Consultants at United Nations Population Fund - UNFPA

BACKGROUND

• Nigeria continues to face persistent challenges in achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), particularly for women and adolescent girls. Maternal mortality remains high, contraceptive prevalence is low, adolescent fertility and child marriage persist, and harmful gender norms continue to undermine women’s autonomy and access to services. These challenges are exacerbated by regional disparities, with northern states bearing a disproportionate burden of poor SRHR outcomes.
• To respond to these challenges, UNFPA, with funding from the Government of Norway, has been implementing the project “Advancing Access to Comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Adolescent Girls and Women in Nigeria” since 2023, with a no-cost extension requested to June 2026. The project operates in Gombe, Kaduna and Akwa Ibom States, strengthening SRHR service delivery systems, supporting adolescent empowerment, addressing harmful practices, and promoting gender-transformative social norm change.
• An endline evaluation is being undertaken to assess the project’s performance, results, and contribution to UNFPA’s transformative results and national SRHR priorities. The evaluation will be conducted by an International Consultant (Team Leader) supported by a National Consultant, who will play a critical role in contextual analysis, field engagement, gender analysis, and interpretation of findings.

Role and Purpose of the Consultant:

ROLE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT (TEAM LEADER)

The International Consultant will provide overall technical and managerial leadership of the evaluation and will be accountable for the quality, independence, and timely delivery of all evaluation outputs.

Specifically, the Team Leader will:

• Lead the evaluation design and methodological choices;
• Coordinate and guide the National Consultant and other team members;
• Ensure alignment with UNFPA Evaluation Policy, Handbook, and OECD-DAC criteria;
• Serve as the primary technical interlocutor with UNFPA’s Evaluation Manager, WCARO Evaluation Adviser, and the Evaluation Reference Group (ERG).

Scope of work:

Scope Of Work And Key Responsibilities

• Evaluation Design and Methodological Leadership

The International Consultant will:

• Lead the desk review of project documentation, National policies, monitoring data, and relevant literature.
• Refine and validate the Theory of Change, applying contribution analysis.
• Finalize the evaluation questions, indicators, and analytical framework in consultation with UNFPA and the ERG.
• Lead development of the Design (Inception) Report, including:
  • Evaluation approach and methodology;
  • Evaluation matrix;
  • Sampling strategy and data-collection methods;
  • Risk and limitation analysis.
• Ensure that gender equality, human rights, youth engagement, and LNOB principles are systematically integrated.

Interface with National Consultant:

The National Consultant will provide contextual analysis, support tool contextualization, and review gender-related components, while the International Consultant retains responsibility for the final methodological design.
 

• Coordination of Data Collection

The International Consultant will:

• Provide technical guidance and oversight to the National Consultant during field data collection.
• Ensure consistency, quality, and ethical compliance across all data-collection activities.
• Participate remotely in selected KIIs and validation discussions, as appropriate.
• Review and validate field notes, summaries, and emerging findings submitted by the National Consultant.

Interface with National Consultant:

The National Consultant will lead in-country fieldwork and primary qualitative engagement; the International Consultant will supervise remotely and ensure analytical coherence.

• Data Analysis, Synthesis, and Validation

The International Consultant will:

• Lead the analysis and triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data.
• Synthesize findings across thematic areas (FP, EmONC, fistula, adolescent SRHR, social norms, policy).
• Ensure evidence-based conclusions linked clearly to evaluation questions.
• Facilitate internal team analysis sessions and ERG validation discussions.
• Reporting and Knowledge Products
   

The International Consultant will:
 

• Draft and finalize:
  • Draft Evaluation Report (Version 1);
  • Final Evaluation Report (max. 80 pages, excluding annexes).
• Ensure compliance with UNFPA Evaluation Quality Assessment (EQA) standards.
• Prepare:
  • PowerPoint presentations (design, debriefing, final results);
  • Inputs for the evaluation brief and management response process.
• Incorporate feedback from UNFPA, ERG, and WCARO into final outputs.

Expected Outputs:

• DELIVERABLES

The International Consultant is responsible for final delivery and quality assurance of:

• Design (Inception) Report
• PowerPoint presentation of Design Report
• Debriefing presentation (emerging findings)
• Draft Evaluation Report (Version 1)
• Recommendations Worksheet
• Final Evaluation Report
• PowerPoint presentation of final results
• Inputs for Evaluation Brief

Institutional Arrangements and Reporting line:

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND REPORTING

• The International Consultant reports to the UNFPA Nigeria Evaluation Manager.
• Technical oversight is provided by the WCARO Evaluation Adviser.
• Strategic guidance is provided through the Evaluation Reference Group (ERG).
• The International Consultant provides technical leadership to the National Consultant.

Duration and working schedule:

DURATION AND LEVEL OF EFFORT

The consultancy will be conducted over 30 working days between February and June 2026, distributed across:

• Design and inception;
• Oversight of field phase;
• Analysis and reporting;
• Dissemination support.

