Work with UNICEF: In need of an International Consultancy for the Development of the action plan for the strengthening of the supply chain of the nutrition program
Job no: 554110
Position type: Consultant
Location: Cameroon
Division/Equivalent: Dakar (WCAR), Senegal
School/Unit: Republic of Cameroon
Department/Office: Yaoundé, Republic of Cameroon
Categories: Nutrition
Job Offer: In need of a Consultant. Work with UNICEF
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, a chance in life!
In Cameroon, two out of five children under the age of five are not growing well enough to reach their full developmental potential and contribute effectively to society when they become adults.
Among the bottlenecks identified for the provision of foods and services that promote optimal nutrition, growth and development of children, adolescents and women, is a poorly performing supply chain to guarantee at all times and at all levels, including at service delivery points, the availability of key nutritional products such as ready-to-use therapeutic foods, iron and folic acid and multiple micronutrient powders.
As in many countries, UNICEF Cameroon provides 100% of the supply of nutritional products (RUTF, Therapeutic milks, Vitamin A, micro-nutrient powder, etc.). Each year UNICEF finances up to 1,000 tons of nutritional inputs for a total amount of approximately 3.5 million dollars. Once purchased, these products are transferred to the national counterpart through supply chains organized and managed in parallel by the country office, the zone offices and the implementing partners. As a result, the government may be less accountable for achieving results and supply chain resources may be misused.
However, sustainable nutrition programming requires that essential nutritional inputs are available, accessible and affordable, in both development and humanitarian contexts. Integrating parallel supply chains into a single national supply chain is increasingly becoming a necessity as national health systems are strengthened and organizations realize the potential for increased efficiency and reduced costs. costs of this integration. In addition to the positive impact on costs and the generation of savings, the integration increases the reliability of forecasts and reports, improves communication and coordination between stakeholders, reduces stockouts and strengthens the stability of the response.
In Cameroon, there was a national supply system in the health sector which was based on a national pharmaceutical center (CENAME) with regional branches, the regional centers (CAP – R). This organization has experienced serious difficulties, and despite bailout plans, the overall weakness of the structure has required the establishment of regional funds for the promotion of health, which in 4 regions have already resulted in the closure of CAPs. and the establishment of new input management mechanisms (for example for ARVs or antimalarials). The operation of these funds, although identified as a resource for strengthening the supply chain, remains poorly understood by the nutrition component.
In addition, the processes of integrating supply chain management always lead to a need for strengthening health systems. Dependence on short-term emergency funding for supplies hampers longer-term planning, but strengthening the regular supply chain should always be factored into the planning and budgeting process. integration.
Finally, a parallel supply chain integration process for nutritional products requires consideration of the following:
• A clear vision of the process shared by all stakeholders and approved by the government;
• Government leadership;
• An in-depth analysis of the situation taking into account all the elements of supply chain management and the links with the other constituent elements of the health system
• A roadmap with a description of the implementation process, based on the situation analysis, accompanied by an action plan including steps, deadlines, resources needed, roles and responsibilities of stakeholders , implementation difficulties and their mitigation measures.
• Integration of essential nutritional products into national lists of essential medicines or essential products for children, adolescents and women.
• Advocate with the government to allocate financial resources for the purchase, storage and distribution of essential nutritional products for children, adolescents and women.
How can you make a difference?
Purpose of Assignment:
The specific tasks of the consultancy will include:
Analyze the current structure of the drug supply and distribution chain at the national level;
Examine the possibilities of partnership with the national supply chain for the reception, storage, distribution and monitoring of stocks of nutritional inputs for the Ministry of Health;
Facilitate the formalization of an agreement with the national supply chain for the reception, storage, distribution and monitoring of stocks of nutritional inputs;
Identify capacity-building needs at all levels
Carry out the training required to meet the identified needs.
The excepted results/ deliverables:
An integration plan including a transition, with budgeting elements, to integrate the nutrition offer into the health supply system: 4 weeks after the start
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have
Bachelor in a program area related to UNICEF’s work.
10 to 15 years of experience in public health systems in Africa and pharmaceutical systems strengthening.
At least 10 years in the management of supply systems and technical assistance in the areas of assessment and strengthening of the pharmaceutical sectors.
Have conducted at least 2 similar evaluations in countries with a similar context.
Have conducted assessments of Health, HIV supply chains, etc. in countries in the West and Central Africa region.
Excellent knowledge of French coupled with a knowledge of English to use the documentation is required.
Administrative issues and conditions
Payment of professional fees will be based on the submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.
The Consultant will be required to complete UNICEF’s standard online courses related to Ethics, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Security, and …. related training prior to taking up the assignment and/or travel.
The Consultant will be required to sign a Health Statement prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that he/she has appropriate health insurance, including Medical Evacuation.
HOW TO APPLY:
Qualified candidates are requested to complete an application including a profile to the respective advertisement online. Please indicate your ability and availability.
Applications submitted without a financial proposal will not be considered. Rates must include all expenses related to the assignment (e.g., consultancy fee, living allowance, travel if applicable), quoted in USD.
Click on the link below to apply 👇👇 👇👇 👇👇 👇👇
https://secure.dc7.pageuppeople.com/apply/671/gateway/default.aspx?c=apply&lJobID=554110&lJobSourceTypeID=796&sLanguage=en-us
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).
To view our competency framework, please visit here.
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 to become a part of the organization.
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.
Remarks:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
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.
The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).
Advertised: Aug 17 2022 W. Central Africa Standard Time
Application close: Aug 30 2022 W. Central Africa Standard Time
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