UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, Hope


Organizational Context
With increased interest of regional (AU, Afro-CDC) and national counterparts in particular but not limited to the health sector to leverage products to and markets at the regional and national levels, UNICEF WCARO is aiming to efficiently and effectively create an enabling environment to drive product innovation and scale up within the region. This includes shifting the supply base for more commodities towards greater use of local suppliers.
The future market influencing agenda will require efforts to address new products and markets targets, and to harness the power of business more holistically to improve the lives of all children.


How can you make a difference?
Purpose of the Job
Under the guidance of the Regional Chief of Supply and in collaboration with relevant units in different HQ divisions, the RO and Country Offices, the Market Development Manager(and Product) is to identify (strategic, essential) products for adequate adaptation and production at scale. Through the application of specialized product, programmatic and partnership knowledge, the Market Development Manager (and Product) drives product innovation projects forward with the goal to enable the procurement of new, fit for purpose, end-user driven innovative products to be used for UNICEF programmatic and emergency responses.
To this end the incumbent will conduct, commission and interpret market research and discern appropriate market developing and optimization interventions. The Market Development Manager (and Product) will serve as the key interlocutor with other market shaping partners in and beyond the region.



Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks
• Identify markets in WCAR for availability and production of products not traditionally procured in the region.
Regional Focal Point for market research and analysis: Plan and execute market research projects, prepare reports of findings through graphic data illustration and translating complex findings into easy to understand and clear recommendations for both existing products, as well as product and service improvement projects in line with UNICEF’s programmatic needs.
• In close collaboration with COs, monitor pricing trends, supplier development, key product pipelines, and track key industry statistics and dynamics including as an input to procurement strategy development and particularly for new/future products, services and markets.
• Identify innovative financing possibilities for market engagement and development activities.
• Coordinate and contribute to the work on development of market influencing frameworks and policies and develop strategies for essential commodities for children through rigorous market research and analyses in the region.
• Implement local market influencing agendas based on market research and analyses for essential (and new) products and services.
• Ensure that local market shaping activities include components to empower local economies and communities through activities benefitting and making use of local knowledge and skills with the ultimate aim to improve product quality and increase production of programme relevant products in WCAR.
• Collaborate with relevant Supply Division centres and units, UNICEF COs and key external partners to help drive procurement strategies and shape critical markets for essential products and services for children.
• Develop partnership and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, in order to identify needs, align stakeholders and make greater efficiencies in implementation and scale up health innovations
• Engage with UNlCEF’s market shaping partners to drive market development and optimization agendas for multiple sectors and in line with regional political bodies.
• With regards to product development and management, identify critical intervention points and develop strategies for implementation of new innovation projects.
• Reviews and evaluates the technical, institutional and financial feasibility and constraints of programme/projects in collaboration with Government and other partners.



Impact of Results
• Identification of new product innovation projects.
• Efficiently run product innovation projects with full consideration of related regulatory frameworks and necessary approvals.
• Procurement strategies for strategic essential commodities are designed based on solid market analyses and evidence, under consideration of innovative approaches to creating healthy, dynamic and sustainable markets with affordable prices for products.
• Demand forecasts and pull mechanisms are developed where needed to help UNICEF accelerate development, improve availability, and reduce prices particularly for novel essential supplies for children.
• High quality business intelligence is maintained and kept up-to-date to inform UNICEF’s strategic engagement with key manufacturers/suppliers to ensure core business are postured to meet the needs of children.
• Situation analysis prepared/updated, critical gaps in product intervention measures identified, and work plans/recommendations prepared and incorporated.
• Market influencing interventions are supporting market goals to incentivize innovation, improve availability and/or promote affordability for selected essential supplies for children.
• Projects build local capacity in terms of manufacturing, academic, research, etc.
• Supported countries have improved local and regional markets and/or increasing in-region production to meet demand for (fit-for-purpose) products.


Competencies and level of proficiency required:
Core Values
• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability
• Sustainability


Core Competencies
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (1)
• Works collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and maintains partnership (1)
• Innovates and embraces change (1)
• Thinks and acts strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve results for impact (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)


To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
• An advanced university degree in Business, Economics, Social Sciences or other relevant field is required.
• A minimum of eight (8) years relevant professional work experience including at least three (3) at the international level preferably in a development context is required.
• Experience in the following areas in the private or public sectors is required:
• Commercial activities in developing and industrialized countries.
• Worldwide strategic procurement, contract negotiations and administration, combined with broader economic knowledge.
• Market research issues relating to health, nutrition, and/or products used in resource-poor settings.
• Development of demand forecasts, economic/epidemiological models, or other types of complex projections.
• Experience in the following areas in the private or public sectors is preferred:
• Technical support to countries with strategic procurement.
• Product Innovation projects.
• Computer applications especially data analysis/visualization applications is considered an asset.
• Fluency in French and English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.


For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values



UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.
During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks
UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.? Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.
Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Special Notice on UNICEF office relocation
UNICEF and other UN Agencies will be moving soon to the new United Nations House in Diamniadio, 30 kilometers from downtown Dakar. The name of the duty station for this position will remain Dakar, Senegal.