The Position:
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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.ย UNFPAโs 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 โbuild forward betterโ, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on womenโs and girlsโ 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.
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Job Purpose:
The East and Southern Africa Region faces unique challenges and opportunities in supply chain management (SCM) due to its diverse geography, economic development levels, and healthcare needs.
In this context, UNFPA will support the United Republic of Tanzania in conducting a capacity assessment on quantification. This assessment aims to identify challenges and gaps in data, tools, human resources (trained healthcare professionals), and access to reproductive health commodities and supplies. It will also evaluate if current quantification efforts effectively inform stock levels and management to prevent expirations.
With the phasing out of USAID support for QAT, which previously improved quantification and supply plan management for Mainland, and the Ministry of Health Zanzibar's reliance on Excel, there's a risk to effective process and supply chain management. This consultancy will explore current practices and recommend tools to ensure continuity.
This technical assistance is crucial for improving the availability, accessibility, and quality of reproductive health commodities and services for vulnerable communities, directly contributing to UNFPAโs three transformative results.
In light of this, UNFPA Tanzania Country Office in collaboration with the SCMU Demand and Supply Planning team and the Regional Office, is planning to assess the current Country โs capacity to carry out Quantification practices and managing their overall SCM systems for Reproductive Health, including the New and Lesser Used (NLU)/maternal health commodities. The aim is to assess the quantification capabilities for RH/NLU/CAC supplies to identify best practices and gaps in knowledge and skills. This identification will further inform the development of a general framework and roadmap of how quantification practices can be improved for all countries supported by UNFPA.
The best practices identified will serve as lessons learned to further strengthen health supply chain management systems, ensuring efficient delivery of essential medical supplies and needs-based quantification of reproductive health commodities.
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The insights and best practices identified from this assessment will be invaluable in enhancing UNFPAโs capacity-building efforts beyond workshops and training guiding future work on how to strengthen health supply chain management capabilities in the region and globally.
You would be responsible for:
An individual supply chain management expert/consultant is urgently required to conduct a comprehensive Quantification Capacity Assessment within the country. This critical role involves a multifaceted approach to evaluate and enhance the nation's capacity for effective supply chain management, particularly concerning the quantification of essential supplies. The consultant's responsibilities will encompass the following key areas:
Conduct In-Country Assessment using UNFPA Methodology:The consultant will be responsible for executing a thorough in-country assessment, strictly adhering to the established methodology and framework developed by UNFPA. This comprehensive assessment will involve: Convening and Interviewing Key Informants: Facilitating and conducting in-depth interviews with a diverse range of key stakeholders and informants at the country level. This includes, but is not limited to, government officials, healthcare professionals, logistics personnel, and representatives from relevant non-governmental organizations. The aim is to gather qualitative insights into current practices, challenges, and opportunities within the supply chain. Assessing Data and Documents: Rigorously analysing existing data and documentation provided by these key informants. This will include reviewing inventory records, consumption data, procurement procedures, distribution networks, and any other relevant operational or strategic documents. The objective is to identify data gaps, inconsistencies, and areas for improvement in data management and utilization for quantification purposes. Draft a Final Report with Assessment Results:
Upon completion of the in-country assessment, the consultant will be tasked with drafting a detailed and comprehensive final report. This report will meticulously present the findings of the assessment, including: Identified Strengths and Weaknesses: A clear articulation of the existing strengths and weaknesses within the country's quantification capacity, covering aspects such as human resources, infrastructure, systems, and processes. Opportunities and Threats: An analysis of potential opportunities for improvement and any prevailing threats that could hinder effective quantification. Specific Recommendations: Actionable and data-driven recommendations tailored to address the identified gaps and enhance the overall quantification capacity. These recommendations should be practical, prioritized, and aligned with UNFPA's strategic objectives. Communicate and Participate in Further Dissemination Efforts:
The consultant will play a crucial role in communicating the assessment findings and participating actively in subsequent dissemination efforts. This may include: Presenting Findings: Delivering presentations to relevant national stakeholders, UNFPA country offices, and other international partners to share the assessment results. Engaging in Discussions: Facilitating and participating in discussions aimed at building consensus on the recommendations and fostering commitment to their implementation. Contributing to Knowledge Sharing: Supporting efforts to disseminate the assessment findings more broadly to contribute to global knowledge sharing on supply chain management and quantification best practices. Provide Feedback:
The consultant will be expected to provide continuous and constructive feedback throughout the assessment process. This feedback will be crucial for: Refining Methodology: Offering insights that could contribute to the refinement and improvement of UNFPA's quantification assessment methodology. Enhancing Future Assessments: Sharing lessons learned and best practices to inform and enhance the effectiveness of future quantification capacity assessments in other contexts. Supporting Stakeholders: Providing direct feedback to country-level stakeholders to guide their efforts in strengthening quantification processes.
