National Contractor - GEP 3 State Project Coordinator (SPC) at UNICEF

Job Number:  512260
Work Type : Consultancy

Purpose of Assignment

• The purpose of this consultancy is to ensure the effective implementation and coordination of UNICEF supported activities in Kano state as per the Girls Education Project Phase 3 (GEP3) Kano state work plan and contributing to overall results of UNICEF Education Programme. GEP3 activities are implemented in close partnership with government education agencies and civil society partners.
• The consultant will report to the Field Office Education Specialist, and with guidance of the GEP3 Manager or his/her designated representative.
• The consultant will work closely and coordinate with GEP3 Education team based in the UNICEF Field Office responsible for implementation of Education Programme in Kano State.
• It is expected that the SPC will form effective professional relationships with relevant decision makers and education sector stakeholders in the state to advance GEP3 activities and results.

Background

• The UNICEF Country Office, Nigeria is implementing a DFID-funded multi-year Girls' Education Project Phase 3 (GEP3) which aims at contributing to improved social and economic opportunity for girls in northern Nigeria. With a total of 10.5 million children out of school, Nigeria accounts for almost one in five of all school age children living in extreme educational poverty worldwide[1]. GEP3 (Girls Education Project Phase 3) is managed by UNICEF in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education, Universal Basic Education Commission at the national level and with the state ministries of education and State Universal Basic Education Board of target states[2] and other implementing partners (IPs). GEP3 involves an investment of up to A£103 million over eight years (May 2012 to September 2020).
• In 2014, UNICEF took steps to redesign GEP3, through a participatory process with government partners. A  The purpose of the redesign was to: (1) amend the Theory of Change to become more strategic and systematic; (2) focus the project more on early grade learning; and (3) simplify the project by eliminating some components and interventions. The outcome of the redesign was an updated Operational Plan which outlines a new Theory of Change, logical framework and strategies planned to achieve change for girls education.
• The Operational Plan also presents how the delivery of the proposed interventions will take place, in such a way that the key outcomes for which UNICEF is accountable over one million additional girls receiving and using a good basic education - are delivered and measured.
• Results will be delivered under three outputs, with the following focus areas: Output 1: Increased enrolment and retention for girls in basic education; Output 2: Improved capacity of teachers to deliver effective learning for girls; and Output 3: Improved governance to strengthen girls education.
• As per the GEP3 redesign, the project has two implementation phases: testing and expansion. The testing phase commenced in April 2015 and ended in September 2017. The expansion phase started in October 2017 and will end in September 2020. As part of the expansion plan, UNICEF agreed with DFID to expand the project to Kano state building on the success of implementation and results achieved so far in the five GEP3 states (Bauchi, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara). The SPC position is part of the core state team planned to support delivery of GEP3 results in Kano state.

Scope /Focus of the Assignment Areas of Focus
The assignment will entail the contractor (SPC) to effectively coordinate the implementation and coordination of) activities according to the GEP3 work plan for Kano state.

Under the overall management and supervision of the FO Education Specialist responsible for Kano state, and with guidance from the GEP3 Manager, the State Project Coordinator (SPC) shall carry out the following tasks in fulfilling the expectations of this assignment:

• Supervise the work of all GEP3 consultants ensuring that work plans are developed, submitted and implemented as planned. Ensure all consultants reports are submitted timely;
• Ensure that all GEP3 interventions are implemented according to state work plans through effective and efficient management and coordination of GEP3 resources;
• Ensure that the State Girl's Education Steering Committee meets quarterly, with representatives from all bodies and institutions with direct involvement in GEP3 (including civil society and Islamic representation), and with direct managerial, coordination and monitoring responsibilities for GEP3;
• Act as secretary to the above committee, arranging regular meetings, keeping minutes and following up on action points and development and implementation of its work plan;
• Support FO Education team to ensure that credible and timely education annual plans are prepared for joint submission to the State Planning and Budget agency and UNICEF/DFID;
• Led by the FO, provide technical support in the implementation of SESP/SESOP and advocate using the same to inform the formulation of annual education budgets and release of funds;
• Ensure adequate records of all girls education activities in the state are kept by State M&E Officer and shared with UNICEF NCO and FO on monthly basis;
• Ensure that UNICEF protocols are used to resource project activities, and keep accurate and transparent accounts of all inputs, outputs, expenditures and resources used;
• Liaise with and between all bodies and institutions involved in GEP3 activities, particularly the SMoE, SUBEB, SAME and the College of Education, and ensure the effective pursuit of project targets and implementation of activities;
• Liaise closely with other DFID funded programmes to maximize engagement at state level especially around planning and budgeting;
• Lead advocacy activities in support of GEP3 interventions including the improvement of girls's education, identify when high level advocacy needs to be done by UNICEF or DFID;
• Facilitate state annual reviews of state GEP3 progress and lead on monitoring and knowledge dissemination within the state, particularly to disseminate best practice to LGAs;
• Facilitate state visits by GEP3 Annual Review teams and other agencies for UNICEF/DFID;
• Oversee the timely disbursement and retirement of funds at the state level, and monitor and conduct spot internal audit checks on the use of both project and state funds disbursed to the SBMC at community level;
• Liaise with CSACEFA to ensure a credible series of monitoring field checks are made in supported communities;
• Ensure accountability, transparency and follow up in all GEP3 activities by State GEP3 team;
• Ensure that Value for Money (VfM) initiatives are promoted and on-going;
• Produce regular monthly work plans and monthly/quarterly reports and submit to the Permanent Secretary of Education, SUBEB Chairperson and the UNICEF Katsina FO. Include disbursements of state commitments (approved and actual) to GEP3 activities on a monthly basis.

Deliverables
Monthly State Progress Report using GEP3 template which will include:

• Monthly data updates (gender-disaggregated) and updated versions of the completed monitoring/tracking templates;
• Provide update on implementation of GEP3 activities in the state based on the State Output Leads reports on progress by output including observations from monitoring (actions taken);
• Provide evidence of scaling up;
• Provide update on the implementation of SESPs/SESOPs/LESOPs based on the work of FO;
• Provide evidence of advocacy activities in support of improved girls’ education;
• Compile evidence of human interest stories and good practices from State M&E Officer;
• Oversee the timely disbursement and retirement of funds at the state level, monitor and conduct spot checks on the use of both project and state funds disbursed; and submit reports;
• Ensure that the reports contain analysis on application of Value for Money (VfM) strategy
• Final report will be submitted along with work plan to the Permanent Secretary of Education, SUBEB Chairperson and the UNICEF FO.

Recruitment Qualifications
A Education:

• Advanced degree in education, economics, statistics, international development or related fields.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of experience and demonstrated ability in the coordination and management of state level projects or development work, preferably in northern Nigeria.
• At least 3 years of experience supporting capacity development work.
• Competent in analysis of data and evidence (including Value for Money).
• Extensive knowledge and skills of education and social sectors in Nigeria.
• Strong analytical skills using diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data.
• Demonstrates, applies and shares technical knowledge.
• Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, to varied audiences, especially in the target states.
• Able to work effectively in a multicultural environment, sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals.
• Skills in use of Microsoft office suites are a must.

Language:

• Fluency in English language and good English writing skills. Fluency in language of the immediate environment.