For every child, the right to health

Nigeria’s sanitation challenge is large and growing: only 18% of people have safely managed sanitation, 48% still practice open defecation, and fast urbanization (over 4% a year) is expanding a urban sanitation market valued at about US$7.8 billion in 2025 and projected to pass US$12.5 billion by 2030. Climate vulnerability raises the cost of resilient services, while the sector itself emits roughly 12 million tons of CO₂e a year. The financing gap needed to reach universal safely managed sanitation by 2030, reflects systemic market failure rather than a simple lack of capital. Households are expected to fund most sanitation investment but face affordability limits, since toilets and emptying services cost more than people are willing to pay. Enterprises are mostly micro, small and informal, with under 2% able to access formal loans. Policy and institutions are fragmented public budgets are low, with equally low execution rates. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have failed to mobilize private capital because of weak capacity, low tariffs and poor bankability. Even so, population growth and latent demand make Nigeria a major untapped investment opportunity. Realizing it will require a city-wide inclusive sanitation approach that blends public, development and climate finance with concessional finance, guarantees and private capital, backed by stronger policy and coordination, more bankable projects and viable business models, so that public money addresses market failures and crowds in private investment, especially in underserved, climate-vulnerable urban and peri-urban areas.

How can you make a difference? 

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  ToR_ext TMC0007660.pdf 

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• At least a Master’s Degree in finance, accounting, economics, business, international development or a related field. A first university degree in a relevant field combined with 5 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

 Work Experience:

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in finance, with a strong understanding of impact investing and/or sustainable and blended finance, ideally within the public sector, international organizations or the private sector.

• Minimum 2 years of professional experience working with or supporting international development organizations or international financial institutions (IFIs).

• Minimum 2 years of relevant experience working in Nigeria; experience in other countries in sub-Saharan Africa desirable.

• Demonstrated experience supporting project concept note or proposal development for large scale financing essential.

• Experience working in or supporting climate finance is an asset.

• Experience supporting finance in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector is desirable.

 Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required; knowledge of a local language in Nigeria is an asset.

 Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

• Proficiency in financial analysis and project management, and demonstrated ability to design and implement financial models that support development goals.
• Knowledge and/or experience of the working modalities of regional and international development banks and other IFIs.
• Proven ability to translate complex financial concepts into accessible language for diverse audiences, including UNICEF staff and partners.
• Knowledge of the WASH sector and of the challenges related to water and sanitation funding and financing (tariffs, cost recovery, WASH accounts, WASH marketing, PPPs, water and sanitation service business models, etc.).
• Knowledge and expertise on public private partnerships for service delivery, including market assessments and development of bankable models for private investment 
• Demonstrated skills in knowledge management and report writing for external audiences.
• UNICEF core values (Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Sustainability) and competencies: self-awareness and ethical awareness; works collaboratively; builds and maintains partnerships; innovates and embraces change; thinks and acts strategically; drives to achieve impactful results; manages ambiguity and complexity.

Desirables:

•     Five years of working experience in sub-Saharan Africa, especially Nigeria; previous experience with the UN, national and regional entities, and donors.

•     Experience working in innovation-focused environments or scaling new financing models.

•  Experience working with development banks and IFIs.

For every Child, you demonstrate...