Procuring supplies for children

About Supply Division

Supply Division is responsible for overseeing UNICEF’s global procurement and logistics operations.

In 2008, UNICEF procured $1.46 billion worth of supplies for children and their families. Access to essential commodities is an intrinsic part of child rights, the World Fit for Children declaration adopted in May 2002 by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and the Millennium Development Goals.

UNICEF continued to supply vaccines reaching 56 per cent of the world's children, antiretroviral medicines for 52 countries, and remained one of the largest buyers of mosquito nets and oral rehydration salts for children and infants in the world. For the fight against malaria, the supply of mosquito nets and insecticides to sub-Saharan countries has been one of the Division’s priorities in recent years. UNICEF procurement of mosquito nets and insecticides increased from 18 million in 2007 to over 19 million in 2008.

UNICEF procurement of antiretroviral treatment packs increased from 5 million in 2007 to 6.9 million in 2008 (enough to treat 400,000 patients for one year). Over 12 million HIV rapid diagnostic test kits were also procured.

UNICEF’s procurement is guided by the organization’s priorities: child survival and development, basic education and gender equality, fighting HIV/AIDS and child protection.
UNICEF is a global leader in essential supplies for children. Vaccine security, the safe delivery of HIV/AIDS products including antiretroviral medicines, back-to-school educational and recreational supplies, and the rapid introduction of long-lasting mosquito nets and other supplies require specialist knowledge and skills. These include 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.

UNICEF’s drive towards results-based management is enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization, making it more accountable and maximizing resources for children. Offshore procurement by Copenhagen and New York totalled $1.1 billion in 2008 and warehouse activities reached a throughput of over $105 million.

Of UNICEF’s top 20 supplier countries in 2008, 11 were also countries where UNICEF supports programmes for children. Indeed, one third of UNICEF’s total procurement is from suppliers in developing countries.

Procurement Services - the provision of supplies and related management services to help governments and other partners in their efforts to procure supplies for children and their communities - totalled $699 million to 106 governments in 2008. The reach of Procurement Services goes beyond the provision of supplies, and includes in-country logistics, capacity building, and project management, amongst other activities.

Supply Division's Emergency Coordination Unit is committed to ensuring the immediate turnaround of emergency orders. The Unit also supports emergency logistics provision and develops inter-agency relations. In 2007, approximately 11,000 sea and air shipments were managed by Supply Division. Supply supported 74 countries in emergencies, shipping over $75 million worth of critical supplies. To assist emergency supply operations further, Supply Division has established a global network of emergency supply hubs, in order to get supplies to children in need and their families faster, and at minimum cost. Together with the Copenhagen warehouse, these hubs, located in Dubai, Panama, and Shanghai, contain stockpiles sufficient to meet the emergency needs of 250,000 people for three weeks. They are managed from UNICEF's main warehouse operation in Copenhagen.