Consultants at The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

Job Number: 513165

Work Type: Consultancy

Background and Rationale
Adolescents and Young People (AYP) segment of the population constitute 33% of the Nigeria's population. They are found in and out of school, and all spheres of endeavor of our lives (married, engaged in labor). Adolescents are very active, yet invisible population of the society (exploited in different ways, missing in data and services, not eligible to vote etc)

Access to and uptake of HIV counselling and testing (HTC) by adolescents is significantly lower than for adults. UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic 2013 report indicate that only 10% of young men and 15% of young women (15 -24 years) were aware of their HIV status in sub-Saharan Africa. However, access and coverage vary considerably across countries and regions.

Globally, there is 30% decrease in AIDS related mortality in adults, 50% increase in AYP between 2005 -2012 (UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic 2013). This increase in adolescent HIV-related deaths is due primarily to poor prioritization of adolescents in national HIV plans, inadequate provision of accessible and acceptable HTC and treatment services and lack of support for adolescents to remain in care and adhere to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Half of the 3.1 million Nigerians living with HIV are AYP aged 15 – 24 years.

Nigeria has the second highest global burden of HIV. 10% of the global population of adolescents living with HIV live in Nigeria. An ambitious plan to accelerate progress on AYP HIV intervention was conceptualized for Nigeria aligned to the four work streams of the “ALL INâ€Â initiative namely – a. Changing social context by working with adolescents as agents of change, b. Sharpening adolescent components of national programs, c. Promoting innovation and approaches for scale-up, d. Advocacy, communication and resource mobilization

Kaduna state is one of the flagship demonstration states. Thus, intensive programming took place in Kaduna state through an 12 month intervention to pilot an approach for comprehensive HIV service delivery for adolescents and young people initially in Jaba and Jemaâ LGAs and later on to Kagarko, Lere, Igabi, Chikun and B/Gwari LGAS. This intervention built in capacity strengthening of the adolescent HIV service delivery systems, partnerships, community mobilization and advocacy at state and LGA levels to achieve results. The intervention created demand for services, provided HIV Testing services and referral for prevention, treatment and care. In Kaduna State, 7 LGAs were identified for intensive intervention and evidence based work plans with clear objectives were developed following a rapid assessment, an in-depth analysis of the selected interventions to identify bottlenecks, and an analysis of the bottle necks to proffer solutions and evidence based of plans developed to remove the bottle necks using AADM tool. The four tracer interventions selected were 1) HIV testing Services 2) Interpersonal Communication for HIV prevention 3) Condom programming and 4) Family Life and HIV Education (FLHE)

The work in Nigeria has gained global attention within UNICEF and attracted additional funding. 1.7 million dollars has been allocated to intensify Adolescent HIV programming in Nigeria with the aim of helping to identify and place 90% of the 200,000 ALHIV in Nigeria, ensure 90% of those identified are placed on treatment and 90% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression (UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets).

In the last 10 months the funds have been utilized for the implementation of four key intervention areas. One of the four areas Intensifying Adolescent programming in Kaduna StateÂ, has been implemented with the technical support of this consultant to achieve the set objectives/activities as below with appreciable progress.

Specific activities successfully rollout this intervention area include:

• Implementation of the ''All In'' plans in the 7 LGAs identified by the ''All In'' assessment in Kaduna state
• Intensive programming, engaging government, communities, young people
• Creating evidence (profiling positive ALHIV, contact tracing, pregnant adolescents, integration for youth friendly services, determinants of uptake of services, adherence, transition etc.)
• Documentation, innovation (mHealth for increasing HCT, adherence of ART).
• Evidence generation and dissemination of lessons learnt to inform a learning collaborative to influence UNICEFs advocacy and convening for taking to scale, removing law barriers (e.g. age of consent).

It is required that the systems and structures that have been strengthened be sustained fir continuous delivery of services for AYP. Thus there is still need for the technical support to continue for the purpose of implementing a sustainability and exit plan. A LGA level consultant is required to ensure continuous implementation, monitoring and coordination and reporting of all planned activities in the 4 LGAs of Kaduna State.

The Purpose of the Assignment

• The Lead consultant shall be responsible for providing overall technical support and coordination of the project in the state, and provide direct support for implementation in 4 LGAs. (S) He will technically support the LGA consultant for implementation of the AYP interventions in the remaining 3 LGAs of the state.
• The lead consultant shall ensure data collection and reporting to UNICEF on monthly and quarterly basis, organize feedback to relevant stake holders and also liaise with the research and documentation consultants for high quality documentation and research activities.
• The consultant will work closely with, and support government partners to ensure transparency and program accountability, and facilitate knowledge transfer to government partners and community members in all the LGAs.

Major Tasks to be Accomplished

• Support SACA in coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the LGA AYP plans;
  • Provide technical assistance to SACA to develop a AYP plan implementation monitoring plan
  • Support the strengthening of the State and LGA coordination mechanism
  • Participate as an ad hoc member of the Prevention TWG and AYP Subcommittee
• Support the LGA coordination and implementation of the LGA AYP plans:
  • Provide technical assistance to the LGAs for  the development of and implementation of monthly activities from the respective LGA plans
  • Facilitate monthly LGA team review meetings
  • Provide technical support to the LGA Team regarding all aspects of adolescent HIV interventions in the assigned LGA
  • Undertake field visits to LGA and communities to assess progress, identify problems and propose remedial or alternative strategies or courses of actions to accelerate/improve quality of adolescent HIV intervention s in the assigned LGAs
• Provide support to AYP disaggregated data generation and use at state and LGA levels:
  • Support LGA M&E Officers to ensure timely data collection (monthly and quarterly) from Service Delivery Points (SDPs), and collation at ward and LGAs, and ensure transmission to state
  • Facilitate standardized 2-way feedback mechanism with SDPs and LGA & LGA and State
• Provide technical support to the review of the LGA plan:
  • Support annual LGA Plan review meeting;
  • Support quarterly LGA feedback and advocacy meeting;
• Facilitate community engagement and empowerment for sustainability:
  • Mapping of existing adolescent platforms/forums/networks/u Reporters forum for all sectors (WASH, Nutrition, Education, Health etc) including private sector at the LGA/State level.
  • Engage and work with new and existing community structures at all levels for increased community participation and ownership of AYP interventions and strengthen partnerships with key allies including Implementing partners, NGOs, CBOs, faith-based organizations, women and youth groups for effective use of networks to promote programme ownership and sustainability
  • Identify and advice the LGA and state on opportunities for further integration of AYP HIV services in to PHCUOR, SOML Initiative and other MCH platforms
  • Support LGA demand creation activities
• Facilitate, in coordination with UNICEF Field Office, the effective use of UNICEF funds for the intervention at the State and LGA levels.
• Submit monthly and quarterly progress report to UNICEF
• Any other duties assigned by Supervisors or authority of UNICEF Field Office

End Product/Ouputs

• Documentation plan/framework and templates
• Detailed Work plan
• Report of inception meeting with state stakeholders
• Monthly and quarterly reports
• Consolidated final report (with various components as on documentation plan)

Qualifications or Specialized Knowledge/Experience Required
The proposed consultancy and assignment is at NOB level. The required qualification and experience for the consultancy are:

Experience and skills:

• Basic university degree (Masters degree is an added advantage) in public health, medical sciences, development areas or related field
• Five years or more experience in HIV and AIDS, gender, social protection or health programming, with proven record of working with adolescents and young people
• Good report writing skills, presentations using innovative templates and formats using current software applications and information technology is an advantage
• Ability to work with and coordinate a multi-sectoral team
• Self-driven and able to work alone, under tight schedules and to meet tight deadlines
• Experience in planning and managing technical meetings and conferences

Competencies:

• Communication- Speaks English fluently; presents information with skill and confidence; projects credibility; structures information to meet the needs and understanding of the intended audience; presents information in a well-structured and logical way. Fluency in local language is an added advantage
• Relating and networking - Easily establishes good relationships with external partners and staff; builds wide and effective networks; relates well to people at all levels.
• Drive for results - Sets high standards for quality of work; independently monitors and maintains quality of work; works in a systematic, methodical and orderly way; consistently achieves project goals; focuses on the needs and satisfaction of internal and external partners; accepts and tackles demanding goals with enthusiasm.

