Job Vacancies at the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

Job No.: 551188
Level: Consultancy
Contract type: Consultancy
Categories: Child Protection
Contract Duration: 6 months

Overview

• Nigeria has the largest number of female child brides in Africa (23 million girls and women married as children) and carries the third largest burden of married girls globally (3.3M), after India (26.6M) and Bangladesh (3.9M).
• At least 44.1 per cent of girls in Nigeria are married before their 18th birthday, while 18.5 per cent are married before they turned 15 so almost 1 in 5 girls.
• Child marriage is a key driver of socio-economic challenges especially in northern Nigeria, leading to school drop-out and adolescent pregnancy which is also linked to high maternal mortality and malnutrition, among other issues.
• Child marriage occurs in a context of limited knowledge and access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information and services, with complications of early childbearing (maternal mortality ratios is at 576 per 100,000) and obstructed labor such as obstetric fistula which affect an estimated 20,000 women and girls every year in Nigeria.
• While the data shows a 9 per cent decline in the prevalence of child marriage since 2003, and a projected further decrease by 6 per cent by 2030, because of the rapid increase in population, the number of female child brides will increase by more than a million by 2030 and double by 2050.
• Additionally, an estimated 10 million more girls will be at risk of becoming brides as a result of the pandemic.

In Nigeria, whether a girl will be married before she reaches 18 years depends largely on the geographic location, the economic status of her family and her education:

• According to MICS 2016-17, prevalence rates of women who marry before 18 in some parts of Northern Nigeria are well over 50 per cent, including Bauchi: 64.4 per cent; Jigawa: 74.9 per cent; Katsina: 70.9 per cent; Kebbi: 66.9 per cent; Sokoto: 68.6 per cent; Yobe: 62.0 per cent and Zamfara: 71.4 per cent
• North west Nigeria has the lowest median age of marriage (15.8 yrs), with Katsina, in north west Nigeria, which has the lowest median age of marriage of any state, at 15.5 yrs (NDHS 2018)
• The median age of child marriage is nine years lower among the lowest wealth quintile compared to the highest wealth quintile (NDHS 2018)
• 68 per cent of women from the poorest households were married before 18 (MICS, 2016-17)
• 52.3 per cent of rural women compared to 29.4 per cent of urban women were married before the age of 18 (MICS, 2016-17)
• The median age of first marriage of women with no formal education is 15.8 years compared to 21.9 years amongst those with secondary education (NDHS 2018).
• 63.3 per cent of women with no education and 73.3 per cent of those with non-formal education were married before 18 years compared to 22.6 per cent of those with secondary education (MICS 2016-17)
• Nigeria has committed to ending child marriage within the African Union Commission framework and launched the National Campaign and Strategy to End Child Marriage on 29 November 2016.
• The National Strategic Plan to End Child Marriage in Nigeria 2016 - 2021 was the first national action plan adopted by the Federal Government aimed at “highlighting the multi-sectoral, multi-faceted activities needed to bring about successful elimination of this harmful practice based on the premise of a strengthened coordination platform led by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs”.
• The key actors for this include but are not limited to various MDAs such as Health, Education, Information and National Orientation Agency, Finance, Budget and National Planning; traditional and religious bodies, civil society organizations, foreign and national donors and implementing partners.
• Following the expiration of the strategy at the end of 2021, a consensus was reached at a meeting (March 2022) of the Core Group on Ending Child Marriage in Nigeria, led by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, to review and develop a new 5-year costed National Strategy to End Child Marriage in Nigeria (2022-2027) which will provide a strategic roadmap that will consolidate and build on the gains made, with a view to accelerating efforts towards ending child marriage in Nigeria by 2030.
• The policy review process will need to identify, assess and address any existing gaps not addressed by the previous policy as well as emerging trends, patterns and evidence on child marriage in Nigeria.
• The outcome of this exercise will be to produce a costed and operational strategy and action plan through which the rearticulated goals, objectives and strategies in the revised plan are realised.
• The revised policy should incorporate a rights-based and gender transformative approach to prevention (education as a delay tactic) and response (health, SRHR and justice) to child marriage, aimed at repositioning efforts aimed at ending Child Marriage in Nigeria.
• To this end, FMWA/UNICEF Nigeria is seeking to hire a local consultant to support the revision and the development of the National Strategy to End Child Marriage in Nigeria (2022-2027).
• This activity will support outcome 3.2.24 on Strategic advocacy and partnerships to address child marriage under Pillar 3 of the Spotlight Initiative.
• The Spotlight Initiative (SI) is a global partnership between the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in support of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.
• In Nigeria, the focus states for Spotlight implementation are Adamawa, Cross Rivers, Ebonyi, FCT, Lagos and Sokoto. However, this exercise will be conducted both at the national and state (selected) levels.

