Background

HIV/AIDS is one of UNDP’s top corporate priorities.  In the past several years, UNDP’s contribution to the global effort to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS has greatly intensified, focusing on the governance challenge of planning and implementing a truly multi-sectoral and society-wide response to the epidemic. 
 
One central aspect of UNDP’s work is to help countries develop capacity to access and absorb international funding from a wide variety of sources, as well as build capacity for strategic planning and results-based implementation of national and local-level HIV/AIDS plans (“Making the Money Work”).  In a number of countries, UNDP is helping to formulate fundable HIV/AIDS plans and to organize roundtable meetings where resource needs are discussed and donor pledges are made.  UNDP also helps strengthen financial and managerial capacity of national AIDS programmes, stronger inter-ministerial coordination, and mechanisms for effective and decentralized channelling of funding.  This work is of crucial importance in creating an environment in which mechanisms such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the “Global Fund’ ) can succeed.
 
In late 2002, UNDP began its partnership with the Global Fund.  Since its inception, the UNDP-Global Fund partnership has grown significantly from managing a single USD 6.7 million Global Fund grant in Haiti in 2002 to currently being Principal Recipient (PR) in 26 countries for 63 grants totalling over USD 886 million for a two-year period.  This portfolio is likely to grow in 2010, with additional funding being granted to UNDP for round 8 and 9 grants and the second phase of a number of grants. Pursuant to its agreement with the Global Fund, UNDP is appointed as the PR in exceptional circumstances, generally in countries with low capacities, weak systems and/or poor accountability.  However, with the exception of in donor-constrained countries, UNDP is meant to build the capacity of local entities to assume the role of PR in the future. 

Duties and Responsibilities

 

In its role as PR, UNDP is responsible for the financial and programmatic management of the grant, as well as the procurement of health and non-health products. In all cases, the implementation of the grants must be done in accordance with UNDP policies and procedures as well as the policies and guidelines of the Global Fund. 
In addition, UNDP provides capacity support to a number of governments who are managing Global Fund grants directly. In the last few years, UNDP has expanded this capacity development role and is presently providing technical support in an additional 8 countries in the areas of project planning, sub-grant and contract administration, financial administration, procurement, and monitoring and evaluation.
 
Given the importance of the partnership with the Global Fund, UNDP continues to strive towards providing high value-added services to governments and the Global Fund, both in its role as the PR, and, increasingly, as a significant technical partner to governments implementing Global Fund grants. 
 
Under the guidance and supervision of PSM Team Leader, the Procurement and Supply Chain consultant will play an advisory and support role for UNDP Country Offices that are Principal Recipient or providing capacity support. The support role will involve travel to Country Offices.

The Consultant will work within the team of Special Advisory Services. The Consultant will also work in close collaboration with the Global Fund Support Team based in the Bureau for Development Policy’s HIV/AIDS Group (Geneva, New York), the Global Procurement Unit of UNDP and other UN agencies, especially UNICEF UNFPA, UNOPS and WHO.
 
Summary of key functions:
  • Advisory and support services to country offices for procurement and supply chain management issues.
  • Statistical documentation of procurement activities related to the UNDP-Global Fund Partnership.
  • Assist and participate in an overall contract monitoring strategy of Sub-Recipients.
  • Manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Knowledge sharing on procurement and supply chain management. 
  • Development of asset management and grant closure procedures for Global Fund programmes.
  • Perform other tasks related to procurement and supply chain management in the context of the Global Fund.
  • Details of other activities will be discussed at the time of appointment of successful consultant.
  • Duty station is Copenhagen, with occasional travel to UNDP Country Offices.

Competencies

Corporate
  • Demonstrates commitment and integrity in line with UN  and UNDP’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision and mission and strategic goals of UNDP; and
  • Displays cultural, gender, religious, ethnic, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Functional
  • Development and Operational Effectiveness
  • Ability to lead strategic planning, results based management and reporting;
  • Ability to lead procurement processes using specific procurement methods;
  • Ability to introduce and implement strategic procurement, contract and sourcing strategy; and
  • Ability to lead implementation of new systems and affect staff behavioural/attitudinal change
Managerial
  • Focuses on impact and results for the client and responds positively to feedback;
  • Shows conflict resolution skills and programme leadership skills;
  • Demonstrates ability and willingness to work as a team;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive attitude;
  • Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
  • Builds strong relationships with clients and external partners; and
  • Strong self-management skills to plan, manage, and deliver results; and
  • Remains calm under pressure.
Knowledge Management and Learning
  • Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
  • Understands development issues with special emphasis on public health issues;
  • Able to advocate and provide policy advice; and
  • Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas;
  • Acts on learning plan and applies new acquired skills and is able to draw lessons from professional/personal experience and integrate new learning into overall approach to work.
Behavioural
  • Treats people fairly without favouritism;
  • Strong interpersonal, team-based and presentational skills in a multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral environment;
  • High tolerance for change, complexity and unpredictability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Masters degree or equivalent in Procurement, Pharmacy, Public Health or Medicine, Business Administration, Finance or development oriented fields;
  • Complimentary qualifications in social science is an asset.
Experience:
  • Minimum seven years' professional experience in a field of procurement, operations management, or programmes dealing with the health sector;
  • Solid experience in the management of people and systems in high pressure environments;
  • Strong IT skills;
  • Demonstrated expertise in procurement and supply chain management highly desirable;
  • Knowledge of and/or expertise of UN or UNDP procurement policies and procedures highly desirable;
  • Knowledge of Global Fund  would be a strong asset;
  • Strong negotiating skills to facilitate negotiations of LTAs; and
  • Strong networking skills to ensure effective collaborative relationships between UNDP and other UN agencies in the context of procurement.
  • Fluency in English and French required. Additional UN-languages (Spanish) is an asset.