For Philippine health organizations, consulting firms, and NGOs seeking to engage with internationally funded health programs, registration on the UN Global Marketplace (UNGM) is not optional. It is the single most important institutional step an organization can take to position itself for UN-funded work. More than 40 UN organizations including UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, UNDP, UNOPS, and WFP publish their procurement opportunities through UNGM, and their procurement staff search UNGM when sourcing potential vendors and implementing partners. This guide walks Philippine organizations through the entire registration process, explains what each level of registration means in practice, and describes how to use the platform strategically to win health project opportunities.
The United Nations Global Marketplace, universally referred to as UNGM, is the official procurement and vendor registration portal of the United Nations system. It was established to serve as a single window through which suppliers, consultants, NGOs, and institutions from all 193 UN member states may register to access business opportunities across the entire UN family of organizations.
UNGM is not a procurement agency in its own right. Each UN agency retains its own procurement function and issues its own solicitations. UNGM is the platform through which those opportunities are published and through which vendors are discovered. When a procurement officer at UNICEF Philippines, UNFPA Philippines, or WHO Philippines searches for a firm to provide health consulting services, M&E technical assistance, or capacity building support, they search UNGM. If your organization is not registered, it is effectively invisible to them.
Registration on UNGM is free and open to incorporated companies, NGOs, academic institutions, and individual consultants from all member states. Philippine organizations registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are fully eligible. UNGM uses a tiered registration system with three levels: Basic, Level 1, and Level 2. Each level unlocks access to a broader range of procurement opportunities and gives UN procurement staff greater confidence in an organization's credibility and financial soundness.
Registration on UNGM does not guarantee contracts or implementing partner agreements. It makes your organization visible and eligible. Procurement decisions are based on technical qualifications, past performance, financial capacity, and price. UNGM is the entry point, not the finish line.
UNGM uses a three-tier registration structure. Philippine organizations should understand what each level requires, which UN agencies require each level, and what it enables in terms of procurement eligibility.
Level 2 registration requires that your organization has been in existence for at least three years and that you can provide audited financial statements for those three years. New organizations should complete Basic and Level 1 registration first and work toward Level 2 as the organization matures. Financial documents submitted at Level 2 are treated as confidential and are accessible only to a restricted number of UN staff members.
It is important to note that different UN agencies have different registration level requirements. WHO requires only Basic level registration to access its tender documents. UNDP, UNICEF, and UNFPA typically require Level 1 registration for organizations seeking implementing partner agreements. For high-value contracts and sensitive procurements across any agency, Level 2 may be required. Once a Basic registration is accepted by at least one UN organization, your organization's profile becomes visible to all UN procurement staff, though this may take up to 10 working days.
The following steps walk through the complete UNGM registration process for a Philippine-based organization. The process is completed entirely online at ungm.org. Google Chrome is the recommended browser.
| UNSPSC Code | Description | Relevant For |
|---|---|---|
| 80101500 | Public health administration | UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, UNDP |
| 80101600 | Health and welfare policy | WHO, UNDP, World Bank |
| 80101700 | Epidemiology | WHO, UNICEF, CDC-funded programs |
| 80111600 | Management consulting services | UNDP, UNOPS, all agencies |
| 80111700 | Human resources consulting | UNDP, UNOPS, IOM |
| 86000000 | Education and training services | UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO (capacity building) |
| 84000000 | Financial and insurance services | Relevant for M&E financial tracking |
| 80161500 | Research programs | WHO, UNDP, research-focused agencies |
| 80161600 | Evaluation services | All agencies (M&E) |
| 86131500 | Community health services | UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO Philippines |
To add UNSPSC codes in UNGM, type a keyword such as "health consulting" or "epidemiology" in the UNSPSC search field within the registration form. The system will suggest matching codes. Tick the checkbox next to each relevant code. Selecting the parent segment code automatically includes all sub-codes beneath it. Select all codes that accurately describe your organization's services. Do not over-select codes for goods or services your organization cannot actually deliver, as this may affect your credibility with procurement officers.
Once registered at Level 1 or Level 2, keep your UNGM profile updated at all times. UN procurement staff evaluate the completeness and currency of vendor profiles when shortlisting. Outdated contact information, expired documents, or stale company descriptions reduce your visibility and credibility. Set a calendar reminder to review and update your UNGM profile every six months.
Registration is only the first step. To actively find and pursue health project opportunities through UNGM, organizations must understand how to search the platform and how to set up automated alerts.
All publicly posted procurement opportunities on UNGM are accessible through the Procurement Opportunities section of the website. These are published as Invitations to Bid (ITB) for goods, Requests for Proposal (RFP) for services and consulting, Requests for Quotation (RFQ) for lower-value goods and services, and Expressions of Interest (EOI) for prequalification. Philippine health organizations should focus primarily on RFPs and EOIs, as these are the solicitation types used for consulting, technical assistance, monitoring and evaluation, and capacity building services.
UNGM offers a paid service called UNGM Pro, which includes the Tender Alert Service (TAS) and the Opportunity Search Plus. The TAS sends email notifications directly to your inbox whenever a new procurement opportunity is published that matches your selected UNSPSC codes and geographic preferences. For organizations actively seeking UN health contracts, the TAS is a practical tool that ensures opportunities are not missed. The TAS can be set up with country filters so you receive alerts specifically for opportunities in the Philippines. UNGM Pro requires a subscription fee; details on current pricing are available on the UNGM Pro page at ungm.org.