All outputs will be submitted electronically, according to the approved timeline in the Design Report and overall schedule.

Place where services are to be delivered: The evaluation will be conducted in Nigeria, and in the three project states - Gombe, Kaduna and Akwa Ibom, and Federal level when necessary. Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

Progress will be monitored through:

• Weekly/Bi-Weekly meetings with the Evaluation Manager
• ERG technical review at critical stages
• Quality assurance by the UNFPA Regional Office Evaluation Advisor
• The evaluation team must follow UNFPA’s Evaluation Handbook and adhere to agreed timelines and quality benchmarks.

Expected travel:

• The international consultant is expected to work remotely while the co-consultant (National) is expected to travel within Nigeria during data collection phase.
• The consultant (National) will undertake field missions to project sites across Gombe, Kaduna and Akwa Ibom. Travel will include facility visits, community discussions, and stakeholder engagements.
• Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Academic Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in public health, social sciences, demography or population studies, statistics, development studies or a related field.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 10 years of experience in conducting or managing evaluations in the field of international development
• Extensive experience in leading complex evaluations commissioned by United Nations organizations and/or other international organizations and NGOs.
• Substantive knowledge of SRHR, including ASRH, maternal health, and family planning, obstetric fistula.
• In-depth knowledge of theory-based evaluation approaches and ability to apply both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods and to uphold high quality standards for evaluation as defined by UNFPA and UNEG.
• Ability to ensure ethics and integrity of the evaluation process, including confidentiality and the principle of do no harm.
• Ability to consistently integrate human rights and gender perspectives in all phases of the evaluation process.
• Excellent management and leadership skills to coordinate the work of the evaluation team, and strong ability to share technical evaluation skills and knowledge.
• Experience working with a multidisciplinary team of experts.
• Excellent ability to analyze and synthesize large volumes of data and information from diverse sources.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and spoken).
• Work experience in/good knowledge of the region and the National development context of Nigeria.

Competencies

• Proven ability to lead complex evaluations, provide clear technical direction, and effectively coordinate and mentor national consultants and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong command of theory-based and mixed-methods evaluation approaches, with demonstrated ability to design robust evaluation frameworks and synthesize qualitative and quantitative evidence.
• Demonstrated capacity to ensure high-quality, credible evaluation outputs in line with UNFPA and UNEG standards, and to deliver results within agreed timelines.
• Proven ability to integrate gender equality, human rights, youth engagement, and Leaving No One Behind (LNOB) principles across all phases of the evaluation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with UN agencies, Evaluation Reference Groups, government counterparts, donors, and partners.
• Strong commitment to evaluation ethics, independence, confidentiality, and the principle of “do no harm,” particularly when working on sensitive SRHR and gender-related issues.

go to method of application »

 ROLE AND PURPOSE OF THE NATIONAL CONSULTANT

• The National Consultant will work closely with and under the technical leadership of the International Consultant (Team Leader) to support the design, implementation, analysis, and reporting of the endline evaluation.
• The purpose of the National Consultant role is to:
• Provide contextual, cultural, and gender expertise relevant to Nigeria’s SRHR, GBV, and harmful practices landscape;
• Support field-level data collection, stakeholder engagement, and validation of findings;
• Ensure gender-responsive, rights-based, and contextually grounded analysis, particularly in relation to women, adolescents, and marginalized groups;
• Strengthen the quality, credibility, and usefulness of evaluation findings and recommendations.
• While the International Consultant remains fully responsible for overall evaluation design, quality assurance, and final reporting, the National Consultant will provide substantive analytical and operational support throughout all evaluation phases.

Scope of work:                

SCOPE OF WORK AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• The National Consultant will support the evaluation across all five phases of the evaluation process, in close coordination with the International Consultant and UNFPA.

 Support to Evaluation Design and Desk Review

• Under the guidance of the International Consultant, the National Consultant will:
• Review key project and contextual documents, including:
• Project design, logframe and theory of change;
• Progress reports, monitoring data, and relevant National policies;
• Gender, GBV, Adolescent SRHR, and harmful practices frameworks.
• Contribute to the contextual and gender analysis, particularly:
• Gender norms, harmful practices, and power relations affecting SRHR outcomes;
• State-level policy, institutional, and sociocultural dynamics.
• Support the International Consultant in:
• Refining the evaluation questions from a gender and human-rights perspective;
• Developing and contextualizing data collection tools (KIIs, FGDs, observation guides);
• Reviewing the sampling strategy to ensure inclusion of women, adolescents, and marginalized groups.

