Organizational Context

General Assembly Resolution 2186 (XXI) decided to “bring into operations the United Nations Capital Development Fund as an organ of the General Assembly which shall function as an autonomous organization of the United Nations. The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) assists developing countries, especially least developing countries, in the development of their economies by supplementing existing sources of capital assistance by means of grants, loans, and guarantees. UNCDFs vision is to help mobilize and catalyze an increase of capital flows for SDG impactful investments to Member States to address the most pressing development challenges facing vulnerable communities in these countries and thereby contribute to sustainable economic growth and equitable prosperity.

UNCDF utilizes its unique capability in the UN system to deploy grants, loans and guarantees to crowd-in finance for the scaling of development impact. UNCDF focuses on where the needs are greatest, a deliberate focus and capability rooted in UNCDF’s unique investment mandate to support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the Doha Programme of Action for the least developed countries, 2022–2031.

As per its Strategic Framework, UNCDF works to deploy its functions as a hybrid development organization and development finance institution. UNCDF responds to Member States requests for assistance by providing targeted technical and financial advisory services on investments for development outcomes, designing bespoke financial structuring solutions, undertaking financial derisking of investments, and enhancing investment readiness of SDG aligned projects in partnership with private sector, UNOs, International and Local Finance Institutions, Development Finance Institutions as well as Foundations and Philanthropy, among others. UNCDF works to develop local financial systems, new markets and mobilize and crowd in capital from public and private sources. UNCDF is driven by a partnership mindset which enables it to deploy its different capital capabilities in highly tailored and responsive ways in order to mobilize investments flows from other sources, in particular from the private sector.  By structuring transactions which are highly impactful, but also recognize the need for multiplying the impact of its own capital, UNCDF seeks to position itself as a preferred partner for different stakeholders.  UNCDF’s work is focused on six priority areas, including:

• Sub-national and local infrastructure financing
• Women owned enterprise financing
• Nature and climate financing
• Energy and decarbonization finance
• Sustainable food systems financing
• Inclusive digital finance

Following a recent restructuring, UNCDF’s organizational set up includes an Investment and Implementation Division (IID), Investment and Finance Oversight Division (IFOD), Operations and Oversight Division (OOD) and a Directorate of the Executive Office. UNCDF staff and personnel are located in regional hubs based in Dakar (Senegal), Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand) with sub-regional presence in a number of locations in the Caribbean and Pacific Regions. UNCDF is led by an Executive Secretary based out of New York. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 2321(XXII, para 1.a), the Administrator of the UNDP performs the function of the Managing Director of UNCDF. UNCDF is overseen by the Executive Board of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and performs the function of the Executive Board of UNCDF.

Position Purpose

The Procurement Specialist, directly reporting to the Operations Effectiveness and Assurance Advisor, works closely with global, regional, and country projects/programme and HQ teams, and is responsible for critical and practical guidance on procurement implementation. From the oversight perspective, s/he performs a quality assurance function on all aspects of UNCDF procurement actions and flags issues of concern on those requiring Senior Management attention in a timely manner. The Procurement Specialist facilitates alignment and linkage with regional and corporate strategies and priorities, tracks procurement performance against corporate standards, and escalates performance issues to his/her supervisor as needed. UNCDF follows UNDP’s programme and operations policies and procedures (POPP).

To be successful in this role, the Procurement Specialist needs to have excellent procurement knowledge and good understanding of programme and project management, including risk management as well as analytical skills. In addition, s/he is expected to have strong soft skills as the primary clients for this position is not necessarily knowledgeable in procurement function. S/he is expected to share a common goal in task teams to design and deliver effective development programmes while using procurement as a critical means to achieve the goal. S/he, therefore, should have strong teambuilding, inter-personal and communication skills, be client-oriented, and can look at issues from different angles and find creative solutions.

The Procurement Specialist will be based in Bangkok, Thailand, will be expected to travel occasionally, and will supervise staff members located in multiple locations.  UNCDF staff may be periodically redeployed, in accordance with capability, consent, and due process, to a different regional hub or HQ as needed.

