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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. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, a chance.

In Nigeria, UNICEF works in a complex humanitarian and development setting to fulfill and protect children's rights in partnership with the government, civil society, children, and families.  UNICEF Nigeria is one of the largest UNICEF Country Offices globally - click the link to learn more about UNICEF in Nigeria: https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/

Background:

Nigeria faces a twin crisis in education. There are 10.2 million children at primary school age and 8.1 million children at junior secondary school age who are out of school, although the basic education is free and compulsory. Due to the limited access to schooling and poor quality of education, about 75% of children aged 7–14 do not acquire foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) skills that serve as critical foundations for further learning and skills development.

To address the educational challenges in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) in collaboration with development partners agreed to apply for the Global Partnership for Education System Transformation Grant (GPE-STG). Through the application process, the GPE-STG task team in Nigeria undertook an enabling factor analysis of the education sector. The analysis identified accessible, equitable and inclusive foundational learning as the prioritized policy area. 

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose:

The purpose of the consultancy is to support the development of the comprehensive proposal for the GPE-STG in consultation with the FME, the targeted States, and other stakeholders. This proposal is for the GPE-STG implementation at the federal level and the three states that UNICEF supports (Abia, Bauchi, and Kwara).

Objectives:

The specific objectives of this assignment are to:

1. Review key strategic and policy documents to ensure the alignment and complementarity of the proposals, including the Partnership Compact.

2. Plan and facilitate consultations with the FME, the states Ministry of Education, State Universal Basic Education Boards, government agencies, and other stakeholders including the World Bank as co-grant agent to identify key priorities and strategic approaches for the GPE-STG implementation.

3. Draft and revise the proposal for GPE-STG that integrates a) feedback collected through the stakeholder consultations and b) comments received from the Nigeria Education Group (NEG) and the GPE secretariat.

4. Finalize the GPE-STG proposal with the endorsement of NEG.

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of Education Manager, the selected candidate will conduct and coordinate the following tasks:

1) Review key strategic documents The consultant conducts a desk review of key strategic and policy documents that feed into the GPE-STG proposal. Based on the review, the consultant develops:

• a desk review report, 
• a revised GPE STG programme outline (The first draft programme outline is developed by UNICEF in consultation with FME and the targeted States) 
•  revised timelines for the GPE STG programme development.

The documents to be reviewed include, but not limited to:

• Education for Renewed Hope: Roadmap for the Nigerian Education Sector 2024-2027 
• Universal Basic Education Commission’s (UBEC) 10-Year Roadmap (2021—2030) 
• State Education Sector Operational Plans of the three target states 
• Enabling factor analysis § Partnership Compact 2024-2027: Foundations of Learning for All
• Other relevant policy documents.

2) Draft and revise the GPE-STG proposal documents:

The consultant drafts and revises the GPE-STG proposal documents based on the feedback received from the stakeholder consultation meetings in close coordination with UNICEF. The draft proposal will be also submitted to NEG and GPE secretariat for Quality Assurance Review twice. The consultant reviews their comments and further revise the proposal in collaboration with UNICEF.

3) Finalize the GPE-STG proposal The consultant finalizes the GPE-STG based on comments received from Quality Assurance Review 2 and the final review by NEG.

Task/Milestone:

1) Review key strategic documents

Deliverables/Outputs:

• A revised timeline for GPE STG programmed development
• A desk review report 
• A revised GPE STG programme outline

2) Draft the GPE-STG proposal documents:

Deliverable/outputs:

Draft GPE-STG proposal submitted to NEG (proposal includes TOC, result matrix, budget, workplans, MEL framework, among others)

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here TOR Consultancy GPE-STG.pdf

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

• An advanced university degree in educational planning, economics, sociology, or any other relevant social sciences
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience in developing and implementing education programme at national and international levels.
• Demonstrated experience in strategy development for government and/or international development organizations. 
• Demonstrated experience in planning and facilitating stakeholder consultations. 
• Demonstrated proposal development and report writing skill
• Experience in working for UN organizations is an asset. 
• Experience in working for the Ministries of Education is an asset.
• Experience in working in the education sector in Nigeria or Africa is an asset. 
• Experience in GPE-STG proposal development is an asset
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset. 
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. 

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. 

Applicants must submit their financial and technical proposals along with this application. Applications without these will not be considered. Use this form to provide your financial proposal. 

 All-Inclusive Financial Proposal Form-Current.docx

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 visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) 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.