NGO Job Openings: Consultant , National Consultant, and Construction Specialist at the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Consultant to Support the Implementation of Multisectoral Action to Address Health with Nutrition and Associated WASH and Child Protection Needs in the States of Sokoto and Zamfara in Northwest Nigeria
Location: Sokoto
Job no: 574512
Job type: Contract
Duration: 11 Months
Level: Consultancy
Categories: Child Protection, Health, Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), Health and Nutrition
Job Summary
As approved in the BHA support project for humanitarian support in NW, The UNICEF Sokoto Field Office is seeking the support of one State MNCH Coordinator (based in Sokoto state) to support the implementation and coordination of the health intervention of the Multisectoral action to address Health in coordination with nutrition and associated WASH and child protection needs in the states of Sokoto and Zamfara in Northwest Nigeria.
Purpose of Activity / Assignment
Armed violence has resulted in an increase in forced displacement in the three North Western States of Sokoto, Katsina, and Zamfara in 2022. As per the updated risk analysis by the Nigeria Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), armed violence now encompasses the entire state of Zamfara (14 Local Government Areas or LGAs), eastern Sokoto (14 LGAs) and western Katsina (22 LGAs), i.e., the areas adjacent to Zamfara State. The intensity of the violence has resulted in a crisis of a humanitarian nature affecting 50 of the 71 LGAs across the three states.
Consequently, from December 2021 to December 2022, the number of IDPs in these three states rose from 369,064 to 474,077, with banditry and kidnapping being the main drivers of displacement as per IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM). On average, 88 percent of IDPs in the three states live in host communities, ranging from 57 percent in Sokoto to almost 100 percent in Katsina.
Overall, 54 percent of IDPs in the North Central and Northwest region of Nigeria are female, and 56 percent are children, with 26 percent of IDPs being children aged under five years. Some 89 percent of IDPs are displaced within the borders of their state. Although both IDPs and host communities encounter challenges, displaced families have more complex needs than non-displaced families, according to the 2022 Multi-Sector Needs Assessment (2022 MSNA) conducted by REACH in the three states.
Violence-driven humanitarian needs in Northwest Nigeria exacerbate pre-existing challenges marked by poverty, population growth, and climate change. According to the Nigeria Population Projections and Demographics Indicators report (NPC July 2020), the population in the three states grew from 15 million in 2010 to 22 million in 2020. The Northwest also has the highest fertility rate, with 6.6 children per woman, compared to the national average of 5.3, according to the 2023 Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO). About the impact of climate change, 90 percent of Nigeria’s north is subject to deforestation. As part of the Sahel, the already arid region is further turning to desert or desert-like conditions at 0.6 km per year. This negatively affects farmer-herder dynamics, given the decreasing land available for grazing and farming.
In line with the humanitarian needs outlined above, the proposed humanitarian response will focus on a multisectoral convergent approach focusing on vulnerable households in the First 1,000 Days of Life.
The multisectoral convergent interventions will be delivered in line with humanitarian, equity, and gender transformative principles to achieve three key objectives that will improve access to life-saving services and enable households (particularly in the First 1,000 Days), community structures, and institutions to mitigate the impacts of conflict in a sustainable manner.
Key Responsibilities
Strengthen delivery of life-saving nutrition, health, and WASH services at the facility level.
Strengthen delivery of community-based nutrition, health, WASH, and child protection services.
Strengthen partnerships, coordination structures, and data systems.
Task/Milestone:
Support PHCs:
Deliver nutrition counseling and quality MNCH services.
Introduce mentorships for effective QoC PHC service delivery.
Develop Face-to-Face and on-the-job mentorship plans.
Facilitate community identification for intervention benefits.
Develop procurement plans and facilitate orientation meetings.
Deliverables/Outputs:
QoC rollout report, facility assessment, mentorship plan, procurement plan.
Provide Emergency PHC Services:
Train multi-skilled mobile PHC teams.
Develop microplans and deploy HRH Surge in PHCs.
Monitor essential medicines and referral systems.
Support vaccination and enumerate children in inaccessible areas.
Deliverables/Outputs:
Training reports, RMNCH+N service delivery progress, enumeration report.
Support Quarterly Program Reviews:
Conduct quarterly routine program monitoring and supervision.
Support data collection and use for targeted reviews.
Facilitate performance review meetings and mentorship team reviews.
Deliverables/Outputs:
QI assessment report, monthly RMNCAH+N progress report.
Strengthen Nutrition, Health, and WASH Services:
Conduct service availability assessments in PHCs.
Monitor mentors and analyze mentorship data.
Facilitate QI committee meetings and community engagement.
Deliverables/Outputs:
Monthly service delivery reports, QoC report, QI committee meeting notes.
Conduct Quarterly Evidence-Based Program Reviews:
Facilitate routine program monitoring and targeted reviews.
Support data-driven decision-making for PHC services.
Deliverables/Outputs:
QI assessment report, RMNCAH+N progress report.
Phaseout Activities:
Organize phaseout workshops and endline surveys.
Develop project completion report and success stories.
Deliverables/Outputs:
Project completion report, success stories.
Qualifications
Master's degree or equivalent in MBBS, Public Health, Behavioral Health Sciences.
5+ years in health programming and management.
Experience in multi-sectoral coordination, RBM, M&E, emergency settings.
Priority given to those with experience in Quality Improvement in MNCAH settings.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in English language and writing skills.
Next Job
Job Title: National Consultant to Support the National Core Working Committee of the National Council for Nutrition
Location: Abuja
Job no: 574621
Job type: Contract
Duration: 4 Months
Level: Consultancy
Categories: Nutrition
Job Summary
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, leaving no one behind. In partnership with the government and other stakeholders, UNICEF aims to deliver good quality nutrition services at scale to build resilience and protect the most vulnerable, particularly during the First 1000 Days of Life from pregnancy to when a child is two years of age.
Currently, Nigeria is off track to achieving the nutrition targets of the World Health Assembly 2025 and the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
Nigeria currently has the highest number of malnutrition in Africa and the second highest globally. Nigeria is among a set of countries with disproportionate levels of people living in hunger and suffering from food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms.
The newly released National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey (2024) shows that stunting is currently at 33% while 11.6% of children 6-59months are wasted.
To improve food and nutrition security in the country, including prevention and treatment of malnutrition, Nigeria has endorsed a range of policies and plans including but not limited to the National Policy on Food and Nutrition (2016), the Agricultural Promotion Policy (2016), the National Multi-Sectoral Plan of Action on Nutrition (2020-2025), the Agricultural Sector Food Security and Nutrition Strategy (ASFSNS) (2016-2025), the National Multisectoral Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition (2021-2025) amongst others.
The National Council of Nutrition, a high-level decision-making body for nutrition is headed by the Vice President of the country.
The NCN, has a technical unit called the National Core Working Committee, which is charged with supporting and advising the Vice President and the NCN on nutrition.
The successfully selected consultant will work closely with the Office of the Vice President and the NCWC to provide technical support on the full implementation of the National Policy of Food and Nutrition.
The NCWC has an interest in developing a nationwide nutrition financing and grassroot movement which will mobilize political will for nutrition at the federal, state and local government levels.
In addition, the consultant is to develop the framework for the commencement and sustainability of the 774 grassroots movement, which is aimed at incentivizing critical governance actions and establishing a reward system for exemplary Local Governments who implement nutrition sensitive and specific interventions.
Scope of work and deliverables
The consultant will undertake key activities as outlined below (but not be limited by them) to ensure the submission of the deliverables detailed below;
Drive the planning of 774 Grassroots Movement for Nutrition Programme:
Develop a concept note including the framework for planning and execution/delivery.
Support the national and subnational stakeholder consultations, generating buy-in and state-level investment on nutrition.
