$2175 USD per participant

ELIGIBILITY: This course is open only to staff from The United Nations System. Including Specialized Agencies of the UN system (World Bank Group, IMF, WHO etc.), Functional and Regional Commissions, Programmes and Funds, Research and Training Institutes, Departments and Offices, Subsidiary Bodies and Related Organisations etc. The latest UN System organigram will be used to determine eligibility.

The Level 4 Diploma course builds on the capabilities developed in Level 2 and 3 courses. A UNDP/CIPS Level 2 and 3 certificate is therefore also a prerequisite for participation at Level 4.

The course is designed for procurement and contract management managers and officers and those in functions that inlcude close interaction with procurement, such as programme and project staff seeking strategic level training in UN and public procurement strategy development, negotiations and contract management.

The Level 4 diploma course offers valuable management tools and qualifications for management procurement roles or those supervising the procurement function. It focuses on organisational procedures and processes including negotiating, planning, risk management and data analysis.

By the end of the programme, participants will be able to:

• Develop and implement strategic procurement plans
• Integrate procurement plans in corporate strategic and financial planning
• Plan for significant procurement and supply
• Conduct cost and financial analysis
• Organize and manage procurement activities
• Understand commercial and legal considerations in negotiations
• Apply successful negotiations and bargaining methods in procurement negotiations
• Make team negotiations work
• Manage conflict and deadlock resolution processes
• Manage advanced offer evaluation processes
• Execute strategic supply, service and consultancy contracts
• Measure and manage performance of major contracts

• The course is designed to be highly interactive.
• Participants will be working on challenging hands-on practical exercises and case studies with peers from other organizations and share best practices in public procurement.
• The course will also provide participants with the opportunity to discuss the different procurement rules and regulations of the various UN and public organisations.
• To be awarded the UNDP/CIPS Level 4 Strategic Diploma in Public Procurement students must successfully pass three tests:
• Test I. The Multiple Choise Questionnaire (MCQ) conducted during the training course, where students must answer 100 multiple choice questions of which 80% have to be answered correctly in 2 hours. The MCQ will test the student’s knowledge and understanding of the course syllabus
• Test II. In-class Workbook (ICW). Compulsory in class invididual exercise workbook to be completed during the course. Pass/fail, marked by course tutor(s) during the course.
• Test III. The Work-Based Assignment (WBA) where students are given 8 weeks to complete a 3000 words written essay/project to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the syllabus and how this can be applied to a practical work-related case.
• Students successfully completing the in-class MCQ and the WBA project will be awareded the dual UNDP/CIPS Level 4 “Strategic Diploma in Public Procurement".
• For students requiring additional submissions of the work-based assessment (failed first and/or second attempt) the fee for resubmission is USD 250 per submission.

Torben Soll is Manager in the Quality Assurance and Professionalisation unit and currently Officer-in-Charge of UNDP's Procurement Support Office in Copenhagen, Denmark.

He is responsible for the design, development and implementation of procurement training, certification and quality assurance initiatives at individual, organizational and partner country levels.

Torben is chairing the Professional Development Working Group of the United Nation’s High Level Committee on Management – Procurement Network (HLCM-PN) leading the common procurement professionalization efforts in the UN System.

Prior to joining UNDP, Torben spent four years with the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) in Lebanon, where he worked as Team Leader and Economic Affairs Officer.

Before joining the UN system in 2000, he worked 7 years as Chief Consultant in Ramboll Management Ltd, the largest Danish private management consulting company in the area of public sector development.

Torben is a regular tutor on UNDP courses with the main focus being on the CIPS accredited Introductory (Level 2), Advanced (Level 3) Certificates in Public Procurement as well as the Strategic Diploma in Public Procurement (Level 4).

Torben is a Danish national and holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration, and is full Member (MCIPS) and Fellow (FCIPS) of The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS).