Background
In June 2024, the Government of South Sudan represented by the Ministry of Health and the South Sudan AIDS Commission, the Global Fund, the GAVI Alliance and UNDP signed the โDeclaration of Commitment and Joint Collaboration to Fight HIV, TB and Malaria, and Strengthen Immunization and Health Systems. Through this declaration, the undersigned reaffirmedย the importance of the Global Fund and Gavi Alliance partnership with South Sudan, combining the strength of government, civil society, private sector and people affected by HIV, TB and Malaria, low vaccine coverage and weak health systems, the undersigned commit to continue cooperation and partnership to improve the response to HIV, TB, Malaria, and immunization coverage.
During the planning stages for the recently launched HSTP, UNICEF supported a comprehensive assessment of the national supply chain system.[1]ย A main purpose of the assessment was to identify both opportunities and challenges for ensuring an uninterrupted supply of essential medicines and vaccines throughout the lifecycle of the project.ย The assessment built on similar previous assessments which, amongst other findings, identified significant hindrances to the achievement of one country-wide, government-lead supply chain system capable of end-to-end supply chain management, from quantification and procurement, to storage, distribution, last-mile availability and visibility of essential health care commodities, and timely and effective medical waste management on a continuous and reliable basis.[2]ย
While the vision remains compelling, as the UNICEF report details, the MOH and its stakeholders remain at some distance from achieving it.ย This reality was most recently mapped through a joint Global Fund/GAVI-lead rapid assessment whose guiding analytical frameworks included GAVIโs Immunization Supply Chain Strategy 2021-2025 and the Global Fundโs guidance on investment in procurement and supply chain systems.[3]ย
In May 2026, UNDP/GF South Sudan has received an award from the GAVI Alliance for strategic investment in supply chain strengthening and vaccine management.ย The US$2.6 million budget award support strengthening interventions, including new cold-chain installations, infrastructure improvements and warehouse expansion. This award runs up to June 2026, and includes a 9 monthsย TA to optimize the storage and distribution capacity for health commodities in South Sudan.
Through the HSTP investment, the Global Fundโs RSSH and C19RM investment, and the proposed additional support from GAVI, a number of gaps have been prioritised.ย The additional support from GAVI will be strategically positioned to build on these investments and initiatives to deliver maximum efficiencies, outcomes and impact from this critical opportunity.
The recruitment of an International Individual Consultant is planned to expedite the procurement processes associated with the GAVI-funded investments in Supply Chain Strengthening in South Sudan. These investments focus on:
Supporting procurement activities for the strengthening and expansion of cold chain capacity at the Central Medical Stores, Konyokonyo site. Facilitating procurement activities for the expansion of dry storage capacity at the Central Medical Stores, Riverside/Gumbo site. ObjectiveThe objective of this assignment is to strengthen procurement systems and operational efficiency to support the implementation of Global Fund, the Election Project, and other development initiatives in South Sudan. Specifically, the consultant will:
Develop rosters of qualified suppliers, including construction companies through a formal pre-qualification process, and NGOs/CSOs for potential engagement in project implementation; Prepare tendering documents for construction services based on the scope of work, bills of quantities (BoQs), and drawings provided by the project engineering team, including the preparation of bidding documents for the Cold Chain Capacity Enhancement at the Konyokonyo site and the Dry Storage Expansion at the Riverside/Gumbo site, following the pre-qualification process; Analyze procurement data from the Quantum system to assess procurement plan versus actual delivery, identify performance gaps and bottlenecks, and provide actionable recommendations to enhance procurement efficiency; Support the review and analysis of outstanding Purchase Orders (POs), including identifying those with no further obligations or remaining balances, and facilitating coordination with project teams to ensure accurate PO closure and improved data integrity;ย
[1]ย UNICEF. 2023.ย ย Accelerating Childrenโs Access to Health Products and Services in South Sudan.ย Juba: UNICEF.
[2]ย The vision for the countryโs supply chain was set out in 2022 with the launch of the South Sudan Pharmaceutical Policy and Strategy, developed by the MOH with the support of WHO and other stakeholders, including UNICEF and UNDP.ย It was further reinforced in the Health Sector Strategic Plan 2023-2027.ย
[3]ย Global Fund and GAVI. 2024.ย Supply Chain Managementโ.ย GF/GAVI joint missionโ South Sudan. PowerPoint presentation.ย November 6, 2024.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall guidance of the Procurement Team Lead and in close coordination with the Global Fund and UNDP South Sudan Procurement Unit, the Procurement Specialist will be responsible for ensuring effective delivery of procurement services for Global Fund, Election Project and other Country Office-managed projects. The incumbent will provide technical support across the full procurement cycle and promote a collaborative, client-oriented, and results-focused approach. The Procurement Specialist will also contribute to developing sustainable and strategic sourcing solutions to improve service delivery and ensure value for money.
