Job Openings at the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

Job Number: 511639
Work Type: Temporary Appointment

How can you make a difference?

• The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does - in programs, in advocacy and in operations.
• The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action.
• For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism.
• To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life - in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions - her or his rights are violated.
• There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens - addressing inequity - not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries.
• This is why the focus on equity is so vital.
• It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
• This is a professional position requiring extensive experience in administration and coordination with exceptional analytical and communication skills and the ability to effectively engage in a wide degree of creativity and latitude in developing and coordinating projects on behalf of/which the Representative and Deputy Representative.
• This position performs professional and confidential special project functions and acts as a point of contact between Senior Management and staff or other stakeholders.
• The executive officer oversees and manages the flow and exchange of information, streamlines interactions with key constituents and facilitates initiatives on behalf of the front office.
• It requires the use of considerable judgement and independent action and may include the delegation of work to others.
• It also involves a high level of discretion and often requires the use and handling of confidential information.
• Support both the office of the Country Representative and the Deputy Representative in coordinating activities, performing research, and preparing briefings and position papers.  Coordinate weekly meetings and conferences as may be required.
• Take notes to record discussions and prepare minutes and memoranda for the records. Maintain records and track the status of the Country Representative and Deputy Representative action items, including their calendars.
• Analyse and collect information in support of milestone activities. Produce a variety of substantive and/or routine documents, correspondence, letters etc.
• Make various administrative arrangements for the work of the Country Representative, the Deputy Representative and other officials/visitors, including travel, appointments, meetings, official social events, press conferences and interviews.
• Coordinate the schedule of the of the Representative and the Deputy Representative; arrange appointments, book meeting rooms, clear invoices for payments, produce/collect and disseminate documentation.
• Organise and maintain both the offices of the Representative and Deputy Representative, prioritizing communications, establishing office and file systems logging and tracking systems, mail and contact listing.
• Identify the need for equipment and supplies and establish and maintain collections of documentation, records and reports.
• Identify, request and screen materials for the collection. Conduct substantive searches and indexes materials.
• Provide high level administrative support by conducting research, preparing statistical reports, handling information requests and performing administrative functions such as preparing correspondences and drafting meeting minutes; receiving visitors; arranging conference calls; and scheduling meetings; including meetings of the senior management team.
• Acts as Secretary of the senior management team.
• Respond to a wide variety of general and substantive queries for information from internal clients, governmental and non-governmental partners.
• Screen requests, respond if possible or refer to a wide range of possible sources within and outside the country office.
• Select and compile background and briefing materials for meetings, travel, conferences, fundraising etc. for the need of the Country Representative, the Deputy Representatives and other officials as requested.
• Undertake topical research and compile information from multiple sources.

Qualifications
Education:

• University degree in communication, administration, public affairs, social sciences, international relations, public administration, law or other related discipline is required.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of professional work experience in administration, office management, external relations, public affairs or international development cooperation, preferable within a UN, national or an international organization, government or NGO.
• Prior experience of working in coordination and planning an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in English required.
• Fluency in another UN language will be an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrae:

• Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

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Job Number: 511811
Work Type: Consultancy

Purpose of Assignment

• The objective of this consultancy service is to strengthen EAC M&E system towards the establishment of functional and effective evidence generation and tracking mechanism through the design, enhancement and or development of mix of three data collection approaches or processes namely an administrative system which is school level individual pupil tracking, Education Management Information System / Annual School Censes, EMIS/ASC and the community mapping
• The later process will serve as secondary data for tracking the reduction of the out-of-school children at community level, while the school level individual pupil tracking will track out-of-school children once they enter school, enhancing EMIS by strengthening the evidence at school level. Comprehensive community mapping / household listing in the focused LGAs will provide useful datasets' qualitative and quantitative evidence, for baseline and end line evaluation on project impact at school and community levels with regards to the expected goals and objectives of EAC project.
• The M&E system will support improvement in the collection and analysis of data, including the establishment of a database for tracking individual out of school children to complement administrative routine data collected through Annual School Census to be used as a reliable data sources for tracking and monitoring progress being made in the implementation of various intervention within EAC project
• The tracking of the reduction of out-of-school children within the targeted Local Government Areas (LGAs) or States will include two sub-sets of tracking mechanisms:
  • Tracking the reduction of out-of-children from community level (community level household listing through community mapping exercise) and
  • Tracking the out-of-school children enrolled in grade one every year and their subsequent progression to higher grades within the school system for a minimum of 5 years of schooling within the project time frame
• By the end of the project period all new enrolments in all grades will be tracked.
• Reporting to the GEP Education Specialist, M&E, the Consultant will be responsible providing remote and in-country support for the Governance/M&E component of GEP
• This support is specifically with regard to the development and piloting of an institutionalized individual learners tracking mechanism and capacity development prototype to strengthen the reporting mechanisms for an effective rolling out M&E related activities in target project states (Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara) within EAC project
• The Consultant will work closely with GEP team, Federal Ministry of Education (FME) NEMIS, State Ministry of Education (SMoE), State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and support EMIS and M&E capacity building initiatives in SUBEB and SMoE and provide advice and expertise to address data and reporting challenges.