Kaduna Application Link

Benue Application Link

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Job Number: 513161

Work Type: Consultancy

Job Description
Specific activities successfully rollout this intervention area include:

• Implementation of the plans in the 7 LGAs identified by the assessment in Kaduna state
• Intensive programming, engaging government, communities, young people
• Creating evidence (profiling positive ALHIV, contact tracing, pregnant adolescents, integration for youth friendly services, determinants of uptake of services, adherence, transition etc)
• Documentation, innovation (mHealth for increasing HCT, adherence of ART).
• Evidence generation and dissemination of lessons learnt to inform a learning collaborative to influence UNICEFs advocacy and convening for taking to scale, removing law barriers (eg age of consent).
• It is required that the systems and structures that have been strengthened be sustained fir continuous delivery of services for AYP.
• Thus, there is still need for the technical support to continue for the purpose of implementing a sustainability and exit plan.
• A LGA level consultant is required to ensure continuous implementation, monitoring and coordination and reporting of all planned activities in the 3 LGAs of Kaduna State.

The Purpose of the Assignment

• The LGA consultant shall be responsible for providing day to day technical support for direct implementation, coordination of partners in 3 LGAs.
• (S) He will ensure high quality and timely implementation of monthly work plans; collation and validation of data, identify and address challenges with the support of the State consultant.
• The LGA consultant shall report to the state consultant and contribute to the LGA, documentation and research consultants monthly and quarterly reporting to UNICEF as required.
• S/He shall be the direct focal person with facilities, LACA, youth groups and communities; and shall be responsible for the planning and preparation of community entry and training activities.

Under the supervision of the UNICEF HIV specialist work with the state consultant to support LACA and other LGA partners in coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the LGA AYP plans:

• Contribute to the development of the LGA AYP implementation monitoring plan under the supervision of the State consultant
• Support the strengthening of the LGA coordination mechanism
• Participate as an ad hoc member of the Prevention TWG and AYP Subcommittee

Under the supervision of the UNICEF HIV specialist work with the state consultant to support the LGA coordination and implementation of the LGA AYP plans:

• Shall be directly responsible for the LGA implementation in 3 LGAs
• Under the supervision of the UNICEF HIV Specialist, provide technical assistance to the LGAs for  the development of and implementation of monthly activities from the respective LGA plans
• Support facilitation of monthly LGA team review meetings
• Provide technical support/supervision of the LGA Team regarding all aspects of adolescent HIV interventions in the assigned LGAs
• Undertake supervisory field visits to LGA and communities to assess progress, identify problems and propose remedial or alternative strategies or courses of actions to accelerate/improve quality of adolescent HIV interventions in the assigned LGAs under the supervision of the state consultant.

Under the supervision of the UNICEF HIV specialist work with the state consultant  to facilitate AYP disaggregated data generation and use at LGA levels:

• Support LGA M&E Officers to ensure timely data collection (monthly and quarterly) from Service Delivery Points (SDPs), and collation at ward and LGAs, and ensure transmission to state
• Facilitate standardized 2-way feedback mechanism with SDPs and LGA.

Under the supervision of the UNICEF HIV specialist work with the state consultant to facilitate the review of the LGA plan:

• Facilitate annual LGA Plan review meeting;
• Facilitate quarterly LGA feedback and advocacy meeting;

Under the supervision of the UNICEF HIV specialist work with the state consultant to facilitate community engagements and empowerment for sustainability:

