UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, health

The UNICEF Somalia Country Office requires support in areas related to accountability in formulation, coordination, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the procurement and supply chain of health commodities and equipment as part of health systems strengthening to ensure overall efficiency and effectiveness of the project management, delivery and accomplishment of project goals and objectives.

In the ongoing emergency context, this position will support partners and field offices to develop review of morbidity and mortality data, epidemiological trends to advise on essential medicines and supplies requirements, quantification, and development of procurement plans. Ensuring close coordination with partners, the health cluster and health authorities.

Under the supervision of the UNICEF Chief of Health and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Somalia and health development partners, the incumbent will be responsible for strengthening the Somali procurement and supply chain management (PSM) and coordination mechanisms of essential medicines, vaccines, nutrition and all health commodities and equipment. This is through the designing systems, guidelines, polices and providing immediate technical guidance, leadership and strategic inputs for the development and implementation of evidence based PSM strategies to strengthen the capacities of the Ministries of Health for timely and effective coordination, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all PSM activities.

How can you make a difference?

1. Programme Planning Development and Management

• Enhance effective sectoral or inter sectoral planning, coordination, development and management for the procurement and supply chain by leading, guiding, coordinating and supporting timely completion of the situational analysis on procurement and supply chain and the periodic reviews and updates through accurate and complete analysis and finalization of sectoral input.
• Consult and collaborate with government, colleagues and partners to provide technical and operational support on programme planning, implementation, and monitoring and to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of health systems strengthening priorities with other UNICEF sectors throughout all stages of programming processes.
• Provide technical assistance in the development of the Procurement Supply Chain Management (PSCM) sectoral workplans to government and implementing partners and UNICEF workplans for effective and efficient delivery of the HSS component.

2. Capacity building, innovation, knowledge management

• Lead the development and implementation of a supply chain system strengthening advocacy strategy for Somalia including the supply chain maturity model/assessment and master plan, electronic Logistics Management Information System (eLMIs), Quantification Analytics Tool (QAT) deployment. 
• Support and ensure functionality of the sector technical working groups including stakeholders’ coordination mechanisms on PSCM including at State level
• Lead and contribute to the development of policies, procedures and guidelines for innovation and best practices on system strengthening to ensure sustainability, optimum efficiency and efficacy in PSCM for commodity security.
• Provide technical trainings to government counterpart and IPS as part of capacity building on identified areas.
• As part of the multi-disciplinary team, provide technical support in the capacity building of health institutions infrastructure and equipment.
• Further promote knowledge management by drafting or finalizing sectoral documents and reports such as the Country Programme Recommendations and Plans of Action as well as capacity building, technical support, orientation, and training programmes targeted to Government authorities and implementing partners.
• Ensure exchange of knowledge, information, experience, or lessons learned and provide solid technical recommendations on directions for the procurement and supply chain management to improve effectiveness of the existing system and on introduction of new initiatives for procurement and supply chain management of health commodities.
• Participate in planning budgeting, reviewing, certifying, monitoring and submission of financial status reports to management in compliance regulations and guidelines.

3. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Ensure sectoral or inter sectoral efficiency and delivery by UNICEF and other partners for PSCM through a rigorous and transparent approach to programme design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Participate in strategic PSM evaluation and review exercises and sectoral planning and reviews meetings with Government counterparts and implementing partners.
• Preparation and submission of implementation updates and quarterly/annual reports for PSCM.
• Promote the quality of rights-based health commodities supply chain management through participation in the formulation of programme /project goals, strategies and approaches.
• Bring coherence, synergy and added value to sectoral or project management processes using results-based management approach to planning and design, implementation monitoring and evaluation.
• Working with UNICEF health section team, and in collaboration with relevant units of the Supply Section (Logistics, Contract Management) and the Supply Division in Copenhagen support the forecasting, procurement, warehousing and distribution of medical supplies to NGO implementing partners (IPs) and state/regional health authorities
• Contribute to budget management activities including monthly budget reviews, quarterly phased budgeting and procurement planning, open commitments monitoring to ensure progress of program spend is tracked and remedial actions related to areas of work within the role followed up.
• Ensure preparation of the donor reports and supply status reports as required for program monitoring, budget reviews, annual reports, appeals, etc.
• Monitor health supplies in transit, in UNICEF and partner warehouses, compile regular reports to flag expiring and aging supplies
• Liaise with the logistics unit on supplies ordering and distribution frequencies, coordinate with IPs on all matters related to downstream distribution release orders and confirmation of receipts.
• Lead the monitoring of supplies across the value chain to the end users employing various mechanism that manage possible aid diversion and bring accountability and end to end visibility of supplies.

4. Advocacy, Networking and Partnerships

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships and networks to ensure exchange of information, experience, identify new strategies and courses of action to improve delivery of services with key stakeholders to achieve overall PSCM requirements and objectives.
• Take a leading role in the coordination of existing Technical Working Groups for management of health and nutrition commodities at all levels. Prepare communication and information materials for country office programme advocacy, promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances and support fund raising for programmes for PSCM.