Consultant

Result of ServicePhase: Inception Phase Activity: Conduct initial meetings with stakeholders. Develop and submit the Inception Report including methodology, timeline, and engagement plan. Timeline: Weeks 1 - 2 Payments: 20% Phase: Joint Report Development Activity: Review and consolidate assessment findings. Conduct consultations and draft the Consolidated Joint Report with sectoral analysis and recommendations Timeline: Weeks 3 - 4 Payments: 20% Phase: Workshop Preparation Activity: Develop Workshop Facilitation Plans (agendas, presentations, resource materials) and finalize logistics for the workshop. Timeline: Week 7 Payments: 10% Phase: Validation Workshop Activity: Facilitate the workshop with stakeholders to validate findings, gather feedback, and finalize recommendations. Timeline: Week 8 Payments: 15% Phase: Funding Strategy and Costed Plan Activity: Draft a Funding Strategy and prepare a Costed Implementation Plan, including financial estimates and resource mobilization strategies Timeline: Weeks 9 - 10 Payments: 15% Phase: Finalization Phase Activity: Incorporate feedback into the Final Joint Report, Funding Strategy, and Costed Plan. Refine all documents for submission. Timeline: Week 11 Payments: 10% Phase: Report Submission & Handover Activity: Submit all deliverables and provide a briefing on outputs and recommendations. Timeline: Week 12 Payments: 10% Work LocationHybrid– Remote & On-Site in Nigeria and Cameroon Expected duration3 Months Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe objective of these assessments was to close critical knowledge gaps and provide evidence-based insights that could guide interventions tailored to the needs of the affected communities. This initiative also aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation, enhance institutional capacities, and create a unified framework for addressing cross-border challenges, ultimately fostering greater stability and prosperity for borderland communities in both countries. The consultancy will play a crucial role in consolidating the findings of these assessments, engaging stakeholders, and providing actionable recommendations that promote stability, resilience, and sustainable development for communities along the border. It will focus on governance, livelihoods, WASH, and protection issues that have arisen from the border demarcation process. Additionally, the consultancy aims to create a joint document that brings together the assessment findings, both in Cameroon and Nigeria, facilitates a workshop for stakeholders and develop an integrated cross-border strategy. This strategy will align the efforts of the UN in Cameroon and Nigeria with those of the respective governments and will guide a holistic response to the challenges faced by border communities. Understanding the interconnectedness of peacebuilding, humanitarian aid, and development, the consultancy will also identify policy gaps, propose actionable recommendations, and emphasize gender-sensitive and youth-inclusive solutions. He or She will advocate for private sector involvement and strengthen data and knowledge management systems to ensure informed, evidence-based decision-making. This consultancy service will be home-based with regular contact with UNOWAS/CNMC office and the Resident Coordinators in Cameroon and Nigeria. The consultancy aims to: • To support the Cameroon and Nigeria UN Country Teams (UNCTs) in developing a joint cross-border strategy that addresses the needs of populations affected by the border demarcation, while taking into account the specific needs on each side of the Cameroon-Nigeria border with the 2 UNCT projects proposals. The process will include the following key steps: • Consolidation of Assessment Findings: The consultant will synthesize the results from both countries’ assessments to create a unified set of findings. • Development of a Joint Report with specific recommendations • Policy Briefs focusing on governance, trade, migration, and environmental resilience. • Facilitating Stakeholder Workshops to validate findings and set the foundation for cross border collaboration. • Development of a Joint Cross-Border Strategy with a resource mobilization Specific Deliverable: The consultancy deliverables will ensure actionable, inclusive, and sustainable solutions. The consultant will produce the following: a) Inception Report: The consultant will submit an Inception Report at the start of the consultancy, outlining the methodology and approach for the entire consultancy period. This report will include: • Methodology: Detailed explanation of how the assessment findings from both countries will be consolidated, analyzed, and presented (communication). This should cover the tools and techniques used (e.g., data collection methods, stakeholder engagement processes, analytical frameworks). Methodology for data consolidation, analysis, and stakeholder engagement. • Timeline: A clear, actionable timeline with milestones and deadlines for each phase of the consultancy. This will help track progress and ensure that deliverables are completed within the expected time frame. • Engagement Plan: A strategy outlining how the consultant will engage with key stakeholders, including government officials, parliament members, local communities, UN agencies, and other relevant actors. This will ensure inclusivity, transparency, and the integration of diverse perspectives in the final report. • Initial policy mapping for integration into national and regional strategies. b) Consolidated Joint Report: A Consolidated Joint Assessment Report will be