UNV Supply Chain Officer - Algeria

UN Entity: WFP Algeria

Assignment Context:
Algeria has been hosting refugees from the Western Sahara since 1975. This is a prolonged and forgotten refugee crisis, being the second oldest in the world. The refugees live in five camps – Awserd, Boujdour, Dakhla, Laayoun and Smara – near the town of Tindouf, 2,000 km southwest of Algiers. The Government of Algeria has granted special status to the Sahrawi authorities for the administration of the territory temporarily occupied by them. The Sahrawi authorities, based in Rabouni, are responsible for camps administration: a situation that is unique in the world.

The camps are in an arid region, characterized by extreme heat and very low rainfall, livelihood and employment opportunities. The refugees are highly dependent on humanitarian assistance, including food. UNHCR, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization, local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the Sahrawi Red Crescent and the Algerian Red Crescent coordinate the humanitarian interventions.

Task description:
The UNV Supply Chain Officer will report to the Deputy Country Director. The job holder will make definite contributions within the established policies and procedures by applying considerable knowledge derived from educational training and practical experience; and will exercise independent analysis for further reviews and decisions. The job holder will also act as team leader for a small supply chain team, taking lead of operations, working closely and in coordination with the relevant stakeholders.

Key responsibilities:
1. Contribute to the development and implementation of supply chain plans and procedures, in line with the global WFP supply chain strategy and regional/functional strategies, policies and plans, to achieve operational cost efficiency, agility, reliability, quality and to support national capacity strengthening.
2. Provide substantive contributions to country context analyses and to the management of end-toend operational supply chain and retail networks, in support of operational supply chain challenges and operational optimization.
3. Contribute to the planning and implementation of supply chain operations, initiatives, and services to ensure a timely, cost-effective, and integrated approach and in close cooperation with CRA and other SC service providers
4. Perform analyses and detailed conceptual work putting together comprehensive reports, identifying opportunities for improvement and effective operationalization of supply chain within the area of responsibility.
5. Conduct regular financial analysis and budget reviews, drawing out insights and recommending actions to CO management for maximizing use of resources and effectiveness of supply chain operations.
6. Build and maintain productive partnerships mostly at the operational level and collaborate with counterparts in the key supply chain functions contributing to an integrated supply chain approach to food assistance and cross-functional operational alignment.
7. Build and maintain productive partnerships with supply chain counterparts amongst government and other national organizations, UN agencies, NGOs and private sector to share operational knowledge contributing to coordinated and cost-effective supply chain operations.
8. Provide technical contribution to market analysis and supply chain network mapping to inform the selection of an appropriate operation modalities to improve supply chain performance.
9. Manage less complex supply chain operations, in compliance with the established supply chain strategies, policies, procedures and controls, and following corporate standards, with special emphasis on quality control, loss prevention, risk mitigation and cost effectiveness.
10.Support the monitoring of supply chain activities to check that appropriate internal controls are followed to increase the day-to-day efficiencies and overall performance of supply chain operations.
11.Support management of service providers/vendors, port, fleet and warehouse operations to promote safe, efficient planning and execution of WFP operations.
12.Prepare accurate, comprehensive, and timely reports, dashboards and other visual materials on supply chain activities including trends to support informed decision-making and consistency of information presented to the stakeholders.
13.Guide and supervise staff, acting as a point of referral, providing training and supporting them with more complex analysis and queries.
14.Contribute to preparedness actions and support quick emergency response to deploy food and resources at the onset of the crisis.

Food and Good & Services Procurement:

• Contribute towards the development of procurement plans and processes ensuring compliance with wider procurement policies and WFP standards.
• Support or manage procurement programs and operational activities, (e.g. issue tenders, evaluate offers and negotiate/award contracts), following standard processes to contributing to successful procurement of food and non-food commodities or services.
• Track and analyse data to provide recommendations for process improvement.
• Collate data and contribute to preparation of accurate and timely reports of procurement activities, to contribute to a WFP wide view that enables informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders, leading to performance optimization.
• Collate information and draft appropriate responses to recommendations to support auditing of procurement activities and ensure conformity with compliance rules.
• Work in close collaboration with internal counterparts and external partners including suppliers, superintendents, companies, etc to align procurement activities with wider programmes and ensure a coherent approach to meeting food assistance needs.
• Support training of WFP staff to take a strategic and proactive approach to the procurement of food and non-food commodities and services, for example designing and reviewing training materials.
• Guide and supervise staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with more complex analysis and queries.
• Follow standard emergency preparedness practices to ensure WFP Algeria can quickly respond and deploy food and needed goods and services to affected areas at the onset of the crisis.
• Coordinate closely with the CO BPU and SC RBC to stay abreast of latest developments & best practices and ensure a harmonized approach to SC CO operations management.

Languages
French, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable
English, Level: Fluent, Required

Inclusivity statement:
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

Living conditions and remarks
Algiers is a "family duty station" and the languages spoken are French and Arabic.
Algiers is a city that has many benefits, both human and cultural. It has a rich past and its people are very hospitable.

Although it is relatively easy to find apartments or houses in recommended areas, it should be noted that the rents are equivalent to those of developed countries and that payment of a year's rent in advance is usually requested. The UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

Goods and basic services are easily available. Complex health interventions may require evacuation.Payments are made primarily in cash. ATM cash withdrawal is limited and payment by electronic funds transfer is not yet possible. The network of fixed and mobile telephone is effective. Algiers is well served by airlines and national and international maritime which connect too many foreign capitals.

A security clearance is subject to the approval of the Designated Official (DO) for any United Nations staff/personnel (including UN Volunteers) to travel to Algiers. Any request for travel outside the wilaya of Algiers must be authorized by national authorities for diplomats and accredited personnel.