Position Title: Logistics Officer
Receiving Agency: UNFPA
P Level: P3/P3
Location: Bunia, DRC
Duration: 3 months
Language: French and English required

 

 

Following the emergence of suspected Ebola Virus Disease cases in Ituri, the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) transitioned to response mode on May 14, 2026. The Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare declared an official epidemic the following day, identifying the Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BVD) strain—a variant for which no vaccine currently exists. With Uganda simultaneously declaring an outbreak, the WHO Director-General designated the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17, 2026. Collaborative epidemiological surveillance is now active alongside Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Central African Republic, and South Sudan.

An increase in the epidemiological outlook is occurring as the virus spreads through regions already burdened by a multifaceted humanitarian crisis. Chronic insecurity, exacerbated by armed groups like CODECO and the ADF, severely limits access to vulnerable communities. Furthermore, massive displacement—including over 1.9 million IDPs in Ituri—coupled with urban migration and mining operations in high-impact zones, continues to complicate the response environment.

Frontline health personnel, particularly midwives and nurses, face extreme exposure risks, with women bearing a disproportionate impact. Fear of infection is deterring pregnant and lactating women from seeking professional care, threatening a surge in maternal deaths similar to the 2014-2016 crisis in West Africa. Consequently, UNFPA is prioritizing the sustained delivery of critical SRH and GBV services to help prevent avoidable illness and deaths, protect the rights and dignity of affected populations, and address the disproportionate impact of the outbreak on women and girls. Under the established Ebola response plan, UNFPA leads the PSEA pillar while supporting IPC, risk communication and community engagement. To effectively execute this mandate, the Country Office requires an immediate expansion of its logistics and supplies chain capacity.
  Role Description:

Under the direct authority of the Head of the Decentralized Office in the East, and the overall guidance of the UNFPA Senior Management Team (SMT)—comprising the Representative, Deputy Representative, and International Operations Manager—as well as the Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Output Lead for the DRC Country Programme, the Logistics Officer ensures robust logistical support for the emergency response.

The incumbent operates under the technical supervision of the National Logistics Specialist and the overall coordination of the Humanitarian Coordinator. Operationally, they respond directly to the coordination frameworks established by the Public Health/Infectious Diseases Management Specialist based in Bunia.

Working in close collaboration with the SRH, GBV, and Operations Units, the Logistics Officer coordinates overall logistics for UNFPA operations. The incumbent partners with implementing agencies, UN partners, and field staff to ensure effective, end-to-end management of emergency RH commodities at central and peripheral levels. This includes maintaining systems to record, track, and report on the receipt, storage, cold-chain preservation, transport, and distribution of all UNFPA goods and medical supplies.

Given that the L3 Emergency Response for the Ebola Outbreak is also activated, the Logistics Officer will maintain close cross-border and corporate alignment with focal points at the Regional Office (RO) and Headquarters (HQ).


MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
 

• Support the overall logistics for UNFPA supplies in close collaboration with the CO operations team.
• Work to update and implement the Concept of Operations for logistics that is aligned to the overall UNFPA’s Ebola Outbreak Emergency Response Plan, including the flow such as importation channels, movement of goods (corridors), storage (hubs), and distribution network to the affected area. 
• Work with the CO staff to process movements of supplies into the affected area from relevant access points, working closely with logistics cluster / other mechanisms, conduct receipt and inspection of goods and process storage, and onward dispatch to service delivery points in line with last mile assurance. 
• Engage with all relevant humanitarian partners to optimize UNFPA’s supply chain and coordinate with health sector partners and UN agencies in terms of planning and development of the health supply chain for a response. 
• Ensure availability of medical logistics and pharmacy equipment based on the needs as requested.
• Coordinate with the Logistics Cluster and the Health Cluster, as needed, to ensure gaps and needs are raised, and to leverage Logistics Cluster facilitated services and information for UNFPA’s operation. 
• In coordination with the International Operations Manager and procurement focal points, as well as SRH and GBV units, maintain visibility on the procurement and supply chain plan based on forecasted needs and response plan of UNFPA. 
• Coordinate and monitor incoming procurement of medical supplies, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), as well as GBV-related commodities, in close coordination with the UNFPA country office procurement team, RO, and HQ team.
• In line with requirements, ensure proper compliance with importation procedures and processes as defined by national/local authorities, OCHA, or UNCT. 
• Identify suitable warehousing structures and transporters to store and manage medical supplies. 
• Establish/maintain a stock management system including but not limited to physical movement, warehouse access rules, stock cards, bin cards, shelf-life, and recording of movements both in hard documents and software. 
• Ensure proper record-keeping as per the organization’s policies and procedures. 
• In close coordination with the programme team, ensure the distribution plan is clear, implemented, tracked, monitored, and reported.
• Oversee/implement assessment of IPs and health facilities to ensure they are able to maintain the quality of goods. If needed, raise potential procurement needs for infrastructure, propose mitigation measures, or conduct capacity building for staff at health facilities for goods management. 
• Provide technical inputs to financial proposals, including lead times for medical commodities, correct financial value for products, shipping, clearance, and to budget additional costs for management of supplies. 
• Establish a monitoring and reporting system to disseminate timely information to key stakeholders. 
• Lead and coordinate, on the job training for relevant CO staff, including for subcontracted warehouse staff on the WHO Good Storage and Distribution practices with a particular focus on the handling of cold chain medicines. 
• To facilitate the coordination between the stakeholders national and international partners and the UN agencies in logistics.
• Advice on fleet management and support daily movement plans as requested
• Coordinate and oversee any logistics needs for the UNFPA guest house(s) and offices as required.
• Perform any other duties as required by the Head of Office in Goma.

Qualifications and Skills Required:

• Advanced degree in logistics management or equivalent relevant professional certification in areas such as transport, distribution, and supply chain management.
• Degree in public health, medicine, or pharmacy preferred
• 5-7 years of relevant experience in logistics management.
• Managing medical supplies distribution, storage, and transportation operations in emergency settings (military, commercial, or with an international organization).
• Experience and knowledge of UN systems, especially UNFPA, is an advantage.
• Experience in challenging and complex humanitarian/emergency settings
• Good knowledge of humanitarian response.
• Proficiency in French and in other official languages of the UN is required/desirable.
•  

CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.