International Consultant: Health Supply Chain Competency Framework in EECA countries

The Position:

The Individual Consultant will lead the development of a standardized, competency-based framework and qualification standards for public health supply chain managers across Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA). Key responsibilities include conducting a regional situational analysis of SCM training pathways, consulting key national and international stakeholders to identify SRH commodity management gaps, and benchmarking global SCM standards.

The consultant will design an EECA-adapted competency framework differentiating entry-level and advanced roles across core domains such as procurement, warehousing, inventory management, and quality assurance. Additionally, the consultant will establish clear learning outcomes, assessment criteria aligned with EQF principles, and policy guidance to support national adoption.

You will report to the UNFPA EECARO Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Advisor, a.i., with technical monitoring and day-to-day oversight provided by the UNFPA EECARO Regional Supply Chain Specialist. 

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

 

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody these international norms and standards and will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

 

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results

Job Purpose:

Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) programmes rely on efficient and interoperable supply chains to ensure uninterrupted access to essential commodities, including contraceptives, maternal health medicines, HPV testing systems and other regulated SRH products. In Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), however, supply chain management is not yet fully institutionalized within countries. There is no standardized curriculum for supply chain personnel, yet staff are expected to maintain high standards in procurement practices, inventory management, and quality assurance across the health supply chain. This gap contributes to suboptimal management of health products—including SRH commodities—from central warehouses to service delivery points.

A major driver of these challenges is the absence of standardized, competency-based qualification requirements for public health supply chain managers. Training opportunities across EECA vary widely in content, quality, assessment rigor, and alignment with global standards. This activity line will support the development of a structured competency framework and qualification standards tailored to the needs of supply chain personnel in EECA, aligned with international best practices, and supported by a policy brief to promote national adoption.

Purpose of the Assignment

To conduct a situational analysis, benchmark global standards, and develop an EECA-adapted competency framework and qualification assessment standards for health supply chain managers, including a policy brief to support national integration and endorsement.

Objectives

Overall Objective
To strengthen SRH commodity security in EECA by defining standardized competencies, qualification requirements, and assessment standards for public health supply chain managers.

Specific Objectives

● Assess current supply chain management (SCM) training, qualification pathways, and competency gaps relevant to public health/SRH supply chain management in EECA.
● Benchmark global and regional SCM standards and curricula to defi ne best practice competency expectations.
● Develop a competency-based framework that