Strategic procurement

In a single year, UNICEF procures and delivers over five billion dollars-worth of supplies and services for children in over 160 countries, accounting for more than 20 per cent of all UN global procurement. For example, UNICEF is the world’s largest buyer of vaccines, delivering three billion doses of vaccines every year, enough to immunize nearly half of the world’s children under five.

UNICEF leverages its purchasing power and economies of scale to achieve the best possible prices for high-quality products for children, and to transform markets and close critical gaps in their access to life-saving supplies and services. 
UNICEF’s procurement is competitive and follows public procurement principles with a commitment to the highest levels of integrity, transparency and accountability. UNICEF has robust policies and procedures in place at country, regional and global levels, so that the supplies that reach children are both safe and effective.

Through advanced planning and forecasting, UNICEF works to ensure that essential supplies and services are available when children need them most. UNICEF’s procurement processes take into account factors such as market conditions, emergency preparedness and response, sustainability, contracting considerations, international transport, warehousing and in-country distribution.

Best value for money 

To achieve the best value for money, UNICEF selects offers that present the optimal combination of several factors, including quality, cost, delivery times, and social and environmental aspects.

UNICEF’s procurement is carried out by experts who are held to rigorous standards of professionalism and ethical conduct, and who ensure that the funds UNICEF is entrusted with are used in a correct, fair, timely and transparent manner.

Fairness and transparency

Fair and transparent competition lies at the heart of UNICEF’s procurement. To be effective, the process is grounded in regulations, rules and procedures that are applied consistently to all potential and existing suppliers.

UNICEF carries out procurement in a manner that assures all interested parties that the process is fair, supported by standardized solicitation documents and unbiased specifications; open advertisement of requirements; fair selection of invited suppliers; objective evaluation criteria; equal access to information; confidentiality of offers; and the publication of contract awards.

Quality assurance

To ensure that the products and services delivered to children are safe and effective, UNICEF has robust quality assurance policies and procedures in place at country, regional and global levels.