Background

• The UNICEF Country Office, Nigeria is implementing an EAC-funded multi-year Out-of-School Children project which aims at increasing the number of children (boys and girls) in school in target states in northern Nigeria
• With a total of 10.5 million children out of school, Nigeria accounts for almost one in five of all school age children living in extreme educational poverty worldwide
• Educate A Child (EAC) extension of the GEP3 (Girls' Education Project Phase 3) is managed by UNICEF in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education, Universal Basic Education Commission at the national level and with the state ministries of education and State Universal Basic Education Board of target states and other implementing partners (IPs)
• Under this extension of GEP3, interventions will focus on increased access and improved quality, aligned with the overall UNICEF Education Country Programme
• The project aims to reach approximately 501,574 out-of-school children in five years, increasing the overall impact of GEP3 to one and half (1.5) million children.
• Interventions are in line with UNICEF's vision and mission of the realisation of children's rights including their right to education and focusing on out-of-school children and quality education for them. Building the lessons from the redesign of GEP3, seven strategic interventions have been selected for the partnership with EAC which will enable UNICEF and its partners to reach more out-of-school children in northern Nigeria

These interventions contributing to achieving two objectives:

• Objective 1: Increase access for OOSC in target states in northern Nigeria
• Objective 2: Improved quality of teaching and learning environment

Interventions will be sustained, through service delivery modelling, support to the implementation of existing policies, leveraging state commitment, capacity strengthening and technical assistance. Together they will ensure increasing numbers of out-of-school children access quality education.

Scope/Focus of the Assignment

• The assignment will entail the consultant effectively supporting the Âmonitoring, data collection and maintenance of records on all EAC interventions in the respective EAC focus state (Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara) according to the EAC state work plan and M&E Framework contributing the overall results of EAC and in partnership with state education agencies.
• Under the management supervision of Basic Education Chief and guidance of the Education Specialist M&E, the incumbent shall carry out the following task in fulfilling the expectations of this post. The scope and specific tasks are presented below.

Work Schedule

• This contract is to run for 80 days, from 1st April 2018 to July 2018 (within a period of 4 months).
• Follow up on the previously developed conceptual framework for the child-tracking system for out-of-school children by finalizing the TRACE system Handbook, including the following modules:
• Module 1. Getting Started:
  • Conceptualizing the TRACE system:Â to provide the overall context for system development; outlines the basic concepts underlying the TRACE methodology; and sets up a 'building block approach used to articulate the methodology.
  • Planning and monitoring TRACE implementation: to guide development of an action plan to implement and monitor a country-specific intervention to develop a child-tracking system, with a focus on the sustainability of the system.
• Module 2. Building the TRACE System:
  • This module provides guidance for field-based partners to systematically collect data on out-of-school children, as well as in-school children who are at risk of dropping out, and tracking their progression into - or out of - the primary school system.
• Module 3. Harmonizing databases and reporting TRACE Data:
  • This module is a technical guide for database management, ensuring all related databases 'speak to each other', and for online reporting.
• Prepare guidelines for field-based implementation management structure, to be integrated into Module 1b. The focus of these guidelines should be on sustainability.
• Develop Module 4. Using data in community-based monitoring: 'Identify and Act':
  • This module guides community-based partners through a process of taking actions in response to the specific challenges facing children who have never entered school and remain out of school. This module should be prepared in collaboration with managers of other EAC-GEP program components (e.g. and other UN agency partners, if required.
• Undertake quality assurance of outputs from the community mapping exercise.
• Assist, where required, in the implementation of key planned activities in the project 'Roadmap', remotely and during on site missions on a flexible 'call-down basis', in order to ensure the timely and effective implementation of the Roadmap. Examples of possible key action areas where assistance may be required are:
  • Piloting the existing school records keeping templates / inclusion of manual children individual tracking at school level
  • Establish field-based implementation management structure
  • Conduct State-level training of trainers (ToT) in data collection using Tools not already piloted; specifically, prepare data collection training plan for State and sub-state level training, including list of enumerators
  • Monitoring Data collection/capture using Tool 2a
  • Monitoring Data collection/capture using Tool 2b and Tool 3
• Assist in mid-line review/formative evaluation, including preparation of an analysis/evaluation framework; and make recommendations for scale up.

Deliverables
A Handbook, including the following modules:

• Module 1. Getting Started:
  • Conceptualizing the TRACE system and 1B. Planning and monitoring TRACE implementation
• Module 2. Building the TRACE system;
• Module 3. Harmonizing databases and reporting TRACE data.
  • Report on field-based implementation management structures.
  • An optional Module 4. Using data in community-based monitoring
  • Quality assured community mapping and OOSC household lists.
  • Call-down assistance in the implementation of key planned activities in the project 'Roadmap' during on site missions.
• Examples of possible deliverables are:
  • Revised existing school records keeping templates;
  • Report on implementation management structure;
  • Data collection training plan for State and sub-state level training;
  • Monitoring plan/quality control for data collection/capture using Tool 2a, Tool 2b and Tool 3
• Inputs for a mid-line review/formative evaluation and end-line/summative evaluation.

Qualifications or Specialized Knowledge/Experience Required
Education:

• Advanced Degree in Education, Social Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science.

Experience:

• At least 8 years of experience and demonstrated experience in education, research or monitoring and evaluation
• Demonstrated skilled in the use of data analysis packages (Excel, SPSS, and Access)
• Competent in relational database design such as MS-Access or MS SQL Server with broad understanding of information management systems and technology,
• Extensive knowledge and skills of computer programs applications, particularly in the area of database management system (e.g.: SQL programming),
• Strong analytical skills using diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data
• Experience working on gender issues
• Extensive knowledge and skills of education and social sectors in Nigeria, in northern Nigeria will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrates, applies and shares technical knowledge.
• Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, to varied audiences

Language:

• Fluency in English language and writing skills

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Job Number: 511816
Work Type : Consultancy

Purpose of Assignment
The objective of this consultancy is to support the design and develop additional modules and adjust existing modules in the UNCIEF Basic Education real-time monitoring system. A The real-time monitoring system was developed to enhance monitoring data collection, evidence generation and effective tracking of progress including for value for money analysis. The current real-time monitoring system has a single platform handling different datasets with similar features mobile device-based, cloud-based, open source supported platform, 3-tier architecture, compatible to all standard databases. The system has been built around the overall architecture of UNICEF GEP3 intervention monitoring database but needs to be upgraded to accommodate additional data needs of the wider education programme including humanitarian response projects.

Reporting to the Education Specialist (M&E), the consultant will also be responsible for testing and making necessary adjustment to the upgraded real-time monitoring system prior to its deployment for effective use with regards to the additional modules integrated in target states. The consultant will work closely with especially GEP3, EAC team and humanitarian team UNICEF Basic Education section.

Background
UNICEF Country office, Nigeria is implementing an Educate A Child(EAC) funded multi-year project on the reduction on OOSC - More OOSC in School as an expansion of the Girls Education Project Phase 3 (GEP3), a DFID funded multi-year Girls' Education Project Phase 3 (GEP3) aimed at contributing to improved social and economic opportunity for girls in northern Nigeria. The goal of GEP3 is to contribute to more girls in target states in northern Nigeria completing basic education and acquiring skills for life and contribution to both DFID and Nigeria's policy objectives for girls and women in the project states (Bauchi, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara) in Northern Nigeria.

The goal of EAC project is to contribute to a greater reduction of the number of children out of school as expansion of the Girls Education Project Phase 3 (GEP3), funded by the UK Department of International Development, in partnership with EAC in the project states (Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara) in Northern Nigeria. Both GEP3 and EAC projects align with the Government of Nigeria's ten year strategic plan 2017. The Nigerian Government through the Federal Ministry of Education has prioritized six key areas of which four directly align to GEP3; (1) Access and Equity, (2) Standards and Quality Assurance, (3) Strengthening the institutional management of education, and (4) Teacher education and development. GEP 3 purpose is achieved through the following program outputs:

• Increased enrolment and retention for girls in basic education;
• Improved capacity of teachers to deliver effective learning for girls
• Improved governance to strengthen girls' education

Deliverables

• Revised last M&E tools (GEP3 and EAC); monitoring database adjusted based on the revised M&E tools and identified data gaps; mobile and web server platform updated with latest version of tools.
• Revised humanitarian M&E tools; monitoring intervention database adjusted based on the revised humanitarian M&E tools and identified data gaps; mobile and web server platform updated taking into consideration humanitarian M&E tools.
• Conceptual and technical documentation on how to develop the solution; Web server platform updated with import, export functionalities; Import all collected data on web server platform.
• Technical support provided to UNICEF M&Es state consultants during the key e-data collection phases
• Functional real-time monitoring system with additional modules tested and deployed in humanitarian context; technical manuals adjusted based on the additional modules; core GEP3 staff trained to perform the system.
• Technical and functional specifications for LURITS developed; LURITS application all score functionalities implemented and tested; Technical manuals developed by the service provider reviewed; Technical support provided with regards to the deployment of LURITS system in sample schools.
• Online-base, mobile-based and excel-based reporting functions developed, tested and deployed.
• GEP3, EAC and humanitarian databases maintained, real-time monitoring platform maintained and updated.

Requirements/Education

• Advanced degree in ICT, M&E, Information Management, Computer Science or related fields.

Experience:

• At least 5 years professional experience with ICT, M&E or Information Management.
• Competent in relational database design such as MS-Access or MS SQL Server with broad understanding of information management systems and technology,
• Extensive knowledge and skills of computer programs applications, particularly in the area of database management system (e.g.: SQL programming)
• Demonstrated experience developing innovative information technology solutions for developing countries.
• Previous experience developing data systems for mobile devices and familiarity working with open source applications and mobile platforms.
• Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, to varied audiences,
• Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment, sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals.

Language:

• Fluency in English language and writing skills