• Mapping of existing adolescent platforms/forums/networks/u Reporters forum for all sectors (WASH, Nutrition, Education, Health etc) including private sector at the LGA level.
• Engage and work with new and existing community structures at all levels for increased community participation and ownership of AYP interventions and strengthen partnerships with key allies including Implementing partners, NGOs, CBOs, faith-based organizations, women and youth groups for effective use of networks to promote programme ownership and sustainability Â
• Identify and advice the LGA on opportunities for further integration of AYP HIV services in to PHCUOR, SOML Initiative and other MCH platforms
• Facilitate LGA demand creation activities
• Under the supervision of the UNICEF HIV specialist work with the state consultant to submit routine reports on the effective utilization of UNICEF funds as in planned LGA budgets.
• Under the supervision of the UNICEF HIV specialist work with the state consultant to submit monthly and quarterly progress reports to state consultant using agreed templates
• Contribute to documentation and research consultants reporting as required
• Any other duties required for the successful completion of the project as assigned by Supervisors or authority of UNICEF Field Office

End Product/Ouputs:

• Detailed LGA Work plans
• LGA implementation plan/framework and templates for various deliverables
• Report of LGA/community entry meetings
• Inputs for monthly and quarterly reports (including data, dash board updates, inputs for documentation and research consults as on research and documentation plans)
• Inputs for final report (with various components as on documentation plan)

Qualifications
Experience and skills:

• Basic university degree in Public Health, Medical Sciences, Development areas or related field.
• The proposed consultancy and assignment is at NOA level.
• Two years or more experience in HIV and AIDS, gender, social protection or health programming, with proven record of working with adolescents and young people
• Hands on experience in field monitoring, data collection and collation
• Knowledge of the HIV response M/E framework and reporting tools
• Basic report writing skills, and power point presentations
• Team leadership and use of participatory approaches with communities and young people
• Self-driven and able to under tight schedules meeting tight deadlines
• Experience in planning and managing community level engagements.

Competencies:

• Communication- Speaks English fluently; presents information with skill and confidence; projects credibility; structures information to meet the needs and understanding of the intended audience; presents information in a well-structured and logical way. Fluency in local language is an added advantage
• Relating and networking - Easily establishes good relationships with external partners and staff; builds wide and effective networks; relates well to people at all levels.
• Drive for results - Sets high standards for quality of work; independently monitors and maintains quality of work; works in a systematic, methodical and orderly way; consistently achieves project goals; focuses on the needs and satisfaction of internal and external partners; accepts and tackles demanding goals with enthusiasm.
• Deciding and initiating action - Takes responsibility for actions, projects and people: takes initiative and works under own direction; initiates and generates activities and introduces changes into work processes; makes quick, clear decisions.

Kaduna Application Link

Benue Applicattion Link

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Job Number: 513131
Locations: In two states out of Plateau, Gombe, Cross River, Lagos
Work Type: Consultancy
Slots: 2

Purpose of Assignment

• Provision of technical assistance and advocacy support for the development of MDA's 2019 budget submissions on Child Protection services in two states out of Plateau, Gombe, Cross River, Lagos.

Background
The results of the 2014 Violence Against Children Survey provide, for the first time, national estimates that describe the magnitude and nature of sexual, physical and emotional violence experienced by girls and boys in Nigeria. The findings indicate that violence against children is a serious problem in Nigeria, with over half of children (60%) experiencing at least one form of violence before the age of 18. UNICEF believes that in order to tackle this issue and achieve the eradication of Violence against Children as expected by Goal 16.2 of the SDGs, Nigeria ought to strengthen its Child Protection System, consisting of legislative measures, services and structures to allow for an holistic and comprehensive intervention to both prevent and respond to Violence against Children.

Since 2015, UNICEF has been supporting the roll out of a modeling system for Child Protection System Strengthening led by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, as well as the relevant Ministries in the States of Gombe, Plateau, Lagos and Cross River. A precondition for a successful strengthening of child protection system is dependent upon the extent to which the State and Federal Government sufficiently allocate and release funds to coordinate and provide a minimum package of both preventive and protective child protection services at state, local government area and ward level. In order to advocate for increased public funding for child protection services, there is a need for solid evidence not only on what the extent of current budget allocations and expenditure is but also what the economic cost of inaction would be in case the Government does not make the necessary investments to end violence against children.

To generate evidence for advocacy, UNICEF conducted a series of studies and analyses in 2017, including a) the Child Protection Financial Benchmark which provides a comparative baseline assessment of state expenditure on child protection services in 2014-2015; b) the Economic Burden of Violence against Children study, which examines the economic loss of GDP due to life-long consequences of violence against children, specifically with regards selected health and education outcomes; c) the Costing of Child Protection services which provides various scenarios of costs for the set up and roll out of the minimum package of services needed for a functional Child Protection system.

UNICEF seeks now to hire two National Consultants to provide technical assistance to the next phase of this work by:

• Facilitating advocacy with the key Government agencies for the allocation of adequate and specific budget allocations for child protection services and programmes at Federal and State level in the four focus states;
• Provide direct technical assistance to selected agencies both at Federal and State level in the four focus states for the inclusion of specific Child Protection lines in the budget submissions for 2019 and follow up their approval by the National Assembly and the respective State assemblies;
• Contribute to the documentation of the process and the consolidation of budgetary guidelines for use by relevant MDAs in future and lead their validation by Government.

The National Consultants will work under the technical supervision of an expert International Consultancy firm which will provide both remote and in-country technical oversight and guidance. Each of the national consultants will be assigned 2 states out of the 4 mentioned above.

Working Modalities
Contract Management:

• UNICEF Nigeria Child Protection Section is responsible for the management of this consultancy contract
• All final deliverable must be submitted for review to the Supervisor of the post, who will be responsible for approving payment/s according to the proposed payment schedule.

Technical Oversight:

• The national consultant is expected to coordinate closely and work under the technical supervision of Cornerstone Economic Research, a consulting firm based in South Africa and under institutional contract with UNICEF Nigeria.
• The National Consultants will be responsible for working directly with the task teams in each of the key MDAs at Federal level and in the four states to develop the budget submissions and supporting advocacy brief that covers the child protection services provided by the MDA. In doing so they will use and be guided by:
  • The CP Costing Model prepared by Cornerstone Economic Research on behalf of UNICEF for the MDAs
  • The budget guideline template prepared by Cornerstone Economic Research on behalf of UNICEF; and
  • The draft sector advocacy briefs prepared by Cornerstone Economic Research on behalf of UNICEF.
  • Cornerstone will liaise with the national consultants and the UNICEF staff to assist and advise on the work. This may involve accompanying the national consultants on some of their visits to MDAs.
  • Cornerstone will review and provide feedback on the budget submissions and advocacy briefs consolidated by the national consultants with the inputs from relevant MDAs and UNICEF staff.
  • The national consultants will be responsible for preparing for and presenting at the workshops to co-ordinate MDAs budget submissions in each state and at Federal level.

Collaboration with UNICEF Field Offices:

• While the national consultants report to UNICEF Nigeria Country Office and the Supervisor of the post based in Abuja, they are expected to collaborate closely with UNICEF Field Offices responsible for the relevant states and specifically with the Field Offices Child Protection Specialists.

This will entail arranging joint visits with the MDAs, informing the specialists of communication with the MDAs, incorporating Field Offices feedback and comments during the consolidation of the the expected de liverable and other cooperation modalities as advised by the Supervisor of the post:

• End Product/Deliverables: (eg. final report, article, document etc.)- give specific descriptions of end products and specific time/dates they are expected for contract running into several months.
• Detailed Work Plan with timeline. Est. Delivery Date Mid July, 2018
• Technical Inputs for advocacy materials. Estimated Delivery date. End July, 2018.
• Technical Inputs to Advocacy strategy and States' implementation plan. End July, 2018
• Consolidated technical inputs for the inclusion of specific CP Budget Lines in 2019 MDAs Budget submissions in the assigned States. By end of August (Task to be completed depending on State Budget cycle/ Federal budget cycle)
• Technical Inputs to Ministers/Commissioners talking points for budget defense. By end of September deliverable to be completed depending on each State budget Cycle / Federal budget cycle).
• Technical inputs to guideline budget template and technical assistance programme documentation.

Academic Qualifications or Specialized Knowledge/Experience and Competencies Required

• At least 7 years of professional experience in the field of Public Finance Management, Budgeting and/or Accounting, preferably in relation to public civil service or in the no-profit sector;
• An Advanced Degree in Economics, Public Policy, Development Studies, Public Finance, or similar disciplines.
• Demonstrable experience working and advocating with Nigerian government agencies at Federal and/or State level, particularly in the field of economic planning and budgeting.
• Knowledge and understanding of current development issues, with particular focus on child poverty and child protection is a strong asset.
• Excellent communication skills both verbally and in writing; particularly demonstrable capacity to train, coach and impart knowledge will be considered an asset;
• Excellent analytical skills
• Excellent drafting skills in English;
• Good Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office application, specifically good  working knowledge of  Excel is required.
• Fluency in the local languages of the Focus states is an asset.
• Excellent planning skills and capacity for autonomous work is a strong asset.
• UNICEF key competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Result will also be considered during the selection process.

Estimated time of consultancy and deadline for submission of end product:

• 12 working weeks spread across 6 months. Estimated July to December 2018

go to method of application »

Job Number: 513135
Locations: In two states out of Plateau, Gombe, Cross River, Lagos
Work Type: Consultancy

Purpose of Assignment

• Provision of technical assistance and advocacy support for the development of MDA's 2019 budget submissions on Child Protection services at Federal Level and in two states out of Plateau, Gombe, Cross River, Lagos.

Background
The results of the 2014 Violence Against Children Survey provide, for the first time, national estimates that describe the magnitude and nature of sexual, physical and emotional violence experienced by girls and boys in Nigeria. The findings indicate that violence against children is a serious problem in Nigeria, with over half of children (60%) experiencing at least one form of violence before the age of 18. UNICEF believes that in order to tackle this issue and achieve the eradication of Violence against Children as expected by Goal 16.2 of the SDGs, Nigeria ought to strengthen its Child Protection System, consisting of legislative measures, services and structures to allow for an holistic and comprehensive intervention to both prevent and respond to Violence against Children.

Since 2015, UNICEF has been supporting the roll out of a modeling system for Child Protection System Strengthening led by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, as well as the relevant Ministries in the States of Gombe, Plateau, Lagos and Cross River. A precondition for a successful strengthening of child protection system is dependent upon the extent to which the State and Federal Government sufficiently allocate and release funds to coordinate and provide a minimum package of both preventive and protective child protection services at state, local government area and ward level. In order to advocate for increased public funding for child protection services, there is a need for solid evidence not only on what the extent of current budget allocations and expenditure is but also what the economic cost of inaction would be in case the Government does not make the necessary investments to end violence against children.

To generate evidence for advocacy, UNICEF conducted a series of studies and analyses in 2017, including a) the Child Protection Financial Benchmark which provides a comparative baseline assessment of state expenditure on child protection services in 2014-2015; b) the Economic Burden of Violence against Children study, which examines the economic loss of GDP due to life-long consequences of violence against children, specifically with regards selected health and education outcomes; c) the Costing of Child Protection services which provides various scenarios of costs for the set up and roll out of the minimum package of services needed for a functional Child Protection system.

UNICEF seeks now to hire two National Consultants to provide technical assistance to the next phase of this work by:

• Facilitating advocacy with the key Government agencies for the allocation of adequate and specific budget allocations for child protection services and programmes at Federal and State level in the four focus states;
• Provide direct technical assistance to selected agencies both at Federal and State level in the four focus states for the inclusion of specific Child Protection lines in the budget submissions for 2019 and follow up their approval by the National Assembly and the respective State assemblies;
• Contribute to the documentation of the process and the consolidation of budgetary guidelines for use by relevant MDAs in future and lead their validation by Government.

The National Consultants will work under the technical supervision of an expert International Consultancy firm which will provide both remote and in-country technical oversight and guidance. Each of the national consultants will be assigned 2 states out of the 4 mentioned above. The assignment of the Federal portfolio for this consultancy post will be confirmed at the time of appointment.

