Introduction
Supplies are essential to the implementation of the United
Nations’ Millennium Development Goals, UNICEF’s
priorities for children and the fulfilment of child rights.
UNICEF supplies must meet high standards for quality and value,
and be delivered in a timely manner. Supply Division is responsible
for overseeing UNICEF’s global procurement and logistics
operation, and for making sure that procurement by every Country
Office follows all organizational regulations and ethical
standards.
UNICEF’s level of procurement has increased by 12 per
cent compared to 2003, reaching a total value of $797 million
in 2004, excluding freight. This included $633 million of
offshore procurement by Supply Division alone ($561 million
in 2003). In addition, the Division processed $43 million
worth of freight services and handled $10.5 million worth
of in-kind assistance.
Developments in vaccine security, the safe delivery of HIV/AIDS-related
products including antiretroviral medicines, back-to-school
educational and recreational supplies, and the rapid introduction
of long-lasting insecticidal mosquito nets, along with coordinating
the transition to the use of artemisinin-based combination
therapies for malaria, have all demanded growth in the Division’s
procurement capacity.
These areas also require expertise in planning and forecasting
demand, knowledge acquisition and dissemination on products
and sources, regulatory reviews, close monitoring and evaluation
of product availability, and detailed attention to quality
and logistics.
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