International Education Consultant for Research and Evidence Generation in Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria, (200 Working Days)

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, Education.

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 is home to approximately 206 million people, 43 per cent of whom are below 14 years of age. By 2030, there will be close to 126 million children in Nigeria. The growing child population places significant pressure on the provision of schooling and the delivery of education services. Despite the progress made in the past years, 10.2 million children at the primary level and 8.1 million at the junior secondary levels remain out of school. Lack of access to safe, quality, inclusive education impacts learning of children. Approximately 50 per cent of students in school cannot read or write, while only one in four children in Nigeria demonstrate foundational literacy and numeracy skills.

The Federal Ministry of Education has recently launched the Nigeria Education Sector Renew Initiative (NESRI). The six key priority areas are: promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences (STEMM), education, Reducing the Number of Out-of-School Children, Enhancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), advancing Girl-Child Education, Harnessing Data and Digitalization and Strengthening Quality Assurance Mechanisms. UNICEF’s education programme is centered around providing technical expertise in education to the Federal and State Ministries of Education, as well as key education commissions including the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in support of NESRI and across three the pillars of access, learning and system strengthening.

How can you make a difference? 

The international consultant will undertake the following research and evidence generation assignments:

1. Work closely with UBEC, development partners and UNICEF to undertake a detailed mapping of FLN activities across Nigeria. This research will inform UBEC on the strategic direction to take with FLN in the next 1-3 years.

2.Produce a summary report on the two alternative TVET interventions that UNICEF is currently implementing including recommendations for scale-up. The two alternative interventions are the use of trade schools and the use of Master tradesmen. This report will support the Federal MoE’s TVET strategic plans.

3.Complete a mixed method analysis of student absenteeism using student-level attendance data in 4 states (Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto and Zamfara) collected through Learner Unit Record Information Tracking System (LURITS) in the academic year 2023/2024. and produce a summary report for LGA and State Ministries of Education. This includes quantitative analysis to examine the extent of absenteeism at school, LGA and state levels and a qualitative study to identify reasons and factors explaining high/low absenteeism in some of the schools and LGAs. The qualitative data will be collected from students and their families, school personnel and state and local government officers through field visits, which include a minimum of 4 schools per state (a total of 16 schools).     

4.Undertake a scoping exercise for a small-scale research grant with the Gates foundation and complete the application process.

5.Provide technical oversight of a participatory Action Research as part of an FCDO programme entitled Girls Education and Skills Programme by coaching the providers, monitoring the training and quality assuring the final report

Work Assignment/Overview:

Tasks/Milestone:

1. Work closely with UBEC, development partners and UNICEF to undertake a detailed mapping of FLN activities across Nigeria. This research will inform UBEC on the strategic direction to take with FLN in the next 1-3 years.

Deliverables/Outputs:

Completed mapping of FLN interventions across Nigeria.

Tasks/Milestone:

2. Produce a summary report on the two alternative TVET interventions that UNICEF is currently implementing including recommendations for scale-up. The two alternative interventions are the use of trade schools and the use of Master tradesmen. This report will support the Federal MoE’s TVET strategic plans.

Deliverables/Outputs:

Summary report completed

3. Undertake a scoping exercise for a small-scale research grant with the Gates foundation and complete the application process.

Deliverables/Outputs:

Scoping report and completed application

Tasks/Milestone:

4.Provide technical oversight of a participatory Action Research as part of an FCDO programme entitled Girls Education and Skills Programme by coaching the providers, monitoring the training and quality assuring the final report.

Deliverables/Outputs:

Quality assurance of report of impact assessment of the PAR intervention with 20 selected participants from GESP

Tasks/Milestone:

5.  Provide other evidence generation and support as required to the Education team through-out the contract period.

Deliverables/Outputs:

Submission of timely reports as agreed

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

To view the complete TOR, click here Senior consultant for Education research proposal writing and report writing TOR.docx

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.