UNCDF adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages cross interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. Therefore, UNCDF personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Key Duties and Accountabilities

1)    Ensures provision of a broad range of advisory services to programmes, projects, other UNCDF units 

• Ensure the provision of goods and services required by the global, regional, or country projects/programme and HQ teams as well.
• Advises UNCDF’s programme and project teams on the formulation of procurement plans to ensure consistency with UNCDF programmatic strategy.
• Represent UNCDF in the High-Level Committee on Management (HLCM) Procurement Network.
• Coordinate vendor sanction processes with UN Agencies and ensure compliance with UN sanctions list in coordination with HLCM’s Procurement Network.
• Anticipate procurement needs by advising UNCDF teams during the formulation of the project documents and workplans.
• Contribute to the preparation of procurement plans for pipeline projects.
• Ensure sustainable procurement goals are woven into the strategies and implementation of procurement actions.
• Assess risks and formulates proposals that facilitate decision-making process and contribute to effective implementation of overall procurement strategy.
• Advise on procurement activities during all phases of the procurement cycle through the regional procurement teams.
• Analyzes and evaluates procurement plans to harmonize strategies and ensure appropriateness and consistency with organizational needs.
• Establishes and maintains a system for contract management.
• Ensures elaboration and implementation of operational strategies together with the procurement team.
• Full compliance of procurement activities with UNDP/UNCDF rules, regulations, policies and strategies; elaboration of the effective internal control, proper design and functioning of a client-oriented procurement management system.
• Elaboration and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies.
• Conceptualization, elaboration, and implementation of contract strategy including tendering processes and evaluation, contractor appraisal, evaluation and negotiation of offers, management of the contract and contractor, legal considerations and payment conditions, and risk assessment.
• Conceptualization, elaboration and implementation of strategic procurement including sourcing strategy, supplier selection and evaluation, quality management, customer relationship management, e-procurement and promotion, and performance measurement.
• Provides advice on correct interpretation of contract terms and clauses, penalties, handling of performance guarantees, and any other issues related to contracts or purchase orders.
• Work in close coordination with UNDP ITM to enhance the use of Oracle Cloud to be fit-for-purpose for UNCDF procurement architecture.
• Develop and manage rosters of suppliers for UNCDF, where required.

2)    Ensures efficient management of procurement processes for UNCDF.

• Manage vendor protests for decisions by the Executive Secretary and ensure UNCDF’s compliance with Anti-Money Laundering/Countering Financial Terrorism (AML/CFT) policy.
• Guide and review pre-qualification criteria for procurement of goods and services.
• Review and/or develop bid documents, evaluation criteria, and provide guidance/support to the project/programme and HQ teams.
• Review and/or prepare Ex-ante submissions for approval by appropriate procurement committees.
• Coordinate and advice in formal evaluation of bids, processing of technical clarifications on behalf of evaluation committee and finalization of commercial evaluation of bids.
• Review of submissions to the UNDP Advisory Committee on Procurement (ACP), including active coordination and resolution of any issues.
• In consultation with the Systems and Technology Specialist, develop dashboards and business intelligence to ensure transparent procurement information teams and management.
• Maintain auditable procurement and contracting records in compliance with UNCDF standards.
• Identification of procurement bottleneck/issues and provision of strategic advice to management ensuring remedial action is taken.

3)    Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Organization of training and knowledge building on procurement, contract management, and associated areas.
• Organization of trainings for project partners on procurement, as required.
• Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in procurement.
• Contribute to the further development of systems, processes, tools and methods relevant to UNCDF mandate such as loans, guarantees, etc.

4)  Lead the identification and assessment of procurement risks

• Maintain a high level of awareness concerning potential risks that could occur at different stages during procurement activities, e.g. regarding the sourcing and selection of vendors, throughout the procurement process, and after the award of the contract.
• Assess risks of all types, i.e. social and environmental, financial, legal, reputation of UNCDF etc. and address these risks effectively through preventive actions and report incidents through appropriate management channels.
• Analyze risks and choose actions consistent with UNDP/UNCDF procurement rules, regulations and standards and in line with social and environmental safeguards.

Core Competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3

• Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3

• Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3

• Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3

• Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3

• Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3

• Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3

• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management Competencies:

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Procurement: Strategic Sourcing    

• Knowledge of strategic sourcing concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations

Procurement: Contract Management    

• Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations

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 Direction and Strategy: Systems Thinking     

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Management: Risk Management    

• Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.

Business Management: Portfolio Management     

• Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics or Business Administration or supply chain management or relevant related field is required, OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Certification in CIPS level 2 and 3 are required.
• CIPS level 4 is a requirement for this position. If certification is not available at the time of recruitment, it should be obtained within one year.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:

• A minimum of 7 years (with a master’s degree) or 9 years (with a bachelor’s degree) at national or international level in public, government and/or UN procurement management.
• Experience in procurement advisory functions and compliance review processes in UNDP/UNCDF is highly desired.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in purchasing methods, procedures, and techniques is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in sourcing a variety of goods, works and services and experience in methods of analyzing procurement needs is required.
• Comprehensive understanding and experience using and interpreting UNDP POPP on Procurement and Procurement review is an advantage.
• Experience in managing diverse and globally disbursed teams is required.
• Strong IT skills, including business automation is a distinct advantage.
• Experience working in UNDP and/or UN Agency Country Offices is a distinct advantage.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
•  Knowledge of another UN Official Language, particularly French, is a strong asset.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements