Organization: UN Children's Fund
Country: Denmark
Closing date:
18 Dec 2017Consultancy Title: Design/Development of UNICEF’s Local Market Influencing Framework
Location: Home based, with travel to Copenhagen, Denmark (twice for 2-3 working days with paid Daily Subsistence Allowance)
Duration: 2.5 months over the period of 4 months (approximately)
Start Date: January 2018
Reporting to: Chief, Markets, Supplier Financing and Innovation Centre, UNICEF Supply Division, Copenhagen.
BACKGROUND:
As part of its 2018-2021 Strategic Plan, UNICEF is committed to continue to influence global and local markets for children, including pursuing a research and development pipeline of vaccines, medicines and technologies for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal targets. This will require attention to reducing market barriers that inhibit access to essential supplies for children.
In support of the above, UNICEF Supply Division (SD) is launching its Products and Markets global supply strategy that seeks to influence global and local markets collaboratively, for existing and future products/services, by incentivizing R&D and accelerating scale-up of fit-for-purpose products, and addressing access, affordability and value for money, to improve the lives of all children.
Over the years, UNICEF has honed expertise and processes to encourage innovation of essential commodities and products for children, and to influence markets including through targeted deployment of supply financing tools to ensure commodities and products are accessible, affordable, appropriate, and produced by a competitive supply base. For the 2018-2021 OMP, UNICEF will seek to address the unfinished MDG agenda but also to tackle new challenges and contribute to the realization of child rights in changing contexts as articulated in the SDGs, for example to tackle climate change, urbanization, migration, neglected infectious diseases as well as non-communicable diseases. While these challenges will demand new or augmented programmatic responses, some may necessitate new products and markets.
Over the next 10-15 year horizon, many countries, including in parts of Africa, will transition to middle income country status. These transitions will result in reduced donor support, scale up of domestic financing, but also an increased ambition by programme country governments to source products locally.
Local production offers several benefits including proximity to programmes; it facilitates product tailoring to meet local needs; it can support broader economic development goals. Governments have therefore been increasingly expressing their preference for certain products to be developed and produced in-country or ‘on continent’.
While UNICEF has already been successful in procuring at least half of its products from programme countries, these shifts will increase the need for UNICEF to translate its successful market influencing agenda to local markets.
Against this backdrop and as part of its Products and Markets global supply strategy, UNICEF SD seeks to devise a framework that can help guide UNICEF Regional and Country Offices’ efforts to positively influence local markets for strategic essential commodities for children.
DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT:
Under the supervision of the Chief, Markets, Supplier Financing and Innovation Centre, UNICEF Supply Division, Copenhagen, the consultant will:
Scopingconduct interviews/consultations with Regional Supply Advisers (RSAs) and key informants in UNICEF SD, Regional and Country Offices (to be identified by RSAs) to map the needs for local market influencing guidance and collect lessons from local market influencing initiatives that may not be fully documented. The aim of this portion of work is to understand the scope of opportunity and breadth of need for a local market influencing framework, and to identify case studies for more in-depth assessment.conduct a desk-based review of the market influencing strategies, approaches and tools that UNICEF has deployed at global level to incentivize product innovation and move markets for strategic essential commodities for children towards a more healthy state. The aim here is to identify existing capabilities and processes that can be adapted to local contexts.collect and analyze information (through literature review and consultations, as required) on local market influencing approaches and initiatives that have been implemented by other actors spanning across different markets for strategic commodities, e.g. health, nutrition, WASH, education, disabilities…Case StudiesDocument 3-5 pertinent case studies to illustrate how market influencing initiatives have been devised and implemented in local contexts.Framework Developmentdraft a framework (linking this back to the above case studies) that i) defines the circumstances in which UNICEF could/should consider local market influencing interventions, based on the nature and condition of the market and UNICEF’s role therein; ii) describes the pathway for devising and implementing customized market influencing interventions, including existing tools and how these can be adapted to local contexts; and iii) describes how to monitor and evaluate the results of interventions.present the draft framework to the SD Influencing Markets Coordination Group, Regional Supply Advisers and other key stakeholders (to be identified by the supervisor) to solicit feedback and inputs.prepare the final version of the framework for approval by SD Senior Management and dissemination to UNICEF Regional and Country Offices.Training Designdesign a training curriculum based on the developed local market influencing framework, including relevant training materials (high-quality PowerPoint slides, handouts, group exercises, etc.) for a 2-day workshop to accompany the rollout of the framework to UNICEF Regional and Country Offices.KEY DELIVERABLES:
Report summarizing the outputs of the scoping exercise (per description of activities above)Report documenting lessons from 3-5 specific case studies of pertinent local market influencing initiatives (per description of activities above)Draft and final local market influencing framework documentTraining curriculum including relevant training materials for workshops on the application of the framework.QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Education: Advanced University Degree in Business, Economics, Industrial Policy, International Development or other related field.
