Consultancy: To implement a Review of UNICEF Supply Division’s Market Communications, MSDEU Centre, Supply Division, Cph

Location details Copenhagen/ Home Based

Duration: Up to 60 working days out of a 5-month period

Anticipated Start Date: 31 May 2021

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is a United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and development aid to children worldwide with a global presence in 192 countries. One of UNICEF’s core objectives is to secure the rights of children, and by extension, their families and communities, and to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To do this, UNICEF seeks to ensure communities have access to critical and life-saving goods and services. UNICEF’s Supply Division, based in Copenhagen, manages the organization’s global function for ‘supplies and logistics’. It procures goods and services from around the world and ships them to countries in support of national, regional and global programmes. In 2019, UNICEF procured $3.8 billion in value for more than 150 countries, of which $2.6 billion was in goods and $1.2 billion was in services.

UNICEF operates under its global Strategic Plan 2018-2021,[1] which calls for the sustained investment in UNICEF supported programmes targeting five goal areas: Every child survives and thrives; Every child learns; Every child is protected from violence and exploitation; Every child lives in a safe and clean environment; and Every child has an equitable chance in life. To do this, UNICEF has eight change strategies working in collaboration with its partners, governments, other United Nations organizations, civil society, the private sector, communities and children. These strategies seek to leverage change by various means, including through advocacy, communication, and campaigns to achieve and amplify its impact. The change strategy that is of particular focus and interest for this consultancy is change strategy number 5: ‘Leveraging the power of business and markets for children”, which emphasizes UNICEF’s role in influencing markets and the private sector to secure the availability and access to essential supplies for children, and which goes beyond just direct procurement.

A key issue of concern for UNICEF is that whereas some critical products are easily available and affordable, the availability of others can be limited, or in some instances, non-existent all together, or in the quality, form, or price required to have the desired impact. UNICEF places a strategic focus on these supplies to shape healthy markets. UNICEF seeks to influence the private sector and markets to achieve, amongst other aspects, affordable prices, diversified supplier bases, competitive market landscapes, and quality products, that are fit for purpose, and in the right form to be used for children and their communities.

UNICEF’s products and markets / market shaping strategy,[2] aims to influence global and local markets collaboratively for both existing and future products and services. To ensure that they are fit-for-purpose, affordable, and accessible, UNICEF seeks to accelerate product adaption where possible, and/or research and development where necessary, as well as approaches to scaling up access and product adoption and use to improve the lives of all children. The strategy also defines UNICEF’s engagement with the business sector and industry.

The strategy is to increase the availability of affordable products and services that are fit-for-purpose, and hence the need to reduce global and local market barriers that prevent access to these essential supplies. In order to do this, UNICEF employs strategic tendering, contracting, financing, procurement, and communication strategies using data analysis, which includes information transparency, market analysis and insight, combined with portfolio management; and building and leveraging our partnerships.

The review seeks to focus on UNICEF’s use of information transparency and strategic communication, notably, on Supply Division’s approach and capacity to disseminate pertinent market information related to key market determinants such as need and purpose, demand and supply, pricing trends, product innovation pipelines, tender plans and procurement objectives, issues and challenges, to ensure businesses have the information they need to make the changes and investments to address market asymmetries and improve market functioning. The work on products and markets is implemented though a series of approaches to market communication, including, among others, the publication of market notes and updates,[3] a price database, and a markets dashboard.[4]

The overall purpose of the market communications review is to assess how UNICEF’s actions in market communication have contributed to its goals and outcomes under its products and markets strategy. The review and any evidence will be used to inform key decisions that are needed to support how UNICEF Supply Division can improve on its the strategy and planning over the next four-year period, under its Organizational Management Plan (OMP) 2022-2025, and help it accelerate equitable and sustained access to essential supplies.

Specific objectives of the review are to:

• Look back: To map and review what has been done to date and how, in terms of market communication and information transparency. To assess, based on existing evidence what has worked well and not well in support of UNICEF’s products and markets supply strategy;
• Look forward (strategy): To generate evidence-based recommendations to inform UNICEF’s future decision making in regards to how to communicate with markets in a way that intensifies and increases its impact on sustainable access to essential supplies;
• Look forward (tools): To advise UNICEF on changes to be made to current market communication tools, and any potential ones to be adopted, re-focused, adapted, or dropped to improve its market communication strategy;
• Look forward (monitoring): To review existing approaches as to how UNICEF generates evidence and data on indicators, and to advise on changes that can improve how UNICEF monitors its efforts, and to understand better the results and impact is having on markets.

The review should be implemented through the following steps:

• Step 1: Inception phase / desk review: It should include initial call(s) with the Market Communication Manager, Market Research Manager, Contract Managers, and the review reference group (selected group of Supply Division staff to support overall guidance and quality assurance for the review); A desk review of key documents, tools, data, and information to be provided; Define and review questions and proposed methodology; Prepare an inception report (Deliverable #1); Conduct an online inception workshop with the reference group.
• Step 2: Data collection and analysis: It should include data collection as well as interviews with key informants and stakeholders; Analysis and preparation of the draft report, with case studies (Deliverable #2); Conduct an online workshop with the reference group and selected key informants to validate initial findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Step 3: Final report and dissemination: It should include the preparation of final report and a review brief (Deliverable #3); An online dissemination workshop with external partners (TBC).

Deliverables and Payment Schedule:

Payment will be made based on completed deliverables, according to the following schedule:

Deliverable #1: Inception Report

A short report, from 10-20 pages (excluding annexes), including initial reflections, suggested methodology, any proposed templates, a list of review questions, proposed draft/final report formats, suggested case studies and topics, as well as a workplan for the review. An accompanying PowerPoint presentation should also be included for use in the virtual reference group workshop.

Payment: 20% of contract amount

Deliverable #2: Draft report

A concise report of up to 40 pages (excluding annexes) in accordance with any agreed format in the inception phase. An accompanying PowerPoint should also be included for the virtual reference group workshop.

Payment: 40% of contract amount

Deliverable #3: Final report and review brief

A concise final report of up to 50 pages (excluding annexes) that follows the format of the draft report, to include the following elements: An executive summary and key recommendations that draw from the findings and conclusions of the review.

A designed review brief of up to 4 pages, including: Summarized highlights of the review and key findings; Summarized conclusions and recommendations.

Payment: 40% of contract amount.

The consultant should have the minimum qualifications listed below:

• Advanced university degree in management, markets, marketing, economics, social sciences, development studies or other relevant area;
• Advanced knowledge related to areas of information management, the private sector, global supply chain management, communication, international development, and developing countries;
• Experience in markets and supply chain analysis, especially in low-income and middle-income contexts, notably regarding market barriers in access to goods and services, as well as information management;
• At least five years of experience in leading assessments, evaluations, or reviews of something related or similar;
• Experience and skills in qualitative and quantitative research and approaches, as well as generating data and evidence;
• Working knowledge of the UN and UNICEF experience is preferred;
• Fluency in written and spoken English required; advanced knowledge of other official UN languages would be an advantage (especially French and Spanish);
• Excellent skills in organizing, communication, reporting, and presentation.

Evaluation Criteria

Applicants should submit a detailed cover letter that outlines their relevant experience and qualifications and explains their approach to completing the key deliverables outlined above. Any specific experience with similar reviews or assessments, especially on supply chain strengthening, market communications, development aid procurement processes and humanitarian response should be highlighted.

Applicants are requested to explicitly acknowledge the scope and objectives outlined above in their own words to ensure alignment with UNICEF’s goals. Additionally, applicants can propose an approach that they deem appropriate and workable, respecting the specific scope of the engagement. They may decide to include additional activities and elements at their discretion. For example, demonstrated applicability of innovative review topics, methods or approaches that the applicant wishes to incorporate will be favourably reviewed.

If needed, UNICEF may request applicants to conduct a brief presentation of their proposals and clarify details before making a final decision on contract award.

Applicants should propose an all-inclusive lump-sum amount, expressed through a daily rate, for this assignment. Due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, no travel is planned as part of this assignment. Fees with shortlisted candidates are subject to negotiation prior to contract award.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application.
2. Financial quote at a daily rate in US Dollars including all taxes.
3. P11 form if not applying through UNICEF Employment site
4. At least 3 Reference contacts