UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
For every child, the right to a Future
How can you make a difference?
The core mission of UNICEF is to advance the rights of every child, regardless of location, in all aspects of its work—including programs, advocacy, and operations. The organization’s equity strategy focuses on the most marginalized and excluded children and families, putting children’s rights into tangible action. For UNICEF, equity ensures that all children have the chance to survive, grow, and achieve their full potential without facing discrimination, bias, or favoritism. Any child who faces an unequal opportunity in life—be it social, political, economic, civic, or cultural—experiences a violation of their rights. Increasing evidence shows that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged members, and addressing inequality, helps all children realize their potential and contributes to the sustained growth and stability of nations.
Purpose of the assignment
Under the direct supervision of the Supply and Logistics Specialist, the Logistics Associate is responsible for supporting the continuous provision of affordable and high-quality supplies and services. This support is tailored to the specific context and is carried out in strict compliance with UNICEF’s policies, procedures, and ethical standards.
Summary of Key Functions/Accountabilities
- Clearance of incoming goods
- In-country logistics
- Support for warehouse and inventory management activities
- Reporting
Planning
- Liaise with Programme Section and Procurement Services Team to prepare all required import regulatory submissions to the appropriate agency.
- Liaise with Programme Section and Procurement Services Team to ensure supply plan incorporate a distribution plan and required funding source.
- Prepare in consultation with Supervisor estimate logistics commitments and allocation to vendors.
- Monitor logistics spend and on a quarterly basis review adequacy of the outstanding logics commitments.
Clearance and Forwarding of Incoming Goods
- Verify that all necessary documentation complies with export and import regulations.
- Issue letters of Authority (LoA) in a timely manner to relevant state ministries, clearing agents, and customs or regulatory bodies before shipments arrive in the country.
- Closely monitor the clearance process, promptly address any issues or queries, and ensure adherence to all customs regulations and tariffs.
- Ensure the Unit’s monitoring tools are timely update to ensure accurate visibility of LoAs against the commitments raised to vendors.
In-Country Logistics
- Initiate requests to select reliable freight forwarders or shipping companies from approved transport vendors for the movement of goods.
- Coordinate with the selected carrier to arrange for timely pick-up and delivery of goods.
- Track shipments in real time and proactively address any delays or issues that arise.
- Confirm that all goods are delivered safely and on time to their intended destinations.
Support for Warehouse and Inventory Management Activities
- Ensure all movement of goods is accurately recorded in Vision, in line with UNICEF guidelines.
- Promote good warehouse management practices and ensure that third parties are trained accordingly.
- Supervise the receipt and dispatch of consignments and supplies.
- Prepare stock reports, monitor inventory to identify trends, and track inventory status from source to beneficiary.
- Conduct regular physical inventory counts in the warehouses.
- Prepare documentation for the disposal of commodities through the Property Survey Board committee.
- Track supplies near expiration and ensure compliance with FIFO (First In, First Out) and FEFO (First Expired, First Out) approaches.
Reporting and Monitoring
- Ensure all logistics movements of goods are reported according to UNICEF guidelines.
- Monitor the performance of contractors to track Key Performance Indicators and identify any bottlenecks in logistics processes.
- Maintain and develop further Unit’s monitoring tools to ensure real-time monitoring, tracking and regular reports to management and Programme Section of the status of UNICEF and PS shipments.
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: ToR - Logistics Associate Lagos_GS6 TA_20260714.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
- Education: Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to supply chain, business administration, contract/commercial law, or another relevant technical field.
- Work Experience: A minimum of six years of relevant administrative experience in supply chain management or a commercial context is required.
- Skills: Desirables: 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 The 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 Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels. UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status. UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance. UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially. UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be 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 canceled. Remarks: As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply. Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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. UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information. UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to UNICEF personnel only).
The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member's original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force. Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities. Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category. All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates. Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.- Comprehensive knowledge of specialized topics, including relevant supply chain processes, partnership mechanisms, and public sector procurement rules and regulations.
- Ability to interpret and apply specialized rules and regulations to individual cases.
- Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SAP, and the ability to learn other UNICEF office tools.
- Understanding supply chain processes and consistent application of relevant policies, procedures, and good practices in daily work.
- Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders, and to cooperate with others within a team setting.
- Ability to use supply-related modules within UNICEF’s ERP system (SAP).
- Capacity to prioritize and plan personal work, as well as coordinate and monitor the work of subordinates.
- Skill in drafting clear, concise reports or rationales for supply-related decisions on key issues.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.
- Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
- International development experience is an asset.
- Familiarity with development and humanitarian work is an advantage.
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