Work Experience:A minimum of five (5) years professional work experience in market research, market dynamics, market shaping, business development, international development or economics is required.
Competencies: The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate the following competencies that are considered to be necessary to this consultancy:
CommunicationWorking with PeopleApplying Technical ExpertiseAnalyzingCreating and InnovatingFormulating Strategies and ConceptsTechnical Knowledge
Market dynamics relating to health, nutrition, and/or products used in resource-poor settings.Commercial activities (acquisitions / business / contracting) in the private or public sectors“push”/“pull” industry incentives, innovative financing mechanisms and/or supplier financing structuresLanguages: Fluency in both written and spoken English required.
EVALUATION PROCESS:
Qualified candidates are requested to submit:
Cover letter/application.Financial quote for the consultancy which must include: the total consultancy fee (broken down into daily rate in US Dollars and number of consultancy days), travel costs (with details of the economy class ticket price) and administrative fees (if applicable, broken down into the separate categories of costs like internet, phone etc).CV.Examples of previous, relevant work.References.Questions can be sent to pkalpaxis@unicef.org with subject line “Consultancy - Development of UNICEF’s Local Market Influencing Framework”.
Please be informed that all applications to UNICEF are handled via UNICEF’s online recruiting system. You can apply to the above consultancy by creating your profile and application at our website: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index.php Requisition no: 509528.
Applications must be submitted through the UNICEF electronic application system by18 Dec 2017, 17:00 CET. Applications submitted by email or without a daily rate will not be considered.
UNICEF considers best value for money as a criteria for evaluating potential candidates. As a general principle, the fees payable to a consultant or individual contractor follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e. achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Please note that consultants and individual contractors are responsible for assuming costs for obtaining visas and travel insurance. Successful applicants will be invited to a telephone interview and will be evaluated by the following criteria:
TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (max. 70 points)
Overall Response (20 points)
Understanding of tasks, objectives and completeness and coherence of response
Overall match between the ToR requirements
Technical Capacity (50 points)
Relevance of consultant’s experience with similar projects and as per required qualifications
Quality of previous work
References
TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION – Total Points
FINANCIAL PROPOSAL (max 30 points)
Daily rate, lump sum, per deliverable
Economy Air Ticket
Total estimated cost of contract (proposed contract fee only)
FINANCIAL PROPOSAL – Weight Combined Score
TOTAL SCORE
General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants / Individual Contractors
1. Legal Status
The individual engaged by UNICEF under this contract as a consultant or individual contractor (the “Contractor”) is engaged in a personal capacity and not as representative of a Government or of any other entity external to the United Nations. The Contractor is neither a "staff member" under the Staff Regulations of the United Nations and UNICEF policies and procedures nor an "official" for the purpose of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, 1946 (“the Convention”). The Contractor may, however, be afforded the status of "Expert on Mission" in the sense of Section 22 of Article VI of the Convention and if the Contractor is required by UNICEF to travel in order to fulfill the requirements of this contract, the Contractor may be issued a United Nations Certificate in accordance with Section 26 of Article VII of the Convention.
2. Obligations
The Contractor shall complete the assignment set out in the Terms of Reference for this contract with due diligence, efficiency and economy, in accordance with generally accepted professional techniques and practices.
The Contractor must respect the impartiality and independence of UNICEF and the United Nations and in connection with this contract shall neither seek nor accept instructions from anyone other than UNICEF. During the term of this contract the Contractor must refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on UNICEF or the United Nations and must not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICEF. The Contractor must exercise the utmost discretion in all matters relating to this contract.
In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, the Contractor (a) will conduct him- or herself in a manner consistent with the Standards of Conduct in the International Civil Service; and (b) will comply with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICEF relating to fraud and corruption; information disclosure; use of electronic communication assets; discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority; and the requirements set forth in the Secretary General's Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.
Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the office concerned, the Contractor must not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or other entity external to UNICEF any information that has not been made public and which has become known to the Contractor by reason of his or her association with UNICEF or the United Nations. The Contractor may not use such information without the written authorization of UNICEF, and shall under no circumstances use such information for his or her private advantage or that of others. These obligations do not lapse upon termination of this contact.
