Request for Proposal - Implementation of the SCM Professionalization Framework at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Applications are invited for:

Title: Request for Proposal (RFP) - Implementation of the SCM Professionalization Framework in Nigeria

People that Deliver (PtD) supports governments and organisations to improve supply chain performance by advocating country-based interventions that strengthen human resources in health supply chains. PtD’s goal has always been to achieve professionalisation, whereby health supply chain management is transformed into a recognised profession of the highest integrity.

In a step towards achieving this goal, and in collaboration with USAID, the Global Health Supply Chain Program-Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project and SAPICS, PtD has developed a set of global standards that align career path, education and professional growth in health supply chain management; this is the PtD Supply Chain Management (SCM) Professionalisation Framework. At its core is the Library of Competencies and Designations that acts as the standard to ensure alignment between the supply and demand for health supply chain professionals. It also comprises an implementation approach, which provides clear guidance on how to begin this journey of change.

With very few countries regulating health SCM professionals and no global standards in education or experience, and a great need for improved SCM labour markets, we believe that this framework with an identified career path will encourage the growth in number and skills of SCM workers and institutionalise the health supply chain professional as a specific cadre within human resources for health. The framework includes a country implementation methodology and a practical set of steps and tools to validate and implement the framework in a country. 

In November of 2018, a Human Resources (HR) for SCM assessment performed in three states in Nigeria (Adamawa, Bauchi, and Kebbi) found that approaches to SCM professionalisation were immature in design and execution. Some of the challenges uncovered were as follows: no local certification programs for supply chain personnel, no professional body authority, no recognized supply chain certifications for promotions, and no recognition in the civil service system for completed supply chain qualifications or credentials. The report recommended strengthening the Logistics Management Coordination Unit’s (LMCU) role in capacity building coordination at state and local government area levels, and raising awareness of existing professional associations, and SCM training programs. Nigeria is therefore a suitable and highly motivated pilot country for implementation of the framework, with a high interest in improving their professionalisation.

Objectives, Purpose and Expected Results

The contractor will work with the PtD Secretariat and trusted stakeholders to implement the first two phases (advocacy and defining the scope) necessary to complete a supply chain workforce improvement program in Nigeria. The implementation process will incorporate a stakeholder analysis identifying system and function actors, key informant interviews to uncover the factors that are currently influencing supply and demand of SCM professionals, stakeholders validation workshop to define roles and responsibilities, the development of an improvement project charter and a customized implementation plan for Nigeria utilizing a defined implementation framework. Throughout the implementation process the contractor will work with the PtD secretariat to create champions and mentors, include discussions with regulatory bodies on the maintenance of the standard, and capture examples of compliance.

Description of the Assignment

This activity requires personnel with at least five years in national supply chain systems strengthening, at the global, national, and local levels in developing-country settings. Personnel should demonstrate at a minimum the following technical knowledge:

23:59 hours (Copenhagen Time), 21st February, 2022.

Submission of Documents

Proposals should be sent by E-mail to: supplybid@unicef.org

For a detailed description of the RFP document, please Click Here (MS WORD).