Social Development Adviser (25/22 ABJ) at British High Commission

Roles and Responsibilities

• Drive impact on gender equality and social inclusion in Nigeria through high quality analysis, enabling FCDO Nigeria to deliver its ambition to integrate social inclusion outcomes across its portfolio to enhance impact of HMG investment on poverty reduction and inequality.
• Set the direction and oversee FCDO Nigeria’s Social Protection portfolio, including adviser for the Expanding Social Protection for Inclusive Development (ESPID) programme. You will work closely with humanitarian and economic development teams on the cash-social protection nexus, including in conflict-affected environments
• Monitor the commitment of Government to the social protection reform process, keep our support under review, and be prepared to support programme adaptation in response to the context.
• Lead the integration and focus of social inclusion, gender equity and the protection and empowerment of women and girls in the UK’s comprehensive and regional response to the Lake Chad Basin crisis, working closely with delivery teams across government.
• Strong strategic external relationships, in Abuja and elsewhere, to represent the UK’s interests and policies in support of the delivery of Nigeria’s Business Plan, with a focus on the UN, the World Bank, donor partners and Government ministries.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

Candidates will be required to provide evidence of technical skills in the following:

• Social and Political Analysis: Able to undertake robust Social and Political Analysis examining the social, cultural, political and economic structures, dynamics, norms and power relations in relation to how policy, laws, programmes, approaches etc includes or excludes people, targets and supports marginalised and vulnerable groups and drives or constrains poverty reduction. This includes being able to include appropriate conflict analysis to understand the root cause of conflict and instability and the impacts on marginalised and vulnerable groups. This enables SDAs to apply social and political analysis to influence policies and strategies, lead or quality assure programme design and implementation and build capability of others to do no harm, benefit poor and excluded people and deliver transformational change.
• Social Protection: Can identify and analyse key concepts, frameworks, and the evidence base on social protection policies and programmes that work to achieve a wider range of development outcomes including poverty reduction, education, health, nutrition, productivity, employment, women’s empowerment, reduction of Gender-Based Violence, resilience to climate change and other crises, and social inclusion. This enables SDAs to influence, lead, quality assure and build capability of others to design, implement, monitor and evaluate policy, programme and system approaches for social protection.
• Poverty and Vulnerability Analysis and Monitoring: Can analyse the different concepts and measures on wellbeing, poverty and vulnerability, and the strengths and limitations of each; the range of poverty analysis approaches and tools; and, the evidence base on what causes poverty or drives poverty reduction in developing countries. This enables SDAs to influence, lead, quality assure or build the capability of others in analysis, application and monitoring of poverty and wellbeing in developing countries.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  

• Previous work with a development cooperation or diplomatic mission.
• Required behaviours  
• Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together