Job Opportunity at UNICEF

Vacancy number: VN-NGR-08-2016
Post Title: National Consultants for LGAs (8)
Level: NOB
Contract Type: Special Service Agreement (SSA)
Duration: Five months
Location: Gwoza, Damboa, Bama and Dikwa of Borno state

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Nigeria is pleased to announce the following vacancy for suitably qualified Nigerian candidates as follows:

Background/Purpose of the consultancy:
The insurgency in North East Nigeria has gone through a number of phases, increasing in intensity in 2009 and further escalating in 2014. Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have been most affected by the conflict. As a result of the intensified fighting, there were mass displacements, resulting in 1,978,950 persons displaced in the three North-Eastern States of Nigeria, as of 31 October 2015, with the highest number of IDPs in Borno (1,606,406), followed by Yobe (144,302) and Adamawa (135,605). Among the displaced, 57.4% are under the age of eighteen years and 28% are five years old or younger. The vast majority of IDPs (92%) are staying with host communities, while 8% of them live in camps.

All Local Government Areas (LGAs), under insurgency came back under the control of the Nigerian military at the end of September 2015. As the Nigerian Armed Forces continue to take back territory, it is envisaged that internally displaced persons will start to return to their local government areas. Prior to the return, UNICEF aims to identify and train local government area consultants that can ensure the continuation of core child protection programmes for children in their communities in Borno State.

The purpose of this consultancy is to support the implementation of the child protection in emergencies programme in Gwoza, Damboa, Bama and Dikwa LGAs of Borno state.

Major Tasks to be accomplished:

- Ensure that child protection programmes continues to reach beneficiaries as they return to their local government area;
- Undertake regular meetings with community leaders and project staff to promote project continuation;
- Operationalise the child protection committees in the local government area;
- Work with social welfare officers, social welfare assistants and community leaders to ensure the continuation of the programme of support for unaccompanied and separated children;
- Work with the local government areas supervisors and the community volunteers to establish child friendly spaces and implement the psychosocial support programme;
- Work with community leaders and social welfare officers to promote reintegration of children associated with armed groups;
- Ensure the continuation of the mines risk education programme;
- Undertake site visits to monitor programme implementation; and
- Assist in monitoring and reporting child rights violations.

Minimum qualifications:

- University degree in social work, psychology, human rights/social science or related field. Five years’ relevant experience, including in project management, will be accepted in lieu of a University Degree
- Minimum two years’ experience of relevant experience on child rights, child protection, social welfare, GBV/gender issues or in delivering/supporting delivery of community based programmes
- Must be a resident or willing to relocate to assigned local government area of responsibility
- Knowledge of the local area is essential
- Experience in child protection will be an advantage
- Good communication skills - both oral and written in English and the local language in the assigned state/LGA of responsibility
- Good facilitation skills
- Ability to work independently under difficult conditions