Support the office of the VP in the operationalization of the programme in the states/local governments.
Support Government Financing for Nutrition at National and Sub-National Levels:
Work with the Nigeria Governor’s Forum to increase utilization of the scorecard to drive state release of resources.
Consult with key Government agencies to ensure the release of the resources under the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF).
Technical support to the National Core Working Committee and the Office of the Vice President on Nutrition:
Provide strategic advisory support and guidance to the Special Adviser to the Vice President on Public Health and to the NCWC on emerging issues, policy implications and strategic directions related to nutrition programming.
Undertake capacity needs assessment to identify gaps, challenges and opportunities for institutional capacity strengthening for nutrition across key MDAs.
Provide expert recommendations for policy advocacy and decision-making to advance nutrition goals at the national and sub-national levels.
Support the development of a concept note, framework, planning and execution/delivery, accountability framework for the Conveying high-level meetings with global and regional participation.
And any other tasks assigned tasks
Requirements
Education: Master’s degree in public health or a field relevant to global health.
Minimum of 10 years’ experience in Nutrition and/or Public Health.
Experience in public administration
Experience in engaging multi-sectoral Food and Nutrition Systems stakeholders.
Extensive knowledge of micronutrient programming in Nigeria, Nigerian health systems and nutrition sectoral policy landscape.
Experience in managing multi-stakeholder working groups.
Experience in institutional capacity building at the national level. vii. Experience in monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
Proficiency in MS Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
Experience related to global public health is an asset.
Language Requirements: Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
Next Job
Job Title: Construction Specialist
Location: Kano
Job no: 574878
Job type: Contract
Duration: 6 Months
Level: NO-3
Categories: Supply Management
Job Summary
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 favouritism.
There is growing evidence that investing in the health, nutrition, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil 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.
How can you make a difference?
Under the direct supervision and guidance of the P4 Construction Manager (Supply Section), the incumbent coordinate UNICEF’s various construction contracts, verify works, certify payments, and liaise with all stakeholders to ensure all functional project/program requirements are met.
She / he will be accountable for effective planning, contract management, technical documentation, quality assurance and project monitoring of UNICEF’s construction works, in support of operations and program objectives.
Major Responsibilities
Below is a summary of key functions and accountabilities.
Prepare and collect information required for the annual work plan on regular activities, ongoing projects and others in the pipeline
Collaboration with UNICEF Programmes and Operations, and coordination with Government counterparts
Preparation of design and technical documents, with knowledge of emergency contexts and emergency response procedures
Support to procurement process including contracting bid evaluations
Monitoring of construction projects including site visits, contract management and reporting
Preparation of construction annual workplan:
Prepare and collect information required for the annual work plan on regular activities, ongoing projects and others in the pipeline.
Collaboration with UNICEF Programmes/Operations and coordination with Government counterparts:
Provide technical backstopping and support in matter of construction project management to Programme/ Operations sections and Government counterparts; contribute with Programme sections in developing child-friendly community infrastructure development program proposals; provide information to Programme on construction related activities to include them in their AWP.
Provide assistance to Programme /Operations sections through involvement in construction project proposals, planning, and preparation of relevant terms of reference; analyze the project context and suggest the appropriate implementation and procurement modality.
In collaboration with the Government counterparts, develop and produce innovative cost-effective construction designs using local construction materials; compile and update list of best practices in construction and building design.
Attend steering and technical cooperation meetings; prepare PPT presentations on projects' progress; undertake follow-up actions in relation to project implementation and monitoring.
Provide Programme/Operations sections with information on projects' progress; undertake appropriate actions to overcome technical obstacles; draft relevant sections of project reports required for donors, management, annual reports, etc.
Preparation of design and technical documents:
Prepare the scope of construction works based on Programme/ Operations requirements, budget and site limitations; define deliverables and payment modality.
Assist Programme/Operations to respond to emergency construction needs, taking into account emergency response procedures.