Working Modalities
Contract Management:

• UNICEF Nigeria Child Protection Section is responsible for the management of this consultancy contract
• All final deliverable must be submitted for review to the Supervisor of the post, who will be responsible for approving payment/s according to the proposed payment schedule.

Technical Oversight:

• The national consultant is expected to coordinate closely and work under the technical supervision of Cornerstone Economic Research, a consulting firm based in South Africa and under institutional contract with UNICEF Nigeria.

The National Consultants will be responsible for working directly with the task teams in each of the key MDAs at Federal level and in the four states to develop the budget submissions and supporting advocacy brief that covers the child protection services provided by the MDA. In doing so they will use and be guided by:

• The CP Costing Model prepared by Cornerstone Economic Research on behalf of UNICEF for the MDAs
• The budget guideline template prepared by Cornerstone Economic Research on behalf of UNICEF; and
• The draft sector advocacy briefs prepared by Cornerstone Economic Research on behalf of UNICEF.
• Cornerstone will liaise with the national consultants and the UNICEF staff to assist and advise on the work. This may involve accompanying the national consultants on some of their visits to MDAs.
• Cornerstone will review and provide feedback on the budget submissions and advocacy briefs consolidated by the national consultants with the inputs from relevant MDAs and UNICEF staff.
• The National Consultants will be responsible for preparing for and presenting at the workshops to co-ordinate MDAs budget submissions in each state and at Federal level.

Collaboration with UNICEF Field Offices:

• While the national consultants report to UNICEF Nigeria Country Office and the Supervisor of the post based in Abuja, they are expected to collaborate closely with UNICEF Field Offices responsible for the relevant states and specifically with the Field Offices Child Protection Specialists
• This will entail arranging joint visits with the MDAs, informing the specialists of communication with the MDAs, incorporating Field Offices feedback and comments during the consolidation of the the expected deliverable and other cooperation modalities as advised by the Supervisor of the post.

End Product/Deliverables: (eg. final report, article, document etc.) - give specific descriptions of end products and specific time/dates they are expected for contract running into several months:

• Detailed Work Plan with timeline. Est. Delivery Date Mid July 2018
• Technical Inputs for advocacy materials.  Estimated Delivery date. End July 2018.
• Technical Inputs to Advocacy strategy and States implementation plan. End July 2018
• Consolidated technical inputs for the inclusion of specific CP Budget Lines in 2019 MDAs Budget submissions in the assigned States and Federal.  By end of August (Task to be completed depending on State Budget cycle/ Federal budget cycle).
• Technical Inputs to Ministers/Commissioners talking points for budget defense. By end of September deliverable to be completed depending on each State budget Cycle / Federal budget cycle).
• Technical inputs to guideline budget template and technical assistance programme documentation.  (by end of November 2018).

Academic Qualifications or Specialized Knowledge/Experience and Competencies Required

• At least 7 years of professional experience in the field of Public Finance Management, Budgeting and/or Accounting, preferably in relation to public civil service or in the no-profit sector;
• An Advanced Degree in Economics, Public Policy, Development Studies, Public Finance, or similar disciplines.
• Demonstrable experience working and advocating with Nigerian government agencies at Federal and/or State level, particularly in the field of economic planning and budgeting.
• Knowledge and understanding of current development issues, with particular focus on child poverty and child protection is a strong asset.
• Excellent communication skills both verbally and in writing; particularly demonstrable capacity to train, coach and impart knowledge will be considered an asset;
• Excellent analytical skills
• Excellent drafting skills in English;
• Good Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office application, specifically good  working knowledge of  Excel is required.
• Fluency in the local languages of the Focus states is an asset.
• Excellent planning skills and capacity for autonomous work is a strong asset
• UNICEF key competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Result will also be considered during the selection process.

Estimated time of consultancy and deadline for submission of end product

• 12 working weeks spread across 6 months. Estimated July to December 2018.
• Applicants should indicate an all-inclusive fee.