International Consultant - Sector Coordination, Planning and Evaluation at UNICEF

Job Summary

• Provide technical assistance to the state governments in Kaduna, Borno, Yobe and Adamawa in strengthening education sector coordination with improved capacity to develop, implement and evaluate data-informed, result-oriented, gender-sensitive, disability-inclusive, crisis-responsive education sector plans.

Specific Tasks
Component 1: Evidence-based sector planning, budgeting, and performance monitoring in Kaduna state (ISDB project)

• Review existing education data, sector analyses, sector plans, and sector performance evaluation in Kaduna state. Collect and review existing and past education data (e.g., Annual School Census; Education Finance Studies), sector analyses, and state/local sector policy, strategies and plans, and sector performance review/evaluation to identify gaps in the sector planning, implementation and performance assessment.
• Attention will be paid to the inclusion of key themes (i.e., evidence-based, result-oriented, gender-sensitivity, disability-inclusion, emergency-responsive) in sector plans as well as other attributes (e.g., relevance, completeness, effectiveness, feasibility, timeliness).
• The exercise includes a review of ongoing state initiatives in developing a new state sector plan and other development partners’ support in sector planning and evaluation. (Corresponding to Activity 4.3.1 and 4.3.2 in the ISDB project).

Component 2: Education sector coordination and planning in BAY states (ECW Phase II project):

• Review education sector coordination, planning, implementation and evaluation mechanisms and practices, including identification of data collection/use and mapping of development partners’ education projects, in BAY states.
• Conduct a desk review and field surveys to assess current regional and state education sector coordination and practices for education sector planning, implementation, and evaluation, including education emergency responses, in the BAY states.
• The exercise includes a review of existing education data collection practice (i.e., what data is collected, analyzed, and used by whom and when to develop/revise/evaluate sector plans) and identification of emergency education data and indicators, which should be recommended to be added to the existing data collection mechanisms.
• Mapping of development partners’ education initiatives in BAY states will also be conducted to understand how multi-stakeholder partnerships contribute to coordinated action on education challenges in BAY states. Based on the review, identify challenges and potential solutions, and develop recommendations to improve relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, and timeliness of education coordination, planning and evaluation to enable the states to better respond to short-term and mid-term educational needs in both development and humanitarian contexts, with special attention to gender, minorities, refugees and persons with disabilities. (Corresponding to activity 4.1.2, 4.4.1 and 4.4.6 in ECW II project)

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in education, international development, social sciences or other relevant fields.
• At least five years of experience in supporting multi-stakeholder education sector coordination.
• At least five years of experience in conducting and supporting education sector analysis, including the collection and review of education data.
• At least five years of experience in supporting the government in developing, implementing and evaluating education sector plans and emergency responses.
• Demonstrated expertise and experience in providing training and coaching to government officers in low-income and middle-income countries on education planning and management.
• Fluency in English with strong written and oral skills.

Desirables:
Skills:

• Experiences in supporting education sector development and coordination in an emergency context.
• Experience in working with UNICEF or international organizations.
• Experiences in working on development projects funded by international donors.
• Experience in working in Nigeria or other sub-Saharan African countries.

Application Closing Date
21st August, 2025.