 Field Data Collection and Stakeholder Engagement

• In collaboration with the International Consultant, the National Consultant will:
• Support planning and coordination of field missions to Gombe, Kaduna and Akwa Ibom States.
• Conduct and/or co-facilitate:
• Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with government counterparts, CSOs, health workers, traditional and religious leaders;
• Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with women, adolescent girls and boys, and community members, ensuring safe and ethical engagement.
• Lead or co-lead data collection related to:
• Gender equality, women’s empowerment, GBV, harmful practices, and adolescent SRHR;
• Community engagement and social norm change interventions.
• Ensure that all field activities adhere to:
• UNFPA ethical standards;
• Informed consent, confidentiality, and do-no-harm principles;
• Child safeguarding and survivor-centred approaches.

Data Analysis and Interpretation

• The National Consultant will support the International Consultant by:
• Organizing, synthesizing, and summarizing qualitative field data, with particular attention to:
• Gender dynamics and differential impacts on women, girls, and boys;
• Variations across states, LGAs, and population groups.
• Contributing to the analysis of findings related to:
• Gender equality and women’s empowerment outcomes;
• Effectiveness of adolescent and community-level interventions;
• Sustainability and institutionalization of gender-responsive approaches.
• Participating in internal evaluation team analysis sessions and validation discussions.

Reporting and Validation

• Under the direction of the International Consultant, the National Consultant will:
• Provide written analytical inputs for:
• Relevant sections of the draft evaluation report (particularly gender, adolescents, social norms, and harmful practices);
• Case examples and contextual illustrations from fieldwork.
• Review draft findings, conclusions, and recommendations to ensure:
• Accuracy and contextual validity;
• Clear articulation of gender and equity dimensions;
• Practical and actionable recommendations.
• Support preparation and delivery of:
• Debriefing presentations at state and national levels, as required.

Expected Outputs:    

EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

• The National Consultant is expected to contribute substantively to the following outputs:

No.    Outputs / Contributions    Estimated Days

1    Contextual and gender analysis inputs to the Design Report    10 days

2    Field data collection (KIIs, FGDs, observations)    12 days

3    Data synthesis and analytical inputs    8 days

4    Contributions to draft report and validation    2 days

Total         32 days

• All outputs will be reviewed and consolidated by the International Consultant, who retains responsibility for the final deliverables. Final distribution of the deliverable will be proposed by the evaluation team in the design phase which may not exceed 32 days.
• Institutional Arrangements and Reporting line:    

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND REPORTING LINES

• The International Consultant (Team Leader) is the overall technical lead and is responsible for:
• Evaluation design and methodology;
• Quality assurance;
• Consolidation and submission of all deliverables.

The National Consultant will:

• Report technically to the International Consultant;
• Work closely with the UNFPA Evaluation Manager for coordination purposes;
• Participate in scheduled team meetings and briefings.
• UNFPA Nigeria Country Office will:
• Manage the contract;
• Facilitate access to stakeholders and documentation;
• Provide logistical support for field missions where feasible.
• Duration and working schedule:    

DURATION OF THE CONSULTANCY

• The consultancy will be conducted over 32 working days between February and June 2026, aligned with the overall evaluation timeline.
• All outputs will be submitted electronically, according to the approved timeline in the design report and overall schedule.
• Place where services are to be delivered:    The evaluation will be conducted in Nigeria, and in the three project states - Gombe, Kaduna and Akwa Ibom, and Federal level when necessary.
• Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:    
• Progress will be monitored through:
• Weekly/Bi-Weekly meetings with the Evaluation Manager
• ERG technical review at critical stages
• Quality assurance by the UNFPA Regional Office Evaluation Advisor
• The evaluation team must follow UNFPA’s Evaluation Handbook and adhere to agreed timelines and quality benchmarks.
• Expected travel:    The consultant (National) will undertake field missions to project sites across Gombe, Kaduna and Akwa Ibom. Travel will include facility visits, community discussions, and stakeholder engagements.
• Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:    

EQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Academic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in women/gender studies, human rights law, social sciences, development studies or a related field.

Professional Experience

• 5 years of experience in conducting evaluations, reviews, assessments, research studies or M&E work in the field of international development.
• Substantive knowledge on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, GBV and other harmful practices, such as female genital mutilation, early, child and forced marriage, and issues surrounding masculinity, gender relationships and sexuality.
• Ability to ensure ethics and integrity of the evaluation process, including confidentiality and the principle of do no harm.
• Ability to consistently integrate human rights and gender perspectives in all phases of the evaluation process.
• Solid knowledge of evaluation approaches and methodology and demonstrated ability to apply both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working with a multidisciplinary team of experts.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and spoken).
• Work experience in/good knowledge of the national development context of Nigeria.
• Familiarity with UNFPA or other United Nations organizations’ mandates and activities will be an advantage.

Competencies

• Strong understanding of gender-responsive and human-rights-based evaluation approaches;
• Excellent qualitative research and facilitation skills;
• Proven ability to engage sensitively with women, adolescents, and community actors;
• Strong analytical and synthesis skills;
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary evaluation team.

Language

• Fluency in written and spoken English;
• Knowledge of Hausa and/or other Nigerian languages is an advantage.