Purnima Verma
Sustainable Procurement Consultant
● Reviewed and updated the existing Sustainable Procurement (SP) concept note, providing strategic guidance for the Sustainable Procurement Strategy in the UNICEF India Country Office (ICO).
● Conducted literature and desk reviews of policies, procedures, and documents on Sustainable Procurement in various sectors, including other UN agencies, corporate organizations, the development sector, and the government sector.
● Engaged with program and operations sections and other groups to identify areas of convergence on sustainability actions related to climate change and environmental sustainability.
● Updated the strategy and action plan for the implementation of Sustainable, Gender Responsive, and Disability Inclusive Procurement at ICO based on the above analysis.
● Conducted capacity building sessions for staff, suppliers/vendors, and UNICEF Field Offices in 13 states, preparing orientation packages and delivering training sessions.
● Prepared presentations, proposals, documents, reports, and recommendations for key stakeholders, ensuring effective communication during the contract period.
● Supported the orientation of suppliers and market engagement activities, analyzing suppliers' sustainable procurement practices, and conducting market surveys.
● Established a suppliers' database segregating them based on their readiness status for Sustainable Procurement.
● Developed category-specific sustainability criteria to assist category managers and staff in incorporating relevant criteria in terms of reference (TORs).
● Prepared checklists for spot checks of suppliers' submitted information on sustainable procurement. ● Proposed strategies to address environmental concerns and promote sustainability in various aspects of the organization's operations.
● Developed a monitoring framework for Sustainable Procurement activities, collaborating with program staff, the Sustainable Procurement Working Group (SPWG), and supply staff.
● Liaised with program and operations sections to track the progress of sustainability actions and collaborated with other UN agencies and the UN Procurement Working Group.
● Participated in meetings of the Procurement Working Group (PWG), gathering details on Sustainable Procurement implementation in other UN organizations.
● Incorporated best practices from other UN agencies into the UNICEF ICO Sustainable Procurement Strategy
