the international consultant.
- Reconcile delivery documentation: Verify quantities delivered by UNFPA against quantities recorded by the implementing partners (IPs).
- Conduct physical stock-counts and reconcile quantities with facility inventory records.

2. Data Tracking and Analysis:
- Track and trace the distribution of selected product batches, recording quantities and conditions of programme supplies delivered to the last mile.
- Collaborate with the international consultant in analyzing root causes of stock discrepancies and provide recommendations for improvement.
- Quantify stock adjustments (losses due to waste, expiries, pilferage) and document explanations provided, ensuring the findings are in line with the broader assessment framework led by the international consultant.

3. Compliance Assessment:
- Assess the level of compliance with Good Storage and Distribution Practices (GSDP) and Good Pharmacy Practices (GPP) according to WHO guidelines across all levels of the supply chain, under the supervision of the International Consultant.
- Evaluate compliance with key internal control requirements for managing and safeguarding programme supplies, working in tandem with the International Consultant.

4. Internal Controls and Risk Management:
- Assess the effectiveness of internal controls in place for preventing and detecting supply chain irregularities, with inputs and validation from the International Consultant.
- Collect information on actual or presumptive instances of supply chain irregularities related to programme supplies, coordinating closely with the international consultant to ensure comprehensive coverage.

5. Capacity Building:
- Orient and mentor UNFPA implementing partner and warehouse personnel on best practices based on in-country assessment findings in collaboration with the international consultant.
- Build capacity and provide on-site training to facility staff based on identified gaps, ensuring the training programs are aligned with the strategic direction provided by the international consultant.

6. Reporting and Documentation:
- Prepare and submit verified and finalized in-country assessment tools (Google Tool, Qualtrics Tool), with reviews and guidance from the International Consultant.
- Provide supporting documentation, including copies of Issuing Facility Distribution Records, to ensure consistency with the International Consultant's expectations.
- Lead debrief meetings with key stakeholders to share findings and discuss root causes and recommendations in close coordination with the International Consultant.
- Develop and submit a final report summarizing the assessment's findings and recommendations, with final validation from the International Consultant.

7. Contribute to the Development of the Supply Chain Management Capacity Plan for 2025:
- Work with the UNFPA country office (CO) team to design a strategic plan addressing supply chain management capacity gaps.
- Focus on mitigation measures to ensure the availability and accessibility of reproductive health commodities in the current context.

8. Supporting RHCS Health facilities assessment /monitoring Data Analysis at the Last Mile:
- Analyse RHCS Health facilities assessment data at the last mile (end-user level) to ensure that RHCS supplies reach those most in need.
- The national consultant's work is instrumental in optimizing last-mile delivery and addressing any identified challenges. Their recommendations based on the assessment directly impact ensuring RHCS supplies reach those most in need.

9. Additional Duties:
- Perform any additional tasks or duties as requested by the UNFPA Reproductive Health Commodity Security (RHCS) officer to support the overall objectives of the in-country assessments and UNFPA’s mission in the respective country.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Advanced University degree in Pharmacy, Public health or other related fields.

Knowledge and Experience: 

Minimum of two years of experience in supply chain management and familiarity with Reproductive Health Commodity
Participation in previous consultancy related to health supply chain is an asset.
Excellent knowledge of English.
Excellent analytical skills.
Good command of MS Office software: Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

  Exemplifying integrity, 

 Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 

 Embracing cultural diversity, 

 Embracing change

 

Core Competencies: 

  Achieving results,

 Being accountable,

 Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,

 Thinking analytically and strategically,

 Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

Accountabilities:
1. Accuracy and Integrity:
- Ensure the accuracy and integrity of all data collected and analyzed during the assessment process, with oversight and validation by the International Consultant.
- Maintain high documentation and reporting standards, ensuring that all deliverables meet the requirements set by UNFPA and the International Consultant.
2. Confidentiality:
- Maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information obtained during the assessments, primarily related to supply chain irregularities and compliance issues, as instructed by the International Consultant.
3. Timeliness:
- Adhere to the timelines for completing the in-country assessments, including all associated reporting and documentation activities, ensuring close alignment with the International Consultant's schedule.
- Ensure timely submission of all deliverables, including the final report and supporting documentation, with approval from the International Consultant.
4. Compliance:
- Under the guidance of the international consultant, ensure compliance with UNFPA policies and procedures, including those related to travel, documentation, and reporting.
- Uphold the ethical standards and practices per UNFPA’s guidelines and international best practices in supply chain management, with continuous collaboration with the International Consultant.
5. Capacity Building and Mentoring:
- Effectively transfer knowledge and skills to implementing partner and facility personnel through mentoring and on-the-job training, ensuring alignment with the strategic objectives provided by the International Consultant.
- Work closely with the International Consultant to tailor capacity-building efforts to address specific gaps identified during the assessments.

Compensation and Benefits:

 

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.