Scope of Work
In carrying out this assignment, the consultant will need to:

• Conduct a literature review of frameworks, studies and evaluations of successful practices implemented in Nigeria and other countries.
• Conduct desk review of program and policy documents (national and sub-national and sectoral policies on health, education, labour etc.), that take stock of the situation of child marriage and programmatic responses, including the recent analysis of the integration of ending child marriage policies and plans into budgets.
• Provide a summary of the available data, including the 2014 VAC survey, and latest data from MICS and NDHS on the emerging trends.
• Review and develop a revised National Strategy to End Child Marriage in Nigeria, particularly with a view to strengthening a comprehensive approach to the prevention and response to Child Marriage including strengthening case management, availability of quality child-sensitive social welfare and justice services and ensure involve other sectors (education and health)
• Provide recommendations to the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the national and sub-national Technical Working Groups (TWG), and its first year workplan, including increasing the impact and visibility of the work conducted by the TWG.
• Review use of tools and indicators that inform data collection on the situation of child marriage and service provision and provide recommendations on the standardization indicators and tools in line with CEDAW and African Charter reporting requirements to support and how data can be fed into a national “data bank”.

Knowledge / Expertise / Skills Required

• Advanced Degree in International Development, Social Welfare, Public Administration, Gender or other relevant course.
• 10+ years of demonstrated experience in the area of research into policy making on child marriage, related social issues, adolescent girls’ programming or related field.
• Demonstrated experience in research, both quantitative and qualitative.
• Experience in the field of child marriage is an asset;
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required
• Fluency in Hausa is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate:

• UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

go to method of application »

Job Code: 4490
Vacancy Type: Fixed Term
Agency: UNDP
Bureau: Regional Bureau for Africa
Grade: NOB
Practice Area: Crisis and Fragility Policy and Engagement
Contract Duration: 1 Year with Possibility for extension
Mobility required / no mobility: No Mobility required

Background and Organizational Context

• Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country with an estimated population of 206 Million1 and an annual population growth rate of 2.6%2. By 2050, the country’s population is expected to have doubled, reaching more than 400 million and thereby becoming the third largest country in the world3. More than half of its population will be under the age of 30 years.  
• At the same time, unemployment and under-employment are one of the key development challenges facing young people in Nigeria and undermining the prospects of the country to achieve its development aspirations and fulfil its potential as the continent’s largest economy.
• According to the National Bureau for Statistics’ report of 2018, over 13.9 million youth are unemployed. The highest unemployment rate was recorded for youths between 15 - 24 years standing at 40.8%, followed by those aged between 25 – 34 years at 30.7%4. Investing in Nigeria’s youth is therefore becoming more urgent than ever.  
• In response to this complex development challenge, the Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other partners, seeks to invest in the next generation of leaders through the establishment of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (JFP) - a platform for empowering young Nigerian graduates with practical on-the-job skills and leadership competencies through a twelve-month paid placement opportunity.
• Under this programme, highly qualified recent graduates of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme will be provided with work opportunities within private sector organisations, the public sector, UN agencies and development organisations.
• The goal of the NJPF is to enhance these Fellows with professional and leadership capacities thereby enabling them to positively contribute to the social and economic development prospects of Nigeria. The enrolment of an initial 20,000 Fellows is envisaged followed by a scaling up of the programme in the coming years.
• The Jubilee Fellows Programme will expand opportunities for learning to work transitions for fresh graduates in Nigeria through placement opportunities, job market information, skills transfer and facilitated learning.
• It is designed as a partnership platform that brings together private and public sector actors - including learning institutions to co-create and deploy to scale a viable solution that enhances youth employability, entrepreneurship and retention of national talent. 

Position Purpose

• To this end, UNDP Nigeria is seeking a Private Sector Engagement Analyst, to further elaborate the private sector engagement strategy and coordinate the implementation of the strategy.
• The Private Sector Engagement Analyst will be responsible for the engagement of the private sector, influencing private sector organizations to participate in the Jubilee Fellowship project as host entities, providing placement opportunities for the Fellows, and as knowledge partners or potential donors of the Fellowship for sustainability.
• The Private Sector Engagement Officer will support the implementation of partnership building strategies to upscale and deepen the impact of the Jubilee Fellowship, by contributing to the establishment and growth of new partnerships, with the view of achieving broader and systematic change towards youth unemployment in Nigeria.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of Crisis Prevention and Recovery Advisor, the Private Sector Engagement Officer will be responsible for the following functions and tasks:

• Private Sector Engagement project planning, implementation & follow-up;
• Develop knowledge tools and guidance on engagement with private sector tailored to the programme’s needs;
• Provide substantive inputs to advocacy, knowledge building and communication efforts, as well as to resource mobilization strategies.

