Say Yes, Autumn 2002: Supply on Demand

Access to basic social services such as education, health, water and sanitation in times of peace and times of war is a fundamental right of children everywhere. This is the heart of UNICEF’s international mandate for the protection of children’s rights and in countries the world over, UNICEF supplies reinforce this principle by ensuring that children have these necessary services. During the course of 2001, procurement of supplies throughout the world reached an unprecedented US$596 million.

Overseeing global procurement for UNICEF, Supply Division (SD) is one of the largest, most technically advanced procurement agencies in the United Nations system. SD operates from its central office in Copenhagen, UNICEF headquarters in New York and from Regional Procurement Centres (RPCs) based in Ankara and Pretoria.

In order to reinforce flexibility and speed its response to need, UNICEF continues to decentralise procurement through its Country Offices. The result is that eight of the top twenty supplier countries are also countries where UNICEF supports programmes for children. High quality standards are maintained and reciprocal benefits to local economies of increased production and job-creation are a bonus.

Country Offices can purchase goods such as water and sanitation equipment, information technology, office and educational materials and print to the value of US$50,000 without prior authorisation from the Director of Supply Division. However, for more substantial resources with commensurately larger budgets, Country Offices rely on the services of SD and the RPCs.

During 2001, the RPC in Ankara continued to expand, providing a wide range of supplies to UNICEF Country Offices in the Middle East and Asia. The total value of procurement by the Ankara RPC almost reached the US$15 million mark.

The Oil for Food Programme

Last year, the greater part of the Ankara RPC’s activities were focused on the Oil for Food Programme (OFFP). The OFFP provides an oil for food formula designed as a “temporary measure to provide for the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people” in the face of continuing Sanctions.

The major strengths of UNICEF’s activities in Iraq include the ability to conduct and disseminate the results of credible studies and surveys, capacity building and flexibility to respond to changing and emerging needs. Ankara RPC has a vital role in servicing this response to need.

Under the 1996 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the United Nations and the Government of Iraq, the OFFP operates and monitors initiatives in:

• Water and Sanitation;
• Primary Education;
• Nutrition;
• Primary Health Care;
• Children in Need of Special Protection (CINSPM).

Last year, the total value of supplies procured for the programme through Ankara RPC totalled US$10.5 million.

Back to School in Afghanistan

At the end of 2001, following twenty years of war and a subsequent three years of drought, the people of Afghanistan were imperilled by the onset of a harsh winter and the disruptive effects of further military action. UNICEF was one of the first United Nations agencies to deliver emergency supplies to the beleaguered country, initially focusing on the most vulnerable women and children.

Anticipating the severe effects of the coming winter on the newly homeless population Ankara RPC obtained 7,500 semi-winterised tents within the space of six weeks. Other essential supplies procured within Turkey included: 180 tonnes of high-energy biscuits; cooking utensils; winter boots and jackets; blankets, school kits and generators.

ARPC continues to procure educational items for the new Afghan administration’s Back to School campaign (BTS) which is organising an entire curriculum and educational structure from scratch.

In order to avoid the severe Winter conditions, school year in Afghanistan traditionally begins in Spring. In early 2002, over 7,000 tonnes of educational materials including books, blackboards, pencils, jotters, teaching aids and tents for use as temporary classrooms were delivered to virtually every school in the country. By opening day, 93% of 3,000 schools were supplied with materials -- UNICEF’s most extensive logistical effort ever in support of education.

Between 1.5 and 2 million children returned to school. For many of them, it was their visit to a formal classroom in six years. BTS is currently in its second phase, procurement having reached the US$3.8 million mark, and Phase III will be completed by the end of March, 2003 when supplies of school kits will have been distributed through the Kabul Centre.

Emergency procurement through the Ankara RPC was valued at US$3.5 million for Afghanistan last year.

At Home

On an ongoing basis, the Ankara RPC works locally with the Turkish Government to obtain medical supplies and vaccines for the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Since all items procured by the Ankara RPC are made in Turkey, efforts were made to improve understanding of UNICEF procurement procedures by the corporate sector here. Many new suppliers such as manufacturers of educational and building materials have been added to the list of qualified suppliers as a direct result of the initiative.

It is expected that Turkey’s competitive manufacturing capacity, well-established logistics infrastructure and its location at the crossroads of three continents will be continue to be an advantageous supply and delivery source for UNICEF.

Read more about the UNICEF Turkey Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Programme. For the latest information about the Oil for Food Programme in Iraq, see the UNICEF Iraq Press Room. Read more about the Back-to-School Programme in Afghanistan.

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