3. Title rights
UNICEF shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to material created by the Contractor which bears a direct relation to, or is made in order to perform, this contract. At the request of UNICEF, the Contractor shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to UNICEF in compliance with the requirements of the law governing such rights.
4. Travel
If UNICEF determines that the Contractor needs to travel in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, that travel shall be specified in the contract and the Contractor’s travel costs shall be set out in the contract. In cases where travel costs have not been set in the contract, travel may either be organized by UNICEF or reimbursed upon submission of receipts within ten (10) days of completion of a specific travel on the following basis:
(a)UNICEF will pay for travel in economy class via the most direct and economical route, provided however that in exceptional circumstances, such as for medical reasons, travel in business class may be approved by UNICEF on a case-by-case basis.
(b)UNICEF will pay for out-of-pocket expenses associated with such travel, up to an amount equivalent to the daily subsistence allowance that would be paid to staff members undertaking similar travel for official purposes.
5. Statement of good health
Before commencing work, the Contractor must deliver to UNICEF a certified self-statement of good health and take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement. In addition, the Contractor must include in this statement of good health (a) confirmation that he or she has been informed regarding inoculations required for him or her to receive, at his or her own cost and from his or her own medical practitioner or other party, for travel to the country or countries to which travel is authorized; and (b) a statement he or she is covered by medical/health insurance and that, if required to travel beyond commuting distance from his or her usual place or residence to UNICEF (other than to duty station(s) with hardship ratings “H” and “A”, a list of which has been provided to the Contractor) the Contractor’s medical/health insurance covers medical evacuations. The Contractor will be responsible for assuming all costs that may be incurred in relation to the statement of good health.
6. Insurance
The Contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of this contract as he or she considers appropriate taking into account, among other things, the requirements of paragraph 5 above. The Contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members. The responsibility of UNICEF and the United Nations is limited solely to the payment of compensation under the conditions described in paragraph 7 below.
7. Service incurred death, injury or illness
If the Contractor is travelling with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF's expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, or is performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval, the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate), shall be entitled to compensation from UNICEF in the event of death, injury or illness attributable to the fact that the Contractor was travelling with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF's expenses in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, or was performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval. Such compensation will be paid through a third party insurance provider retained by UNICEF and shall be capped at the amounts set out in the Administrative Instruction on Consultants and Individual Contractors. Under no circumstances will UNICEF be liable for any other or greater payments to the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate).
8. Arbitration
(a)Any dispute arising out of or, in connection with, this contract shall be resolved through amicable negotiation between the parties.
(b)If the parties are not able to reach agreement after attempting amicable negotiation for a period of thirty (30) days after one party has notified the other of such a dispute, either party may submit the matter to arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL procedures within fifteen (15) days thereafter. If neither party submits the matter for arbitration within the specified time the dispute will be deemed resolved to the full satisfaction of both parties. Such arbitration shall take place in New York before a single arbitrator agreed to by both parties; provided however that should the parties be unable to agree on a single arbitrator within thirty days of the request for arbitration, the arbitrator shall be designated by the United Nations Legal Counsel. The decision rendered in the arbitration shall constitute final adjudication of the dispute.
9. Penalties for Underperformance
Payment of fees to the Contractor under this contract, including each installment or periodic payment (if any), is subject to the Contractor’s full and complete performance of his or her obligations under this contract with regard to such payment to UNICEF’s satisfaction, and UNICEF’s certification to that effect.
10. Termination of Contract
This contract may be terminated by either party before its specified termination date by giving notice in writing to the other party. The period of notice shall be five (5) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a total period of less than two (2) months and ten (10) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a longer period; provided however that in the event of termination on the grounds of impropriety or other misconduct by the Contractor (including but not limited to breach by the Contractor of relevant UNICEF policies, procedures, and administrative instructions), UNICEF shall be entitled to terminate the contract without notice. If this contract is terminated in accordance with this paragraph, the Contractor shall be paid on a pro rata basis determined by UNICEF for the actual amount of work performed to UNICEF’s satisfaction at the time of termination. UNICEF will also pay any outstanding reimbursement claims related to travel by the Contractor. Any additional costs incurred by UNICEF resulting from the termination of the contract by either party may be withheld from any amount otherwise due to the Contractor under this paragraph.
11. Taxation
UNICEF and the United Nations accept no liability for any taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant and individual contractor on payments made under this contract. Neither UNICEF nor the United Nations will issue a statement of earnings to the consultant and individual contractor.
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To view our competency framework, please clickhere.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.
How to apply:UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=509528