Private Sector Engagement Project Planning, Implementation & Follow-up:

• In coordination with Talent Management team and Youth Engagement officer, identify high potential Fellows for placement opportunities in private sector host entities.
• Contribute to a detailed rapid market assessment of key economic sectors that will inform placements
• Liaise and coordinate with multiple stakeholders in different economic sectors, to provide successful matching of selected Fellows for the 12-month placement opportunities.
• Identify, advertise, attract & select, and actively cooperate with private companies and employers able to absorb additional Jubilee Fellows.
• Continuously monitor and analyze the market for data and information relating to current and future employment trends and develop reports or case studies to be shared with project stakeholders where required.
• Assess desired and most needed skills required by private sector and employers in project implementation area and work closely with the PM to ensure linkage to other project outputs and the development of appropriate and effective training mechanisms and tools.
• In coordination with the Talent Management team, develop Jubilee Fellows selection criteria, workplans and monitoring, evaluation & mentorship/support plans for the entire duration of the 12-month Fellowship.
• Advertise, identify and attract would-be entrepreneurs with business ideas and match them with the appropriate mentors.
• Ensure lessons learnt and periodic review of activities are utilized and result in adaptations for the improved quality of programming and implementation.
• Conduct routine and regular monitoring visits to participating private sector enterprises to ensure appropriate follow-up, guidance and quality. Monitoring and follow-up should have a view toward continually improving skills acquisition of Jubilee Fellows, tailoring professional development toward business needs and supporting selected Fellows for negotiating long-term employment. 
• Support the articulation of private sector engagement in line with development efforts towards achievement of the SDGs in close cooperation with the PMU.

Develop knowledge tools and guidance on private sector engagement tailored to the project’s needs:

• Undertake tailored research and analysis on relevant industries and sectors, analyzing trends and developments in the labour market, including latest technologies and innovation, and how it affects the future of work for youth in Nigeria.
• Support the interpretation of the findings of this research and analysis to influence the development of evidence-based policies on youth employment. 
• Conduct skills-based needs assessment on private sector host entities representing all the key economic sectors to guide the placement of Jubilee Fellows.
• In close consultation with the PMU and other relevant colleagues, ensure that the tools and guidance developed are aligned to the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting guidance of the project and activities.
• Organize meetings, roundtables and briefings aimed at strengthening strategic partnerships and joint initiatives with the business community, government representatives, youth networks and other key stakeholders

Provide substantive inputs to advocacy, knowledge building and communication efforts, as well as to resource mobilization strategies:

• Develop background documents, briefs and presentations related to private sector’s engagement for youth employment
• Coordinate and organize advocacy campaigns, events, trainings, workshops and knowledge products targeted toward private sector organizations.
• Coordinate the development of knowledge management methodologies, and products on private sector engagement and partnership cultivation.
• Provide substantive inputs to resource mobilization strategies; analyze and maintain information and databases.
• Prepare relevant documentation such as project summaries, conference papers, briefing notes, speeches, and donor profiles.
• Participate in donor meetings and public information events, as delegated.

Impact of Results:

• The results will have an impact on the overall performance of the Jubilee Fellowship in the area of Private Sector Development and engagement. Accurate analysis, data entry and presentation of information ensure proper programme implementation.
• As an active UNDP CO team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNDP and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his duties, including, strengthening partnerships for youth engagement and development; Broaden development of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme; Systematic understanding of youth priorities.
• This will result in a positive impact on the overall success of UNDP’s programming to support the Jubilee fellow’s programme.
• Ultimately the work in the areas mentioned will have the long-term impact of supporting UNDP Nigeria in delivering better policy advice and programming to partners, through evidence-based recommendations, thereby contributing towards the achievement of the SDGs.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Advanced University Degree (Master's Degree or equivalent) in social policy, public policy, politics, development studies, statistics, political science, international relations or related field.
• A first-level University Degree in combination with 04 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the Advanced University Degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years of post-qualification work experience in private sector in Nigeria and beyond is desirable and required
• Working knowledge of the private sector in Nigeria is an asset
• Experience in devising strategies, knowledge tools and guidance in relation to private sector and adapted to the economic context of the country is required
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills is required
• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office (word, excel, outlook) and web-based applications is required
• Experience in working with private sector in relation to youth employment is an asset
• Working knowledge of UN principles, SDGs and international development in Africa is an asset
• Strong digital and data analytics skills is an asset
• Demonstrate the ability to showcase cross-disciplinary and cross-functional experience and expertise.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in oral and written English; knowledge of other official UN languages is an advantage.

Competencies:

• Achieve Results: Level 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.
• Think Innovatively: Level 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• Learn Continuously: Level 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility:  Level 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with Determination: Level 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: Level 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Level 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies
Business Direction & Strategy:

• Business Acumen:
  • Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome;
  • Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and;
  • Ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks
• Negotiation and Influence:
  • Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates 'win-win' situations
• Entrepreneurial Thinking:
  • Ability to create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners and to develop service offers responding to client needs based on UNDP's organizational priorities and mandate

Business Development:

• Knowledge Generation:
  • Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need

Business Management:

• Results-based Management:
  • Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
• Partnerships Management:
  • Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
• Integration within the UN:
  • Ability to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations.