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/

Click here to experience our country through the perspective of our colleagues by clicking on this Link

Background:

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with approximately 213 million people, with a half of the population is below 18 years of age, in 2021. The country has strived to provide quality inclusive education for all children under the Sustainable Development Goal 4 and increased access to education and closed gender gaps particularly in primary education. However, the country falls short of the goal.

Nigeria accounts for the largest global share of out of school children (15 per cent). 10.2 million children at primary school age and 8.1 million children at junior secondary school age are still out of school, although the basic education is compulsory in the country.   This implies that approximately one in three children at basic education level are out of school. Equally concerning are children do not learn even if they attend school due to poor quality of education. For instance, about 70 per cent of students in grade 5 do not acquire foundational literacy and numeracy skills in 2021.  Importantly, the educational challenges are not equally distributed across the country, with children from poor families, rural areas, and northern areas with a higher security risk more excluded from education and learning.

The lack of access to quality education has a significant impact on the future of children and the country. Children who do not complete basic education and acquire foundational skills are less likely to find a job in an increasingly knowledge-based economy, which in part contributes to the low employment at 37 per cent in Nigeria.   These children are also less likely to increase their wellbeing, to be actively engaged citizens, and to nurture healthy and prosperous families. This in turn limits the opportunities for the country to drive economy and reduce poverty and build more inclusive, democratic societies. 

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose for the job:

Under the supervision of the Education Specialist, the Education Officer will support the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of education section’s programme in Maiduguri Field Office, along with contribution to the office management and supervision of facilitators and consultants.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

1. Programme management and reporting in Maiduguri Field Office
2. Grant implementation, monitoring, and delivery of results
3. Programme implementation in learning output
4. Communication, advocacy, stakeholder engagement and partnership building
5. Supervision, coaching and capacity building of facilitators and consultants

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  TOR NOB TA Education Officer Maiduguri_09Feb2026_VA.docx 

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

Minimum requirements:

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: education, psychology, sociology or another relevant technical field
• A minimum of two years of professional experience in programme planning, management, and/or research in education is required
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language(Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba) is an asset.
•  

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.