Consultancy: Product Innovation Specialist Vitamin A Product Innovation Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark
Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
Country: Denmark
City: Copenhagen, Denmark
Office: UNICEF Copenhagen
Closing date: Monday, 15 February 2021
Consultancy: Product Innovation Specialist, Vitamin A, Product Innovation Centre, Supply Division, Cph
Job no: 537845
Position type: Consultancy
Location: Denmark Division/Equivalent: Field Results Group
School/Unit: Copenhagen
Department/Office: Supply Division, COPENHAGEN
Categories: Consultancy
Consultancy: Product Innovation Specialist, Vitamin A
Product Innovation Centre
UNICEF Supply Division
Duration: 11.5 months with the possibility for extension
Location: Copenhagen or Remote
Travel: Light travel to key meetings may be required, travel to visit relevant country programmes may be required, circumstances permitting.
Start Date: March 2021
BACKGROUND:
UNICEF procures and supplies over 5,000 products to address the needs of children. In 2019, UNICEF procured $3.826 billion worth of goods and services from all over the world, including life-saving commodities to improve the health, education, safety and well-being of children. Much of UNICEF Supply Division’s (SD) work focuses on working with suppliers and a range of partners to ensure the availability of life-saving products. SD’s work in product innovation drives the research and development of new or improved products and drives the initial demand, hereby ensuring access of fit for purpose and value for money products that can benefit children around the world.
UNICEF currently procures high dose Vitamin A Capsules (VAC) which has proven to be a very effective, low-cost intervention to address vitamin A deficiency in children 6-59 months. Globally, approximately 400 million children suffer from vitamin and micronutrient deficiency, and as part of UNICEF’s 2020-2030 strategy UNICEF aims to continue and scale the promotion of Vitamin A supplementation as a routine service to children. In addition, UNICEF both procures and receives vitamin A supplements as Contributions-in-Kind from Nutrition International (NI).
The existing dosage of Vitamin A supplementation delivered via capsules has not dramatically changed since its introduction in 1977, with infrequent updates since that time. Current administration is through a single-dose dispenser or a graduated spoon and in most countries, delivery is by a health worker or community health worker. The UNICEF Nutrition Strategy 2020-2030 calls for product innovation to improve the delivery mechanism of Vitamin A which in turn can enable caregivers and community members to take on an enhanced role in VAS administration. With product innovation there may be potential for improvements that reduce the programmatic costs of supplementation and strengthen VAS programs‘ resilience, sustainability and robustness.
UNICEF Supply Division is therefore seeking a consultant to supplement the work of the SD Product Innovation Centre (PIC) in the position of "Vitamin A Specialist - Consultant" to drive the early exploration and viability phases of the Vitamin A Innovation Project in close collaboration with the Medicines and Nutrition Centre and the nutrition team in UNICEF Programme Division.
OBJECTIVE:
The overall purpose of this full-time consultancy is to explore the potential viability and impact of a new Vitamin A delivery mechanism on UNICEF nutrition programme objectives.
DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT:
The consultant will lead key activities aiming to validate project viability and define the desired product delivery mechanism characteristics. This is envisioned through a 2-phased approach including follow components: Phase 1: Project viability
Undertake a Market Landscape to understand evolution of technologies and need for R&D
Outline the regulatory considerations and how best to work within them and meet the aim of the project
Explore cost/benefit of a product evolution for the introduction of self-administration of vitamin A supplements
Outline parameters/guardrails/implications of product innovation to work within set dosage limits and pharmaceutical product categorization
Map key market stakeholders, understand and mitigate associated risks identified
Forecast demand utilizing existing market research in the procurement strategy with additional self-administered factors and estimated costs documented and projected
Work with the Innovation Manager to establish project team with assigned roles and responsibilities
Phase 2: Define desired product
Establish and consult an Advisory Committee to act as an expert sounding board for the project
Develop a draft Target Product Profile based on market feedback and consultation
Develop clearly rationalised recommendations for whether or not UNCICEF should do anything to incentivize the R&D, and if so, which modality would be needed.
KEY DELIVERABLES:
Managing key activities through the two phases of the envisioned product innovation process:
The consultant should deliver the following for the project (using existing documentation where available in consultation with Technical Specialist, Medicines and Nutrition Centre): Phase 1 and 2 documentation:
Market Landscape
Risk overview and mitigation related to supplier base
Supplier consultation to understand limitations, incentives and implications of evolving the delivery of the product including the regulatory framework.
Demand forecast
Stakeholder mapping of all relevant actors
Project team and Advisory Committee
Target Product Profile
Consultation matrix with key stakeholder feedback
Outline of business incentives and constraints to understand how/if UNICEF and partners can and should stimulate research and development in the field.
Tags business development commodities country programmes food technology market research nutrition education procurement product development project management research and development
A final report for the project outlining potential next steps and recommendations
Project documentation (as relevant according to outcome of phase 1 and 2 activities)
Innovation Strategy
Innovation Review Board Submission Documents (internal documentation)
Project Presentation
Maintain a project plan with key milestones
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Education:
Master’s Degree in Nutrition, Pharmaceuticals, Food Technology, Food Science, Public Health, Innovation, or another relevant discipline
A First university degree combined with additional five years of relevant work experience in new product development, innovation or project management or additional courses in relevant subjects will be considered in lieu of a master’s degree if the candidate can demonstrate high level of experience with related projects.
Work Experience:
Minimum five years of relevant, progressively responsible, professional experience is required
Preferred candidate will have experience in managing innovation projects or managing scientific trials eg. acceptability trials or field trials, in either public or private sector.
Experience of working in business development/innovation/R&D of nutrients, foods, medicines, pharmaceuticals or related products
Knowledge of deploying nutrition products in developing countries is an asset.
Health and nutrition education or experience is asset
Understanding of regulatory methods for medical products and/or pharmaceuticals is an asset
Knowledge of the environment in which UNICEF operates is considered an asset
Language:
Fluency in written and spoken English is essential.
Knowledge of another UN language would be an asset.
EVALUATION PROCESS:
Qualified candidates are requested to submit:
Cover letter/application
CV
Financial quote at a monthly rate in US Dollars. Financial quote should be inclusive of service fees, taxes and all living expenses . DSA will not be paid in addition to monthly rate for this consultancy.
Examples of previous, relevant projects or work
2 written references from previous employers, or contact details for 2 referees who may be contacted
Please note that this advertisement will close on 15 February 2021. Please indicate your availability and daily rate to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a monthly rate will not be considered.
UNICEF considers best value for money as a criterion for evaluating potential candidates. As a general principle, the fees payable to a consultant or individual contractor follow the "best value for money" principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Please note that consultants and individual contractors are responsible for assuming costs for obtaining visas and travel insurance.
Successful applicants will be evaluated by the following criteria: Applicant
TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (max. 70 points)
Overall Response (15 points)
15
Overall match between the TOR requirements and the application
15
Technical Capacity (55 points)
55
Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience
10
Education (as outlined in ToR)
10
Experience in Research & Design
10
Project management experience
10
Understanding regulatory environment
5
Working in developing countries
10
TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION - Total Points
70
FINANCIAL PROPOSAL (max. 30 points)
Monthly rate
Other costs
Total estimated cost of contract
FINANCIAL PROPOSAL - Weight Combined Score
30
TOTAL SCORE (max. 100 points)
Advertised: Feb 02 2021 Romance Standard Time Application close: Feb 15 2021 Romance Standard Time
