National Consultants (Bauchi) at the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: National Consultant to Support the Development of the Social Protection Policy for Adamawa & Bauchi State

Job No.: 552598
Location: Bauchi
Level: Consultancy
Contract type: Consultancy
Categories: Social Policy

Overview

How can you make a difference?:

• The Government of Nigeria is committed to social protection as clearly and comprehensively articulated in various policy documents and development plans.
• The National Social Protection Policy (NSPP), the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (2017-2020) and now the National Development Plan (2021 – 2025) are the most notable documents that currently guide the social protection agenda in Nigeria.
• The NSPP in Nigeria recognizes the need for both a systemic transformation (long-term) and a blueprint for accelerated implementation (short-term) towards universal social protection.
• Although Nigeria has demonstrated political will and commitment to accelerate progress on social protection at the federal level with the NSPP as foundation for building a social protection system, stronger leadership and engagement are also needed at the state levels.
• It is worth to note that social protection is not a cost that state cannot afford. but it is rather a necessary investment or even essential for inclusive growth and is moreover an effective means to significantly reduce poverty and several forms of vulnerability.
• Indeed, an effectively implemented social protection policy can play a major role in the empowerment of the most vulnerable groups, in strengthening the capacities of households to manage social risks and undoubtedly contribute to strengthening social cohesion and stimulate equitable development.
• There is clear evidence that ensuring an equitable development is engendered by effective human capital development strategy which requires investment in children who represent the future of the nation.
• Both the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognize social protection as every child’s right.
• The Sustainable Development Goals call for a rapid expansion of social protection coverage to eliminate extreme poverty including child poverty. Hence there is a need to build a comprehensive social protection system mainly at state levels with a holistic policy as important element.
• UNICEF seeks to recruit a National Consultant to support the State Governments to develop a social protection policy in coherence with NSPP

Summary of Key Functions / Accountabilities

Scope of Work:

• Development of detail road map
• Facilitation training of Technical Working Group (TWG) and briefing of steering committee on social protection
• Data collection including literature review and data collation on risk and vulnerability profile
• Synthesis of the aspirations of the populations, particularly women, children, youth and marginalized populations (persons living with HIV, persons living with disabilities).
• Ensure consultation of all key stakeholders and development partners including other UN and CSOs
• Facilitation of workshop and programmatic gatherings related to social protection policy elaboration
• Draft social protection policy
• Support preparation, organization of and reporting from meetings, workshops
• Provide other technical support as required by the TWG to the process of the elaboration of the policy with direct engagement with the Adamawa State Planning Commission.

Objectives:

• The general objective of the consultancy is to enable the State Governments to have a holistic social protection policy which will help the state to reduce poverty and address many forms of vulnerability while ensuring equitable and sustainable development.

To achieve the above, the consultant will embark on the following:

• Conduct a desk review of relevant documentation and literatures.
• Design a conceptual and methodological framework for the development of the policy.
• Draft an inception report which will present:
  • The conceptual and methodological framework for the policy,
  • A proposed selection of stakeholder consultations across the state,
  • An outline for the report, and
  • Timelines for the review of the policy, drafting, finalization and validation of the report.
• Present the inception report during the inception meeting.
• Finalize the inception report based on comments/feedback received and circulate.
• Undertake the development of the Social Protection Policy (SPP) both by desk review and field work on site in the state and draft the report.
• Circulate and present the draft review report during a workshop for relevant technical partners.
• Incorporate comments submitted and finalize the final report.
• Present the finalized report including findings and recommendations of the policy to relevant stakeholders for validation.
• Submit the workshop report based on outcome/discussions of the stakeholder validation workshop.
• Conduct quality assurance review of the SPP draft once received from the Ministry of Budget and Planning.

Requirements

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in designing, implementing, and managing social protection interventions or programming, preferably in Northern Nigeria, including at least 5 years in the review/evaluation of programmes and policies.
• Demonstrated expertise and capability in technical evaluation of social protection delivery systems, related national policies and government operational frameworks.
• Proven experience with logical framework approaches and other strategic planning approaches, M&E methods and approaches (including quantitative, qualitative and participatory), information analysis and report writing.
• Understanding of the development context in Northern Nigeria will be an advantage
• Excellent communication and interview skills.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver quality results within strict deadlines, through a proven track record.
• Experience in working with UN/UNICEF or other international organizations will be considered as an advantage.

Application Closing Date

14th July, 2022 (West Central Africa Standard Time).

Method of Application

Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
• UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.
• UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
• Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history.
• Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.
• The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract is valid for the entire period of the contract. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.