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, the right to an advocate

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.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the direct supervision of the Chief Field Office (CFO) with secondary reporting to the Chief of Education, the Education Specialist will lead the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of education section’s programme in Kano Field Office, along with contribution to the office management and supervision and coaching of national education officers.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Programme management and reporting in Kano Field Office

• Develop and update the costed education workplan and programmes of the Kano Field Office in coordination with the UNICEF education team in the country office. 
• Ensure that the education programmes in Kano Field Office are implemented as planned and its budget is fully executed to perform accountability for results.
• Engage in hiring, supervision, and performance review of education staff, consultants, and facilitators who will support the education programme implementation.

2. Grant implementation, monitoring, and delivering of results

• Support the development of funding proposals for education projects targeting Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states in collaboration with the education team in the country office.
• Lead and coordinate the education team in Kano Field Office in implementing donor-funded projects in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states in partnership with the state and local governments, civil society organizations and communities. (In particular the current EU funded programme which is due to end in August 2027).
• Conduct regular monitoring of the project progress and update project workplans regularly by organizing coordination meetings, tracking results against the targets, and updating the workplans.
• Take the lead in planning and coordinating field visits by donors and UNICEF staff visits.
• Coordinate the preparation of quality donor reports in collaboration with the UNICEF team in the country office.

3. Education system strengthening

• Lead a multi-stakeholder education sector coordination in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states by liaising with the state government agencies and donor partners to support coordinated action to address education challenges.
• Provide technical support to the state and local governments in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states in developing, implementing, evaluating evidence-based, solution-oriented state and local sector plans in collaboration with the UNICEF education team in the country office.

4. Communication, advocacy, stakeholder engagement and partnership building:

• Build and sustain collaborating partnerships with state and local government agencies, academia, civil society organizations, local communities, and other development partners through communication, advocacy and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Support media engagement in collaboration with the CAP team to disseminate the UNICEF’s work to wider stakeholders, increase the visibility of UNICEF, and gain stakeholders’ trust and support to UNICEF’s initiatives.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  TOR P3 TA Education Specialist Kano Nigeria_.pdf

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

An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: education, economics, psychology, sociology, or another relevant technical field.

A minimum of five years of professional experience in programme planning, implementation and management in education.

Deep education knowledge on elements of education reform including teacher professional learning, data systems, FLN, learning assessment and sector planning

Leading work with government to ensure sustainability in programmes

Collaborative skills to work with donors, partners, CSOs and other stakeholders.

Leadership in leading, supervising and coaching a diverse team to achieve results.

Demonstrated expertise in managing large donor-funded projects.

Demonstrated skills in leading sector coordination in the education sector.

Excellent communication skills, including report writing and oral presentation.

Experience in working in Nigeria or other sub-Saharan countries.

Experience in working for UNICEF or an international organization

Language Requirements: Fluency in English (verbal and written).

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 (1)

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (1)

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact (1)

(4) Innovates and embraces change (1)

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

(6) Thinks and acts strategically (1)

(7) Works collaboratively with others (1)

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.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable 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..

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.