Apply UNICEF norms and standards (child-friendly, accessibility, MOSS, MORSS, etc.) to construction projects, taking into consideration the local environment and available materials; verify if compliance with green building standards is required in coordination with DFAM Field Support Unit.
Check technical documents related to construction (design drawings, technical specifications and bills of quantities); verify whether they are clear, complete and compliant to programmatic and construction needs, eco-efficiency and accessibility requirements; undertake the actions required to endorse these technical documents by relevant ministries.
Follow up with the designing firms and government entities for obtaining all permits required for construction activities prior initiating works.
Support to procurement process:
Provide support to Supply section with preparation of LPA requests and CRC submissions with supporting documents related to construction activities.
Conduct surveys to identify potential construction companies and engineering firms available in the local market; prepare terms of reference required for establishing local Long-Term Arrangements for engineering services (design and site supervision).
Prepare tender documents in relation to construction works and engineering services; attend bidders' conference and present the technical components of the tender; prepare answers on technical questions raised by the bidders during the tendering.
Support Supply section in organizing bidders' conference and site visits; conduct the evaluation of technical proposals received and prepare the evaluation report; provide support to Supply section on the analysis of financial proposals.
Monitoring of construction projects:
Conduct the kick-off meeting of construction works with the construction company, the engineering firm and relevant government counterparts.
Provide close monitoring on construction activities by undertaking regular site visits and conducting regular technical meetings including joint monitoring with relevant Government technical services; follow up progress for each activity per milestones and review site supervision reports to ensure work compliance with norms, standards, and timeline; verify quality and precautions on health and safety standards on ground.
Use effective monitoring and supervision tools to ensure easily assessment of works quality, progress, and performance of engineering firms and construction companies during the entire duration of the project; apply multi-layered approach to construction supervision and quality assurance; use documented hold and inspection points, where applicable.
Certify payments/variations and compile supporting documents; monitor construction expenditures and progress certificates; prepare and maintain relevant table for each construction activity.
Provide support to UNICEF Contract Administrator on contract management, amendments, variations, duration extensions, applying liquidated damages, etc. Ensure all documents/information required for contract management are available, complete and properly archived.
Participate in the partial, substantial and final reception of works after verifying the correction of all defects during the DLP; prepare and issue relevant certificates.
Prepare Contract Performance Evaluation; provide support to UNICEF Contract Administrator on contract close-out in VISION; prepare the final completion report with the lessons learned for submission to the Construction Unit (SD) and AMS/NYHQ as necessary.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have
Education:
Advanced degree in civil engineering, construction engineering, architecture or other relevant area. A first level university degree with additional two-years of relevant work experience may be acceptable in lieu of an advanced university degree.
Work Experience:
A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience, at the national and/or international levels, in project management, site supervision, quality assurance and/or other directly related technical fields is required.
Understanding of development and humanitarian work.
Working proficiency in Microsoft tools (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
Emergency experience an advantage, especially in the Northeast Zone of Nigeria, and a willingness to travel to such locations.
Experience working with the UN systems in similar function is highly desirable.
Proficiency with software tools, such as AutoCAD, GIS, is a plus.
Skills:
Ability to resolve difficult, complex and sensitive situations often under pressure;
Ability to initiate and manage change in a diverse environment;
Ability to clearly and concisely express ideas and concepts in written and oral form;
The ability to allocate appropriate time and resources for successful achievement of goals, and foresee risks and allow for contingencies when planning;
Skill in the identification of new opportunities or requirements to meet challenges in the field and propose changes;
Strong knowledge of latest developments and technology in construction industry;
Strong understanding of construction project cycles, from programme needs assessment, through planning, procurement and contracting, monitoring the execution of work and evaluation of project outcomes;
Strong overall knowledge and understanding of UNICEF programmes, public procurement principles, financial and legal aspects of construction issues, ethics and risk management of construction projects.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.
Desirables:
Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.
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