Some UN agencies maintain their own e-tendering portals in addition to UNGM. WHO Philippines uses the In-Tend supplier portal for its electronic tendering process, separate from but linked to UNGM. Vendors wishing to respond to WHO tenders must register in both UNGM at the Basic level, and in WHO's In-Tend portal. UNICEF uses its own e-submissions system, accessible by clicking the Express Interest button on a UNGM tender notice. UNFPA issues solicitations through UNGM and directly through country office procurement processes. Organizations should familiarize themselves with the specific portals of the agencies most relevant to their services.
There is an important distinction between being a registered UNGM vendor and being selected as a UN implementing partner. UNGM vendor registration makes your organization eligible to receive procurement contracts for goods and services. Implementing partner status involves a separate selection and assessment process.
Before any UN agency can transfer cash to a Philippine organization as an implementing partner, that organization must undergo a Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) micro-assessment. The HACT framework is the common operational framework used by all UN agencies for cash transfers to government and non-governmental implementing partners. The micro-assessment evaluates an organization's programme management, financial management, procurement, reporting, and internal control systems. The result is a risk rating of low, moderate, significant, or high. This risk rating determines the cash transfer modality and the frequency of assurance activities.
UNICEF Philippines regularly issues tenders on UNGM for firms to conduct HACT micro-assessments of its Philippine implementing partners. This means the assessment itself is typically conducted by an independent third party. The results of the assessment are used by multiple UN agencies simultaneously, reducing duplication for implementing partners that work with more than one agency.
All UNFPA implementing partners must also be registered in the UN Partner Portal, a separate system from UNGM. UNFPA requires that all partner organizations, including international NGOs operating in the Philippines, register their Philippine entity in the UN Partner Portal and obtain a partner code before an Implementing Partner Agreement can be executed. Organizations should ensure they are registered in both UNGM and the UN Partner Portal if they intend to receive UNFPA implementing partner agreements.
UNICEF and other UN agencies frequently establish Long-Term Agreements (LTAs) with vendors for commonly used services. An LTA is a framework agreement, initially valid for three years and extendable up to seven years based on performance and market review, that streamlines procurement for recurring service categories. Philippine organizations that qualify for and are included in a global or regional LTA can be called upon directly for assignments without going through a full competitive tender each time. Monitoring UNGM for LTA solicitations in health-related categories is therefore a high-value activity for Philippine health consulting firms.
While all UN agencies publish opportunities on UNGM, the following are the most relevant for Philippine organizations working in public health.
Organizations that register on UNGM but fail to win any opportunities often make the same preventable errors.
The company name in UNGM must match exactly what is written in your SEC Certificate of Registration. Discrepancies between UNGM records and legal documents submitted later will cause delays and may result in a declined registration.
Selecting too few codes means your organization will not appear in searches for relevant opportunities. Selecting codes for goods or services you cannot deliver undermines credibility. Spend time reviewing the UNSPSC hierarchy for health-related segments and select codes that genuinely reflect your organization's capabilities. Revisit your code selections every year as your service offerings evolve.
Many organizations complete Basic registration and then never return to the platform. An inactive profile with outdated information signals to procurement officers that the organization is not serious about UN business. Log into UNGM regularly, update your profile when organizational information changes, and renew financial documents at Level 2 annually.
During registration you are prompted to select which UN organizations to apply to. Many organizations select only one or two. For a Philippine health organization, selecting all relevant agencies costs nothing additional and broadens your visibility significantly.
Registration on UNGM does not mean pre-qualification. Pre-qualification is a separate, more rigorous process that certain agencies apply specifically for high-value or specialized procurements. Organizations that market themselves as "UN pre-qualified" based solely on UNGM registration are misrepresenting their status.
UNGM registration opens the door. What determines whether opportunities convert into actual contracts is the organizational capacity behind the registration.
UN agencies assess financial management capacity through the HACT micro-assessment before transferring cash to implementing partners. Organizations should have a functioning accounting system, documented financial management policies, segregation of financial duties, and at least two years of audited financial statements. Investment in a recognized accounting platform and in an annual audit by a licensed external auditor is not optional for organizations serious about UN partnership.
All UN implementing partner agreements require regular performance reporting against agreed indicators. Organizations should have staff with M&E experience, access to data collection tools, and the ability to produce quarterly and annual progress reports. Familiarity with the UN's Results-Based Management framework and with standard health indicators used by UNICEF, UNFPA, and WHO is a significant advantage.
UN agencies evaluate past performance as part of their vendor assessment. Maintain a project portfolio that documents the scope, geography, budget, client, and key results of each engagement your organization has completed. Reference letters from government clients such as the DOH, PhilHealth, or local government units carry significant weight. References from previous UN or international NGO clients are even stronger.
For consulting and technical assistance assignments, the quality and credentials of the personnel you propose are evaluated as rigorously as your institutional qualifications. Maintain updated curriculum vitae for all technical staff and consultants in your pool. Ensure that CVs include educational credentials, board or professional licensure where applicable, and specific project experience with quantified results.
The most effective way to build a UN partnership pipeline in the Philippines is to combine UNGM registration with active participation in health sector technical working groups, engagement with UN country office staff through sector coordination mechanisms, and a demonstrated track record of delivering results in DOH-aligned programs. Relationships and reputation built over years of credible work in Philippine public health remain the strongest competitive advantage any organization can hold.
Before starting your UNGM registration, confirm that the following are ready:
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