South East Asia Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO)
The South East Asia and Pacific Multi Country Office (EAPMCO) supports, develops and oversees the UNOPS portfolio of projects in South East Asia and the Pacific. EAPMCO was established in January 2023 following the merger of the Thailand Multi-Country Office, which covered 20 countries across North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific, and the Cambodia Multi-Country Office, which covered 4 countries South East Asia - 3 countries in the Mekong Sub-region (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam) and the Philippines. EAPMCO currently covers 24 countries across North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific. With its head office in Bangkok, the Multi-Country Office comprises nine business units: EAPMCO Thailand, EAPMCO Indonesia, EAPMCO Pacific Operations Cluster, EAPMCO Papua New Guinea, EAPMCO China, EAPMCO Vietnam, EAPMCO Mekong, and EAPMCO Philippines.
In 2024, the UNOPS EAPMCO implemented projects worth more than USD 80 million, in the areas of Energy Transition, Digital Transformations, Sustainable Environmental Management, Climate Change, Waste Management, Rule of Law and Access to Justice, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Post Conflict Reintegration, Emergency Relief, Post COVID19 Economic Transformations, and Health, through HR, procurement, construction, contract management, fund and program management services.
The Multi Country Office head office in Bangkok provides strategic direction, operational support, delivery oversight and assurance of the excellence of business processes and quality standards across all of the entire Multi Country Office locations. It is also responsible for developing, delivering and managing the portfolio of engagements in the country of the MCO location itself.
UNOPS in Papua New Guinea
The EAPMCO Papua New Guinea was established in early 2020 to support the implementation of design and construction of infrastructure, sustainable procurement, capacity development to support technical and governance excellence, programme management, and to facilitate access to funding sources in Papua New Guinea.
As an established office since 2022, EAPMCO PNG is demonstrating significant growth and portfolio diversification potential in a short period of time. Working with an increasing number of development partners, EAPMCO PNG is quickly being recognised as a responsive and quality partner in climate change resilient infrastructure, sustainable procurement and governance support to the Government of PNG in its service delivery obligations to the people.
Project Background: IMPACT Health Project
The National Department of Health (NDOH) is responsible for improving access to and outcomes from health services in Papua New Guinea in accordance with the National Health Plan (NHP) 2011 - 2030. A key function of NDoH is the procurement, supply and distribution of pharmaceutical drugs and other medical supplies to all public hospitals, health centres and aid posts. Such supplies are grouped into two types, General Hospital Orders and Medical Kits. Significant problems remain in the delivery of medical supplies to health facilities at rural and provincial levels throughout the country. The strengthening of medical supplies procurement and distribution is a key result area of the National Health Plan.
This assignment relates to the provision of technical assistance services under Subcomponent 1.4 of the “Improving Access to and Value from Health Services in PNG: Financing the Frontlines Project” (IMPACT Health), signed between the World Bank and the Government of PNG on 22 July 2022, and will focus on strengthening the capacity of the NDOH procurement function. This engagement contributes to Component 1 - Increase service delivery readiness and community-based service delivery, and Component 2 - Improve frontline service delivery performance of the IMPACT Health Project.
The objective of the project is to enhance the procurement and contract management capabilities of NDOH and the Provincial Health Authorities. Support will particularly focus on procurement related to infrastructure (facility rebuilds or refurbishment) and bio-medical equipment. The project team will provide critical support to assist NDOH in its objective to improve the condition and operation of health facilities across the country. This will include providing technical assistance for contract management overseeing the provision of architectural and engineering services.
The project will also design and cost a plan to improve existing inventory controls and procurement systems. Resulting in an improved health procurement and supply chain system that meets public health service demands.
The Role:
Reporting to the Senior Project Manager and under the technical supervision of NDOH counterparts, particularly Manager - Commercial Support Services, the incumbent will provide hands-on procurement and contract management support to NDOH.
The incumbent will support NDOH to manage and administer major NDOH contracts, including building infrastructure contracts, maintenance contracts, static plants and other equipment and supply contracts. They will ensure the contracts have been executed and delivered in accordance with contract conditions and NDOH regulations.
The incumbent will also assist NDOH to streamline procurement and review business process templates and the efficiency of their processes.
As they will not be employed by NDOH, the incumbent will not be permitted to be involved in any decision making processes for NDOH, or included in any technical review panels for procurement. They will have no decision making responsibilities and will not be responsible for the award of tenders or contracts.