This consultancy demands an experienced and analytical professional with a deep understanding of supply chain principles, particularly within the context of public health or humanitarian aid. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong communication, analytical, and report-writing skills, coupled with the ability to work effectively in diverse cultural environments.
Outcome:ย
Documentation and clear understanding of current quantification practices.ย Documentation and clear understanding of various gaps when it comes to quantification practices at different levels. Based on insight, a framework developed to assess various intervention areas (e.g. HR, knowledge, systems etc.) that can be improved/capacitated to ensure a robust quantification process.ย Establish a roadmap for SCMU/ROโs to enhance the various intervention areas over time Utilize both qualitative and quantitative methods, including In-depth Interviews with different relevant stakeholders to gather comprehensive data on current contraceptive quantification practices and identify areas for improvement.ย Identify major gaps in terms of HR, policy and regulations, and recommend viable and doable capacity-building initiatives utilizing available resources and local capabilities in contraceptive quantification and supply chain management. Provide a comprehensive assessment report detailing findings, gaps, and challenges, along with actionable short-, medium-, and long-term recommendations.Overall Methodology
Desk review - Review of RH commodities quantification and forecasting reports and documentation available. Interview the key stakeholders from both government and non-government sectors involved in quantification and forecasting exercise. Visit selected geographical areas and relevant health departments and interview the key stakeholders involved in quantification and forecasting. Visit 2-3 districts and 8-10 health facilities/ service delivery points)Duration and working schedule:
Timelineย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Activity & deliverables
29Sept -5th Oct Onboarding, desk review of past materials & methodology development, supported by UNFPA staff from SCMU and the country office
06 Octโ 10 Oct Finalize methodology & tools
20 Oct โ 24 Oct Kick-off meeting with in-country stakeholders to present scope of work
27Oct โ 14 Nov Data collection
17 Nov- 21 Nov Desk review and initial analysis with partners based on findings
24Nov -28 Nov Further revision & analysis of data
01Dec โ 05 Dec Disseminate initial results to partners
08 Dec โ 12 Dec Development of final report
15 Decย โ 19 Decย Submission & approval of the final report through
TBD Regional/global webinar to present results
Place where services are to be delivered:
Tanzania โ Mainland (2 geographical regions) and Zanzibar (1 geographical region)
Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):
All materials should be delivered electronically. Please refer to the section โduration and working scheduleโ. Detailed deliverables will be defined upon the starting date.
Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:
Regular progress reporting with supervisor and team on aย bi-weekly basis at a minimum.
Supervisory arrangements:
The consultant will be working under the supervision of the country office, with oversight from the regional office and supply chain management unit.
Expected travel:
In-country travels during the in-country assessment
Other relevant information or special conditions, if any:
Payment schedule:
UNFPA will cover travel costs (DSA and tickets) for the Consultant Consultancy fee: 40% upon submission of the first draft of the report, and 60% upon finalization of the report and approval by UNFPA.Qualifications and Experience:ย
Education:ย ย
Masters degree in either Supply Chain Management, Public Health disciplines, Procurement or Logistics, Pharmacy, or other related fields is an added advantage. Additional qualification in regulatory sciences, health policy and administration or health systems management will be an asset.
Knowledge and Experience:ย
A minimum of five (5) years of relevant progressively responsible professional experience in
supply chain management required.ย Candidates should demonstrate experience in the below key areas, with the understanding that these experiences may overlap:
Professional written and spoken presentation skills, including for the development of reports, presentations, and the ability to synthesize complex supply chain documents for both technical and non-technical audiences is required. Strong interpersonal skills and capability to develop and maintain broad diversified partnerships is required. Basic knowledge of the principles and operational aspects of integrated reproductive health care in the global development and humanitarian community is an asset.ย Knowledge of UNFPA mandates, policies, and guidelines is an assetย
Languages:ย
Fluency in English is required. Understanding in Swahili language is an added advantageยRequired Competencies:ย
Values:
Exemplifying integrity,ย
Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,ย
Embracing cultural diversity,ย
Embracing change
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Core Competencies:ย
Achieving results,
Being accountable,
Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
Thinking analytically and strategically,
Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
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Compensation and Benefits:
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The consultant will be paid as per the UNFPA individual consultant payment guideline.
ยUNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA is dedicated to fostering a work environment that upholds the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity, and a healthy work-life balance. We are committed to equitable representation within our workforce and encourage applications from women, persons with disabilities, and individuals from diverse backgrounds. UNFPA promotes equal opportunity in all aspects of employment, including appointment, training, compensation, and selection. Our inclusive approach is central to our mission, and we welcome talent from varied cultural and professional backgrounds
Disclaimer:
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.ย
Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm