Health Emergency Associate Logistician

Host entity: UNICEF

Volunteer type: National

Areas of expertise: Emergency preparedness, crisis response, Logistics, procurement, commodities

Application deadline: 17/09/2026

Mission and objectives

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

In all of its work, UNICEF takes a life-cycle based approach, recognizing the particular importance of early childhood development and adolescence. UNICEF programmes focus on the most disadvantaged children, including those living in fragile contexts, those with disabilities, those who are affected by rapid urbanization and those affected by environmental degradation.

UNICEF was created with a distinct purpose in mind: to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. We advocate for measures to give children the best start in life, because proper care at the youngest age forms the strongest foundation for a person’s future.

We promote girls’ education – ensuring that they complete primary education as a minimum – because it benefits all children, both girls and boys. Girls who are educated grow up to become better thinkers, better citizens, and better parents to their own children. We act so that all children are immunized against common childhood diseases, and are well nourished: no child should suffer or die from a preventable illness. We work to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people because it is right to keep them from harm and enable them to protect others. We help children and families affected by HIV/AIDS to live their lives with dignity.

We are UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Assignment context

UNICEF Nepal Country Office (NCO) leads UNICEF's health, nutrition, WASH, education, child protection and social policy programming in Nepal, working with the Government of Nepal, provincial and local governments, and humanitarian partners. Following the flash flood originating in the upper Bhotekoshi river system on 26 August 2026, which caused severe multi-sector damage across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Chitwan and Tanahu districts, UNICEF is supporting the Ministry of Health and Food Safety (MoHFS), the Department of Health Services (DoHS), and District Health Offices in Rasuwa and Nuwakot to restore essential health services, sustain immunization (including Measles-Rubella catch-up and Oral Cholera Vaccine campaigns), and ensure the safe, traceable and timely delivery of health supplies and cold-chain items to flood-affected communities.

This UNV assignment is part of UNICEF Nepal's Bhotekoshi-Rasuwa Flood Emergency Health Response, under the Health Section's emergency surge deployment. The two UN Volunteers under this assignment will be based in the District Health Offices of Rasuwa and Nuwakot respectively, working alongside the District Disaster Management Committees (DDMCs), Local Disaster Management Committees (LDMCs) and UNICEF's field emergency team to strengthen on-the-ground coordination, supply traceability and cold-chain/vaccine logistics for the health response

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Immunization Specialist and the designated Emergency Health Focal Point, UNICEF Nepal Country Office or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Health Emergency Associate Logistician will:

• Serve as UNICEF's on-the-ground focal point for health supply coordination at the District Health Office (DHO) and District/Local Disaster Management Committee (DDMC/LDMC) in the assigned district (Rasuwa or Nuwakot), facilitating onloading, registration of UNICEF supplies in the DDMC supply information management system (IMS), and stacking of supplies in a clearly identifiable, labelled UNICEF-designated location within government warehouses and/or any other alternative arrangements as may be desired during emergency.
• Maintain an accurate, up-to-date tracking system (manual and/or digital) for all UNICEF health equipment, supplies, commodities, medicines and vaccines from receipt at the designated district warehouse through to final distribution point, to prevent commingling with other agencies' or sectors' supplies and to enable end-to-end traceability.
• Consideration of first in/expiry, first out specially for perishable supplies to avoid wastage.
• Support cold-chain management and logistics for immunizations, including monitoring of Ice-Lined Refrigerators (ILRs)/cold boxes, solar backup requirements, and coordination of vaccine transport to hard-to-reach holding centres and health facilities.
• Liaise daily with other sectoral colleagues (Nutrition, WASH) and the District Health Office to identify immediate supply gaps at holding centres and health facilities and prioritize dispatch of UNICEF supplies accordingly.
• Support sector-wise packing and labelling of UNICEF supplies for onward transport (e.g., grouping health/cold-chain items separately from WASH, Education supplies), with clear, durable UNICEF visibility on each consignment.
• Compile and submit regular (at minimum weekly) supply status reports to the UNICEF Health Section and Supply & Logistics Unit, covering stock levels, dispatches, distribution, gaps and any constraints affecting delivery.
• Support coordination between the District Health Office, Health Cluster/sub-national health coordination mechanisms, and UNICEF's field emergency team on health logistics matters, including participation in relevant district- or local-level coordination meetings.
• Coordinate the required activities with relevant local partners and communities.
• Support onward field distribution planning and monitoring visits to holding centres and health facilities to verify receipt and appropriate use of UNICEF-supplied health items.
• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

17. Results/expected outputs:

• As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:
o UNICEF health equipment and supplies dispatched and installed to Rasuwa/Nuwakot are registered, traceable and distributed without commingling with other sectors' or agencies' supplies.
o Timely, accurate weekly supply status reports (stock, dispatch, distribution, gaps) submitted to the UNICEF Health Section and Supply & Logistics Unit.
o Cold-chain integrity maintained for immunization, vaccines transported and stored in the assigned district, with issues escalated and resolved promptly.
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment
• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

Skills and experience

• At least 2 years of professional work experience in health/medical supply chain management, cold-chain/vaccine logistics, warehousing or emergency logistics; experience with government supply information management systems (IMS) and/or UN/INGO logistics systems is an asset, as is prior experience working in the UN or other international development/humanitarian organization;
• Working knowledge of vaccine cold-chain management (ILRs, cold boxes, temperature monitoring) is highly desirable; familiarity with DDMC/LDMC coordination structures and the Nepal health system is an asset;
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Desirable: valid national driver’s license and proven ability to drive manual gear 4x4 over rough terrain; (if not applicable, delete)
• Sound security awareness;
• Have affinity with or interest in public health, humanitarian logistics and emergency response, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System

Competencies and values

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;
• Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority;
• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;
• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.
• Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;
• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;
• Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary;
• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEF’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Living conditions

The assignment is based in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, Bagmati Province — areas severely affected by the 26 August 2026 Bhotekoshi-Rasuwa flash flood. Road access remains disrupted in parts of both districts, with some areas reachable only by foot, zip-line ropeway or air; travel times and conditions may change as repair works progress. Basic accommodation, food, water and electricity are available in district headquarters (Dhunche, Bidur) but may be intermittent; mobile network and internet connectivity can be unreliable, particularly in areas across the Trishuli River. Health facilities in the districts have sustained damage, and referral to Kathmandu may be required for serious medical needs. Given the hardship conditions and the physically demanding nature of fieldwork (including travel over rough terrain and, at times, extended periods away from the duty station), this is classified as a non-family assignment.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.