produced, summarizing the findings from the Nigeria and Cameroon assessments. This report will: • Present a sectoral analysis of critical areas, including governance, protection, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), health, livelihoods, and points of entry etc. The analysis will draw from data collected during the assessments in both countries to propose project ideas. • Identify gaps and needs in each sector, highlighting vulnerabilities specific to border communities impacted by the demarcation process in relation to any new context. • Emphasis on gender-sensitive and youth-inclusive solutions to ensure equitable outcomes. • Integration of climate adaptation measures and environmental resilience plans. • Identify new policy (regional, national, local and UN) avenues to ensure mainstreaming of the needs of border (transboundary) communities. • Provide national and transnational project ideas per sector and a fundraising strategy to address the needs of populations c) Policy Briefs: The consultant will produce policy briefs based on the findings of the assessments and the joint report. These briefs will: • Tailored briefs for governments, regional bodies, and donors. • Key recommendations on strengthening border governance, integrating HDP Nexus approaches, and fostering private sector engagement. • Practical insights for mainstreaming the needs of border communities into national and regional policies. • Guidance on leveraging climate financing and partnerships for sustainable development. d) Workshop Facilitation Plans : • Detailed agendas covering validation of findings, policy integration, and project prioritization. • Presentations summarizing key findings, sectoral recommendations, and resource mobilization strategies. • Workshop materials to promote interactive discussions and consensus-building. e) Post-Workshop Report : • Summary of workshop outcomes, stakeholder inputs, and validated recommendations. • Updated report incorporating feedback from participants. f) Finalized Joint Document: A finalized joint document incorporating the feedback from the workshop and ensuring alignment with regional and international frameworks will be delivered. This will: • Be a refined version of the joint report, ensuring that it reflects the discussions and outcomes of the workshop. • Align with regional and international frameworks such as the SDG’s, Pact of the future, Global Compact for Migration (GCM), the African Union's Migration Policy, African Union Integrated Border Governance Strategy (AUBGS), African Union Convention on Cross Border Cooperation (Niamey Convention), and other relevant international agreements, ensuring that the recommendations are both locally relevant and globally informed. Also mainstream it with the national developments plans and the country’s UNSDCF. • Serve as the final reference document for policy implementation, further programming, and cross-border cooperation between Nigeria and Cameroon. • Mainstreaming with Cameroon’s PPRD, Nigeria’s National Development Plan, and the African Union’s Integrated Border Governance Strategy. • Clear pathways for implementation, including financing options and policy frameworks. g.) Development of Funding Strategy and Costed Plan: The consultant will develop a funding strategy and a costed implementation plan to support the joint assessment report's recommendations. The deliverables will include: • Funding Strategy: A plan to identify and secure funding from various sources, including government funds, international donors, and private sector partners. The consultant will outline strategies to engage these stakeholders and obtain the necessary financial support. • Costed Plan: A detailed plan showing the financial requirements for each intervention in the report. This will include cost estimates for each sector, a breakdown of financial needs, and a timeline for implementation. The plan will incorporate strategies for resource mobilization, ensuring that sufficient funding is secured to support the planned activities. Qualifications/special skills• Master’s degree in social sciences, Economics, Law, International Development, Migration Studies, or a related field. • 15 years of professional experience in development programming, policy, governance, and technical project/report writing. • Professional experience in development programming, policy, governance, and technical project/report writing. • Multidisciplinary background with expertise in migration governance, border governance, socio-economic programming, and development research. • Skilled in facilitating workshops, stakeholder coordination, and policy development. • Ability to design actionable strategies from complex, multi-stakeholder assessments. • Experience in fragile and conflict-affected settings, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. • Proficient in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. • Strong engagement experience with government and international stakeholders. • Excellent writing, analytical, facilitation, and strategic thinking skills. • Proven ability to synthesize diverse data sources into sound recommendations. • Experience with cross-border or regional programming is a plus. • Strong organizational and time management skills; ability to meet tight deadlines. • Effective team player in multicultural, multidisciplinary environments. • Proficient in Microsoft Office (especially Word and Excel); capable of working independently under pressure. LanguagesProficiency in English and French is required. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.