Support the elaboration and implementation of procurement strategies and sourcing plans
Develop and implement tailored procurement strategies for complex infrastructure and service-related tenders including: Cold Chain Capacity Enhancement โ Konyokonyo Site Dry Storage Expansion โ Riverside/Gumbo Site Media Placement Services โ Election Project Conduct procurement risk assessments and recommend risk mitigation and quality assurance measures. Apply UNDPโs standard templates (e.g., UNall, Quantum) to ensure alignment with project scopes, technical specifications, budgets, and procurement timelinesManage end-to-end procurement processes and ensure compliance with UNDP policies
Coordinate the preparation, finalization, and advertisement of solicitation documents (RFQs, ITBs, RFPs), incorporating BoQs, technical specifications, and designs as applicable. Lead and facilitate pre-bid meetings and site visits for infrastructure-related procurements. Organize and coordinate bid evaluations, ensuring full adherence to UNDP regulations and approved evaluation criteria. Prepare evaluation reports in UNall and coordinate review and clearance processes through CAP/RCAP or delegated bodies. Draft contracts using standard UNDP formats and support contract negotiations where required. Ensure timely and accurate drafting, issuance, and contract administration including milestone tracking, risk logs, and supplier performance management.Lead pre-qualification and roster development initiatives
Design and manage pre-qualification exercises for construction firms, including development of criteria, solicitation tools, and evaluation frameworks. Develop and maintain rosters of pre-qualified suppliers categorized by region, capacity, and area of specialization. Establish and periodically update rosters of qualified NGOs and CSOs to support Global Fund and other projectsโ implementation.Evaluation Management
Organize and facilitate pre-bid meetings and site visits for the infrastructure tenders (Cold Chain and Dry Storage). Coordinate evaluations for all tenders, ensuring strict adherence to the approved evaluation criteria. Draft evaluation reports in UNall for submission to CAP/RCAP or delegated review bodies. Conduct value-for-money (VfM) assessments and provide justifications for award recommendations.Contracting and Contract Management
Draft contracts for all four tenders based on evaluation results, using standard UNDP templates. Develop contract-specific management tools such as milestone trackers and risk analysis sheets. Monitor implementation progress of the Cold Chain and Dry Storage contracts in coordination with engineering teams, ensuring compliance with contractual terms and construction schedules. Provide technical support in managing contractor performance, especially for service-based contracts under Media Placement and Printing Services.Monitor post-award contract performance and ensure timely closure
Track implementation progress for infrastructure contracts in coordination with engineers and program teams. Monitor compliance with construction timelines, quality standards, and contract terms. Maintain and update Defects Liability Period (DLP) trackers, coordinate retention releases, and oversee PO closure processes in Quantum and UNall. Provide support in monitoring service-based contracts such as Media and Printing Services, ensuring timely deliverables and proper documentation.Promote knowledge sharing and continuous improvement within the Procurement Unit
Participate in periodic team meetings to share updates, identify bottlenecks, and support integrated planning. Contribute to lessons learned, process improvements, and development of SOPs and procurement guidance tools. Mentor junior team members and provide on-the-job training related to infrastructure procurement and strategic sourcing.Promote sustainable procurement practices
Integrate sustainable procurement practices into sourcing strategies including promoting low-carbon logistics and environmentally preferred products (e.g., sea freight, reduced packaging). Document and monitor sustainability metrics associated with selected procurement interventions.Perform other relevant duties as assigned
Provide ad hoc procurement advisory support to the Procurement Team Lead and relevant stakeholders. Support audit processes and implement recommendations related to procurement operations. Represent the Procurement Unit in interagency or external coordination platforms as assignedCompetencies Core 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:ย 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 makingย
Cross-Functional & Technical competenciesย Thematic Area Name Definition Business Direction & Strategy Effective Decision Making
Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner inย
line with one's authority, area of expertise andย
resources and take into consideration potentialย
wider implications. Business Development Knowledge Generation
Ability to research information and to turn it intoย
useful knowledge, relevant for context, orย
responsive to a stated need. Ability to applyย
existing concepts to new situations, and to developย
new concepts to generate workable solutions andย
new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts,ย
conceptual models, and theories that can beย
useful in addressing new situations Business Management Communication
Communicate in a clear, concise andย
unambiguous manner both through written andย
verbal communication; to tailor messages andย
choose communication methods depending on theย
audience.ย ยAbility to manage communicationsย
internally and externally, through media, socialย
media and other appropriate channels Procurement Contract management
Knowledge of contractย
management concepts, principlesย
and methods, and ability to applyย
this to strategic and/or practicalย
situations Procurement Procurement management
The ability to acquire goods,ย
services or works from
an outside external source Procurement Strategic sourcing
Knowledge of strategic sourcingย
concepts, principles and methods,ย