Overview
The Supply Chain Specialist leads the end-to-end management and strengthening of UNFPA Afghanistan’s Integrated Reproductive Health (RH) and Protection Supply Chain to ensure the timely, efficient, and accountable availability of essential RH commodities in both development and humanitarian contexts.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and oversee the end-to-end management of the Integrated Reproductive Health (RH) and Protection Supply Chain.
- Lead the development, implementation, and periodic review of integrated RH and Protection supply chain strategies and annual supply plans.
- Oversee forecasting and quantification processes for RH and Protection supplies and commodities.
- Contribute to procurement planning, shipment tracking, customs clearance, warehousing, and last-mile distribution.
- Establish and maintain supply chain performance monitoring mechanisms.
- Conduct regular pipeline risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies.
- Strengthen and support the effective use of Logistics Management Information Systems (LMIS) and UNFPA corporate tools.
- Ensure effective inventory management practices.
- Provide technical leadership to national counterparts and Implementing Partners.
- Analyze supply chain data to inform decision-making.
- Coordinate with the UNFPA Regional Office, HQ Supply Chain Management Unit, and humanitarian supply chain stakeholders.
- Ensure adherence to UNFPA Programme Supplies policies, internal control mechanisms, audit requirements, and risk management standards.
- Support the programme team in the development of distribution plans.
- Support the Country Office in advocacy efforts with other UN agencies and partners.
- Facilitate adoption of an integrated approach to Reproductive Health Commodity Security (RHCS).
- Analyze and interpret the political, social, and economic environment relevant to UNFPA's Supply Chain Management.
- Prepare briefing materials on supply chain management policy dialogues.
- Collaborate with other UN Agencies and development partners to promote and provide integrated technical support for Supply Chain Management.
- Support country office advocacy efforts for increased and sustained financing for FP/RH/GBV Commodities and supplies.
- Enhance national capacity to develop and maintain reproductive health and protection supplies chain systems.
- Identify, develop and/or adapt training materials and manuals.
- Coach, monitor expert consultants, and facilitate working groups and task teams.
- Draft and adapt training materials and manuals.
- Provide support to utilize and adhere to UNFPA systems for last mile assurance and shipment tracker.
- Coach and build the capacity of staff of Implementing Partners.
- Monitor partner supply chain practices, identify capacity gaps and recommend improvements.
- Monitor and analyze RH supply chain performance, including preparation of programmatic and financial reports.
- Facilitate consolidation, documentation, and dissemination of good practices, lessons learned and success stories.
- Facilitate technical support to the implementation of various surveys/data collection mechanisms.
- Undertake active environmental scanning to identify gaps and opportunities for timely UNFPA interventions.
- Ensure timely and quality reporting of UNFPA supplies including LMA reporting requirements.
- Support the development and/or roll out of systems/standard protocols for partners.
- Participate in monitoring missions, technical reviews, and coordination meetings.
- Perform any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership.
Required Experience
- At least 5 years of professional work experience in medical/humanitarian supply chain management or logistics.
- Experience in supply chain management: forecasting, warehousing, distribution, transportation and logistics information systems as well as managing supply chain management or logistics staff or warehouses teams.
- Significant direct experience in public procurement and supply chain management experience related to the Health and Humanitarian Sector (pharmaceuticals and non-pharmaceutical medical supplies), including experience with public health systems in developing countries.
- Familiarity with UN development programmes and working procedures would be an asset.
- Field experience in humanitarian or emergency context would be a plus.
Qualifications
- Advanced university degree in supply chain or logistics management, or any related field is required.
- Degree in public health, medicine or pharmacy would be an asset.
- Professional certification in areas such as medical logistics or humanitarian logistics is highly desirable.
