National Senior Consultant- Disability-Inclusion at UNICEF

Purpose Of Activity/Assignment:

The consultant will undertake an evidence-based review of disability inclusion across UNICEF Nigeria’s programmes, systems, and operations, and generate actionable, context-specific recommendations aligned with Nigeria’s national situation (informed by the views of persons with disabilities) and opportunities including disability-inclusion commitments—as well as with the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2026-2029 and Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy (DIPAS) 2022–2030. The findings and recommendations will directly inform the strategic direction, priorities, and design of the next UNICEF Nigeria Country Programme (2028–2032), ensuring that disability inclusion is well integrated.

Major Responsibilities:
 

• Carry out a comprehensive desk review of key existing evidence related to the situation of persons with disabilities (in particular children and youth, with attention to most marginalized groups and intersectionality) and disability inclusion in Nigeria (national policies and strategies, situation analyses and assessments, and reports, including best practices).
• Review documents related to UNICEF Nigeria’s engagement on disability inclusion and conduct key informant interviews (KII) with the UNICEF Nigeria Country Management Team (CMT) and UNICEF staff to understand how disability considerations are being integrated into programmes and operations and identify opportunities for disability inclusion within UNICEF Nigeria priorities, connecting to UNICEF regional and global initiatives on disability.
• Present and discuss initial findings including evidence gaps, a brief SWOT analysis and stakeholder review, and agree with UNICEF on priorities (e.g. stakeholders, key cross-sectoral interventions where UNICEF might bring a unique added value) for additional data collection through KII and focus group discussions (FGDs)
• Organize consultations (KIIs and FGDs) with relevant line ministries, implementing partners, children with disabilities, OPDs, relevant organizations and networks to identify programme priorities at the national and state levels and to ensure that the voices of the diversity of persons with disabilities inform and influence the review process.
• Conduct analysis and prepare a first draft report identifying sector-specific and overall country programming barriers and strategic entry points where UNICEF Nigeria could introduce new and/or strengthen existing disability-inclusion programmatic and operational solutions, drawing from UNICEF’s unique added value and seeking realistic pathways to support system changes that advance the rights of children with disabilities (e.g. entry points for identification, referral and access to support services at scale).
   

Task/ Milestone:
 

• Carry out a comprehensive desk review and conduct KIIs with UNICEF staff
   

Deliverables/Outputs:

Inception report with initial findings from the desk review
 

• Present preliminary findings (as above) and suggested priorities for additional data collection during a meeting with UNICEF
   

Deliverables/Outputs:

Suggested priorities for further data collection discussed and agreed with UNICEF
 

• Conduct consultations with key stakeholders at national and state-level, including children/youth with disabilities and OPDs
   

Deliverables/Outputs:

Consultation report with main findings
 

• Draft a first report outlining barriers and key entry points
   

Deliverables/Outputs:

First draft report
 

• Update draft report and present it during a validation meeting with UNICEF CMT and staff
   

Deliverables/Outputs:

Second draft report

PPT presentation with main review findings
 

• Prepare final report along with the draft action plan
   

Deliverables/Outputs:

• Final report with draft action plan
• To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum Requirements:

• Advanced university degree (Master's) in Disability Studies, Inclusive Development, Social Policy, Social Sciences or a related field
• At least 8 years of experience conducting disability inclusion assessments/reviews and providing policy and programming technical advice.
• Demonstrated experience in evidence synthesis, programme development and programme strategy.
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of the disability inclusion landscape in Nigeria, including national and state-level legal/policy frameworks, institutions, and active networks of OPDs and civil society.
• Proven experience related to implementation and monitoring of the CRPD in Nigeria and/or other countries in Africa.
• Solid facilitation and child-sensitive research skills; experienced with participatory, inclusive and accessible facilitation.
• Excellent technical and analytical writing skills in English.
• Familiarity with UNICEF’s and/or the UN’s work is a plus.
• Background and/or familiarity with emergency is considered as a strong asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a local language is an asset.