The Position:
UNFPA is committed to supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through effective and sustainable procurement. The Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU) is responsible for providing strategic and operational procurement services to support UNFPA's global programmes and partners.
To enhance the sustainability and inclusiveness of its procurement activities, UNFPA seeks to engage a Sustainable Procurement Consultant to provide strategic and technical input on improving sustainable procurement practices, including alignment with international standards, savings calculations, and impact reporting.
The Sustainable Procurement Consultant will report to the team leads of the Strategic Sourcing Team (Health and Non-Health). The consultancy can be carried out either from the duty station in Copenhagen, Denmark, or remotely.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goal
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
Job Purpose:
The consultancy will focus on the following key areas:
- Developing a robust sustainable procurement strategy based on international standards that includes environmental, social, and economic aspects.
- Promoting the participation of women-owned businesses and businesses owned by persons with disabilities in procurement activities.
- Supporting regionalization of supply chains to increase resilience and efficiency.
The main objective of the consultancy is to support UNFPA in improving the sustainability and inclusiveness of its procurement processes by:
- Developing a technically sound sustainable procurement strategy, including measurable performance indicators and savings calculations.
- Identifying and addressing barriers to the participation of women-owned and disability-owned businesses.
- Strengthening regional supply chain networks to improve efficiency and sustainability.
You would be responsible for:
The consultant will undertake the following tasks:
A. Sustainable Procurement Strategy Development (50% of Time)
Review of Current Practices:
- Conduct a detailed assessment of current UNFPA procurement policies and practices related to sustainability.
- Identify gaps and areas for improvement in relation to international sustainable procurement standards (e.g., ISO14001).
Strategy Development:
- Develop a comprehensive sustainable procurement strategy aligned with international best practices.
- Establish specific targets and key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure sustainability outcomes.
- Provide technical recommendations on sustainable and socially responsible sourcing.
- Develop a set of sustainability criteria to include in the solicitation process.
Savings and Impact Calculation:
- Develop a methodology for calculating financial and environmental savings from sustainable procurement.
- Define a framework for tracking and reporting savings and sustainability outcomes.
Capacity Building and Guidance:
- Develop guidance materials for procurement staff on sustainable procurement practices.
- Provide training and technical support to the SCMU team on implementing sustainable procurement strategies.
B. Promotion of Women-Owned and Disability-Owned Businesses (25% of Time)
Identify challenges faced by these businesses in accessing UNFPA procurement opportunities.
Strategic Engagement:
- Develop outreach strategies to increase participation from women-owned and disability-owned businesses.
- Provide recommendations to simplify procurement processes and enhance access for these suppliers.
Policy Recommendations:
- Develop policy recommendations to ensure more inclusive supplier engagement.
- Establish performance indicators to measure the effectiveness of inclusion efforts.
C. Regionalization of Procurement (25% of Time)
Assessment of Regional Supply Chains:
- Review existing supplier data to identify opportunities for increased regional sourcing.
- Analyze the cost-benefit implications of regional sourcing.
Strategy Development:
- Develop a targeted strategy for improving regional supply participation while ensuring quality and cost-effectiveness.
- Provide recommendations on supplier engagement, contract management, and logistics improvements.
Implementation Plan:
- Develop a clear roadmap for implementing regionalized sourcing strategies.
- Establish KPIs for measuring the success of regionalization efforts.
Qualifications and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business Administration, International Development, or a related field.
Knowledge and Experience:
- Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in sustainable procurement, supply chain management, or related areas.
- Proven experience in developing and implementing sustainable procurement strategies aligned with international standards (e.g., ISO 20400).
- Expertise in financial modeling and calculating savings from sustainable procurement.
- Strong analytical, research, and communication skills.
Languages:
- Fluent knowledge of English is required.
- Knowledge of another UN language would be an asset.
Required Competencies:
Values:
- Exemplifying integrity,
- Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
- Embracing cultural diversity,
- Embracing change
Core Competencies:
- Strategic Thinking – Ability to develop strategic plans and translate them into actionable initiatives.
- Technical Expertise – Deep knowledge of sustainable procurement standards and financial modeling.
- Stakeholder Engagement – Strong ability to engage with internal and external stakeholders effectively.
- Results Orientation – Proven track record of delivering high-quality outputs under tight deadlines.
- Cultural Sensitivity – Ability to work in diverse, multicultural environments.
Compensation and Benefits:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
UNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.
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