Current Openings at United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

The Regional Chief of Supply and Procurement advises and provides guidance, oversight, and direction to the Regional Office and all County Offices within Eastern and Southern Africa Region on supply chain issues, including procurement services, through direct support, capacity building, development of the supply community, and strategic promotion of supply-program integration in support of the Country Programme.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Technical Assistance and Oversight

• Provide leadership, technical advice, logistical support, oversight, and guidance on the application of procurement, supply chain, and procurement services procedures, regulations, systems and strategies, and best practices for the management and improvement of the supply chain in ESAR countries. Promote knowledge of and compliance with supply procedures.
• Track and monitor all COs key performance indicators and provide support for improvements.
• Conduct supply function management oversight and peer reviews and/or follow-up on audit observations to assist in the improvement of supply procedures and practices in ESAR Country Offices.
• Support Country Offices to identify, define and determine innovative supply solutions for children, such as the use of procurement services; supply financing solutions; local market development; supply chain digitalization, private sector engagement, market shaping, and support for innovation in product development.
• Conduct analysis of supply spending and related procurement strategies, run initiatives to ensure local market development where possible and appropriate.
• Support HR in supply competency analysis and propose appropriate staffing strategies to address gaps, in particular training new supply professionals and encouraging on the job training designed to improve the operational performance and efficiency of personnel. Assist and support the recruitment of supply and logistics staff in ESAR.
• Support the RMT and standing committees meetings as and when necessary to identify supply trends and requirements.
• Provide support to COs to comply with sustainable procurement objectives including conducting inclusive procurement, ensuring disability and gender inclusive considerations.

 Emergency preparedness and response

• Ensure CO preparedness efforts include required Supply and Logistics components being put in place, including emergency preparedness strategy and supply plans, relevant service and goods LTA’s established contingency stocks are maintained where required, and in-country logistics arrangements established. Explore possible supply sources from within the region to support sustainable procurement initiative.
• Ensure strong coordination between CO, RO, and SD and inter UN Agencies collaborations, including for the mobilization of human and financial resources.
• For L3 and L2 level emergencies, provide direct operational support to facilitate procurement of emergency supplies, regional and in-country logistics and manage sub-regional response where multi-CO efforts are required. Ensure response plans are aligned with the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCC).
• Monitoring of supply and logistics response and providing oversight for at-scale delivery modalities. 
• Support COs to put in place private sector partnerships and CBO/CSO agreements in support of the emergency response.

Support systems strengthening of national supply chain systems

• Provide technical assistance to country offices to support systems strengthening of the government supply chain systems.  
• Implement capacity-building initiatives in an efficient and effective supply chain for children, in close collaboration with programme sections. Support supply component of Health System & Nutrition Strengthening (HSS) and integration.
• Provide technical assistance and support for the humanitarian-development continuum.
• Liaise and work with all stakeholders especially WHO and donors to support/strengthen Government’s institutions such as the National Medicines and Control Authorities/NRAs etc in the region to ensure that children have timely access to quality and cost-effective life-saving supplies. Liaise with key stakeholders to advocate, promote and strengthen manufacturing base to facilitate local and regional procurement in contribution to the UNSDGs and UN Sustainability Strategy.
• Support COs to resolve complex supply operational issues in supply chain problem areas including construction projects, disability inclusion, ethical challenges etc. Promote knowledge of and compliance with supply procedures.

Capacity building of supply community in the region

• In collaboration with Supply Division, develop training modules and guidelines for supply and logistics staff and as appropriate, facilitate country training courses for Country Offices, national counterparts, and UN, and NGO partners. Strengthen regional and inter-regional professional networks.
• Establish a strong regional supply community and build the capacity of COs supply capacity to implement the global supply function strategies and regulatory framework.
• Build staff capacity to carryout procurement activities in support of the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, UNICEF Strategic goals among others. and UN Disability Inclusion strategy.

Collaboration and Partnership with internal and External Stakeholders

• Promote the work of UN Inter Agencies collaboration, partnership and ensure the efficient and effective functioning of the Regional Logistics Working Group effectively to support the UN Cooperation Framework.
• Support COs to build strong supply-programme integration and promote effective partnership and collaboration with all sectors in the delivery of results for children.
• Ensure close working relationship with key external stakeholders like the Africa CDC, Rwanda Supply Chain Centre of excellence, and Governments and sub regional bodies like SADC

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Business Administration, Management or related field.
• A minimum of ten of relevant professional experience in supply, procurement, shipping and logistics activities, preferably with UNICEF or an international/government/commercial organization some of which should be in a senior management capacity.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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How can you make a difference?

