Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
After 8 years of conflict, Yemen still faces an unprecedented political, humanitarian, and development crisis. Yemen’s conflict broke into a full-blown civil war in March 2015. Despite the continued efforts by the UN to broker a peace deal, Yemen continues to be the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. An estimated 24 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, and Yemen already lost 21 years of developments gains just until 2019 after four-year of conflict. UNDP predicts that if the conflict persists unabated, Yemen will have the greatest depth of poverty (11.7 million people into extreme poverty), and second poorest in income inequality of any country in the world. The un-extended truce of April 2022 still holds in the country, with renewed hope for a peace process to be launched under the auspices of the UN.
Four years into the civil conflict, there are some glimmers of hope that a political breakthrough can be achieved and bring the war to an end. In anticipation, UNDP is scaling up its programming and staff capacity in Yemen to support the peace process going forward. In this regard, UNDP elaborated a revised country strategy note that focuses on supporting the transition from humanitarian to development, through three main pillars: (a) green economic recovery; (b) governance and peacebuilding; and (c) climate change, water, energy and environment.
UNDP is striving to ensure its procurement function and practices are an integral part of UNDP’s competitive advantage as a development partner of choice. This requires placing more attention on strategically integrating procurement at the project design stage, stimulating innovation in specifications and technologies, and adopting more sustainable production and consumption practices that align with UNDPs sustainable development goals. Sustainable procurement means making sure products, services, and purchases are as sustainable as possible with the lowest environmental impact and most positive social results. In implementing UNDP strategic procurement priorities, Country offices will strive to use flexible methods for high-value/low-risk and timely delivery that meet the needs of its clients and key stakeholders
Position Purpose:
Under the guidance and direct supervision of the DRR, Operations Manager, or Procurement Specialist, the Procurement Associate ensures execution of effective, efficient and transparent procurement services and processes in CO. The Procurement Associate may supervise and/or lead the support staff of the CO Procurement Unit. S/he promotes a client-focused, quality, and results-oriented approach in the Unit.
The Procurement Associate works in close collaboration with Operations, Programme and project teams in the Country Office, Region and UNDP HQ and with vendors to exchange information and resolve complex procurement-related issues.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
Duties and Responsibilities
| 1.) Implement sustainable procurement strategies and policies that are in alignment with principles of fairness, integrity and transparency to achieve best value for money. |
| Example of Duties: | - Ensure full compliance of procurement activities with UNDP rules, regulations, policies, through implementation of effective internal controls.
- Elaborate the contents of internal procurement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and map CO procurement business processes in consultation with direct supervisor and office management.
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| 2.) Organize procurement processes for CO, projects, and other UN Agencies. |
| Example of Duties: | - Provide guidance and inputs to the project team on procurement plans for the country office and projects.
- Prepare and conduct RFQ, ITB or RFP, and receive and evaluate quotations, bids or proposals in full compliance with UNDP rules and regulations.
- Prepare Purchase orders and contracts in and outside e-procurement, prepare recurring purchase orders for contracting services, and create vendors and buyer profiles in e-procurement.
- Prepare submissions for internal procurement review committees (CAP, RACP, and ACP).
- Prepare reports on procurements in CO.
- Implement or partake in joint procurement processes for the UN agencies in line with the UN reform.
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| 3.) Implement sourcing strategies to find best values in the marketplace and align purchasing strategy to project and CO goals. |
| Example of Duties: | - Develop and update rosters of suppliers.
- Implement supplier selection and evaluation.
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| 4.) Facilitate procurement knowledge building and knowledge sharing in CO. |
| Example of Duties: | - Organize procurement training for operations and project staff.
- Organize procurement training for vendors on e-procurement modules.
- Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in procurement.
- Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
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| 5.) Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment |
| Example of Duties: | - Ensure gender sensitive/enabling procurement in different procurement processes as per the UNDP guidelines including consultants’ selections, tenders’ announcements, and selections;
- Keep track of women led contractors and encourage/enhance their capacities to apply for different UNDP bidding;
- Ensure UNDP contractors are obliged/committed to UNDP gender sensitive polices, regulations;
- Support the institutional and technical capacity of the UNDP staff and stakeholder on gender sensitive/enabling procurement.
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| The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization |
| Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: May supervise support staff in Procurement Unit |
Competencies
| Core : Full list of UNDP Core Competencies can be found here |
| Achieve Results | LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work |
| Think Innovatively | LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking |
| Learn Continuously | LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning |
| Adapt with Agility | LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process |
| Act with Determination | LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously |
| Engage and Partner | LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships |
| Enable Diversity and Inclusion | LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making |
| People Management (Insert below standard sentence if the position has direct reports.) UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. Cross-Functional & Technical competencies (insert up to 7 competencies) | Thematic Area | Name | Definition | | Procurement | Sourcing | - Ability to find, evaluate and engage suppliers of goods and services
| | Procurement | Financial Analysis | - Knowledge of evaluating businesses, projects, budgets, and other finance related transactions to determine their performance and suitability
| | Procurement | Procurement Management | - The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source.
| | Procurement | Stakeholder Management | - Ability to work with incomplete information and balance competing interests to create value for all stakeholders
| | Business Management | Customer Satisfaction/ClientManagement | - Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfill and understand the real customers’ needs.
- Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy
- Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests
- Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns
| | Business Management | Risk Management | - Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks
| | Business Management | Communication | - Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
- Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
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Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Secondary education is required
- A university degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics or equivalent will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.
- CIPS level 2 is a requirement for this position. If certification is not available at the time of recruitment, it should be obtained within one year.
Experience:
- Minimum of 6 years (with high school diploma) or 3 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant progressively responsible administrative experience is required at the national and international level. Experience in public sector procurement of goods and services would be an advantage.
- Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advanced knowledge of web-based management systems such as ERP.
Language:
- Fluency in both English and Arabic languages is required.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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