Under the overall supervision of the Regional Security Advisor, level 5, the position will have primary responsibility for leading security analysis in ESAR, contributing to strategic management of regional security operations and providing guidance and assistance to country level managers and security focal points. Furthermore, the position will be responsible for supporting the Regional Security Advisor in coordinating a cohesive approach to security risk management throughout the region.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Security Analysis and Reporting

• Under the supervision of the Regional Security Advisor, the position will plan, develop, and coordinate procedures and modalities relevant to the collection, collation and analysis of security information in support of the UNICEF operations.
• Monitor situations and events in the Region and gather and analyze information with the aim of identifying emerging trends and providing early warning of any potential situation that may affect the safety and security of UNICEF staff, premises and assets throughout the Region and that may also impact programme delivery.
• Monitor the security situation and provide independent and comprehensive analysis with the goal of identifying trends and predicting the specific conditions that would impact on the safety and security of UNICEF personnel and eligible family members, premises, assets and resources.
• Monitor and analyze political and security trends that have the potential to impact on UNICEF operations, by developing early warning indicators to be used as a decision-making planning tool by Senior Regional Management and drafting of Regional Security updates
• Provide analysis to understand country, and sub-regional, level dynamics, particularly when addressing issues of armed conflict, terrorism, inter-tribal conflict and population movements. Ensure the analysis addresses environmental, socio-economic and political factors that make geographical areas difficult to access and have an impact on the delivery of UNICEF programmes, particularly in areas deemed security compromised.
• Consolidate reporting from Country Offices and provide an analysis in the regional context, highlighting the potential impact this may have on programme delivery and particularly, in L2 and L3 locations in coordination with the humanitarian section and/or country focal point.
• Advise the Regional Security Advisor on steps needed with regard to multi-country or regional geo-security environment and key political dynamics that have the potential to impact on programme delivery.

Security Risk Management

• Support the Regional Security Advisor in evaluating, and reviewing security activities in support of UNICEF operations and participate, and undertake security risk management tasks and assessments as directed by the Regional Director and/or the regional Security Advisor
• Support the Regional Security Advisor in ensuring that UNICEF personnel are kept informed of matters affecting their safety and security and the actions to take in the event of an emergency including those identified in the UN Security Plan as it relates to UNICEF.
• Support the Regional Security Advisor with Security Planning and Emergency/Crisis Preparedness in accordance with country and regional specific situation and security requirements.

Security Networking and Partnership Building

• Under the coordination of the Regional Security Advisor, establish contact and maintain networks with all UNSMS/NGOs security advisors, research organizations (think tanks), humanitarian, developmental and security research institutions and relevant local authorities as appropriate.
• Under the coordination of the Regional Security Advisor, and relevant Country Representative, provide advice and support to I/NGOs, Consultants or Organizations working as UNICEF implementing partners, in coordination with UNDSS, and using the SLT policies as a framework.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Introduce technological innovations and approaches to security analytical reporting, procedures and systems. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Organize, plan and/or implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders on security related preparedness and operations.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) or recognized equivalent is required.
• A first level university degree in combination with 10 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in security analysis and security risk management.
• Demonstrated understanding of analytical processes and techniques is required.
• UN and/or international security management experience is highly desirable.
• Experience in humanitarian response and emergency contexts is an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official languages is an assest

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How can you make a difference?

Under the direct supervision of the Social Protection Specialist, with the co-supervision of the Social Policy and Economics Specialist, The selected candidate will deliver 50% on social protection and 50% on public finance management. S/he will work within the Social Policy section and in cooperation with section colleagues. S/he will interact with a variety of stakeholders, including other sections within UNICEF, national and county government representatives, implementing partners, development partners including UN agencies, World Bank, donors, firms and consultants supporting the section’s work. The selected candidate will:

• Provide Technical Assistance and Strategic Coordination of NICHE with Governments at the national and county levels”
• Act as Programme Manager for the cross-sectoral work of the NICHE Programme and ensure internal UNICEF coordination
• Support in the implementation of a sustainability strategy for NICHE and linking to broader discussions on the scale-up of social assistance for children, including universal child benefit pilot and county-level maternal and child grants.
• Support the evaluation and assessment of NICHE
• Designing of the UNICEF Kenya office-wide Early Child Development (ECD) Financing Programme with the Government being central to the investment and the programme to be anchored in the National Treasury Budget Department. Ensuring the ECD Financing Programme speaks to human capital development and the demographic dividend returns for Kenya and promoting collaboration with World Bank.
• Work closely with the Social Policy and Health teams to design e a programme on financing for health, including the influencing towards the adoption and upscale of the Health Facilities Improvement Fund at the county level and a national policy/legislation to guide the same. The Financing for Health will closely be linked to the ECD Financing in ii above.
• Support in the linkages for financing for social protection especially creating the working coordination mechanisms between the Ministry for Social Protection, National Treasury and Planning, other line ministries and county governments.
• Support in influencing intergovernmental policies and budgeting impacting national and county governments, especially in the social protection and health sectors.
• Support to internal and external coordination on social protection, including Secretariat assistance to the Sector Group on Social Protection which is chaired by UNICEF and FCDO from the development partners side and linking discussions with work in the PF4C pillar.
• Support in Social Protection programming with a particular focus on support to the NICHE programme including its various components such as on-demand registration, evaluation and simplification, and sustainability strategy which includes integration and consolidation with other social assistance initiatives for children during their early years.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Economics, Public Policy, Planning, Statistics, or related fields from a recognized university. 
• A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in the design, implementation and monitoring of Social Protection programmes, ideally in Kenya, or Sub-Saharan Africa.
• At least 2 years experience in Public Finance aspects relating to social protection in Kenya
• Proven experience in coordinating social protection and/or public finance platforms.
• Proven experience in the management of projects with cross-sector teams.
• Experience in ECD and health financing.
• Excellent data analysis and presentation skills.
• Excellent research and writing skills.
• Knowledge of UNICEF programme areas and experience with UNICEF is a major asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Other skills

• Must be reliable, creative, and able to work with little supervision.
• Must be able to work effectively under tight deadlines.
• Demonstrable ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergencies is considered an asset.