Consultants (Copywriter - Unplugged Drug Use Prevention Programme) at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights, capacity development and the empowerment of women.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Consultant - Provide Services as Copywriter to Adapt Material for the Phase II of the Pilot of the Unplugged Drug Use Prevention Programme in Schools in Nigeria

Location: Lagos, NIGERIA
Type of Contract: Individual Contract
Post Level: National Consultant
Starting Date: 01-Sep-2016
Duration of Initial Contract: 17 Working days within September and October, 2015
Expected Duration of Assignment: 17 Working days within September and October, 2015

Background
UNODC is a global leader in the fight against illicit drugs and international crime. UNODC is implementing a large-scale project funded by the European Union under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) modality, Project - Response to Drugs and Related Organized Crime in Nigeria, which aims at supporting Nigeria's efforts in fighting drug production, trafficking and use, and in curbing related organised crime including counterfeit narcotics and psychotropic substances. The project proposes a balanced approach to drug control, with equal attention paid to drug interdiction and drug demand reduction, including drug prevention, treatment and care (DPTC).

Output 3.9 of the project is “promotion of and training/building skills for ‘healthy lifestyles’ in schools, families and communities.” One of the key activities in this regard is to adapt and pilot evidence-based prevention programmes. In this regard, UNODC and the Federal Ministry of Education (FMoE) in partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other partners is planning to pilot the Unplugged programme in Nigeria.

UNODC and NDLEA organised a National Seminar on Drug Use Prevention from 14-15 October 2014 with the key government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) as well as Civil Society Organisation partners involved in drug prevention. The seminar used the International Standards as a basis for understanding the current drug prevention interventions in Nigeria, sensitising policy makers on the International Standards and developing national plans. At the end of the meeting, it was agreed that UNODC, in collaboration with the appropriate MDA from the government of Nigeria, would support pilot programme in two settings: i) school settings, and ii) family and community settings. These are in line with the outputs defined in the project document and recommendations from the group work undertaken at the National Seminar.

In discussion with the UNODC Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section in Vienna and based on studies of evidence-based drug use prevention in school settings, it was decided to adapt and pilot the EU-Drug Addiction Prevention trial (EU-DAP) Unplugged programme in Nigeria.

Unplugged
Unplugged is an evidence-based programme with 12 sessions aimed to prevent use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs by 10-14 years old children. It has been developed and evaluated in seven European countries. In addition, it has been adapted and introduced in several other parts of the world outside the EU, including in Arabic-speaking countries, Latin America, South East Asia, Russia and Kyrgyzstan. It is currently being applied in more than 30 countries worldwide. The EU-DAP Drug Abuse Prevention study group revealed that the intervention resulted in a 23% risk reduction in using cannabis, a 28% risk reduction in getting alcohol intoxicated weekly, and a 30% risk reduction in smoking daily.

Proposed pilot of Unplugged in Nigeria
Phases of the proposed pilot: The pilot is proposed to be undertaken in two phases and will last 18 months. Phase I will take place in 2015 and phase II (expanded pilot) will take place in 2016. Phase I will be on a smaller scale and will be expanded to a larger number of zones and schools in phase II. The evaluation instruments (for example, pre and post analysis) will be developed in 3rd and 4th quarter of 2015 for use in the expanded pilot phase in 2016. The reason that the pilot is being done in two phases is to develop instruments for evaluation that can be used in the Phase II of the pilot, though evaluation will be part of the Phase I (in 2015) of the Unplugged pilot.

Duties and Responsibilities
Purpose of the assignment:

• The consultant will carry out the consultancy by working with the international experts, the national researcher, the UNODC project team and selected schools to adapt the Unplugged material (Handbook for the Teachers, Workbook for the Pupils and Cards) to the Nigerian context.

Responsibilities

• Working under the overall supervision of the Project Coordinator and the technical supervision of the Project Officer (Drug Demand Reduction), the consultant is expected to abide (undertaking) by UN Evaluation Group’s code of conduct, to be provided at the time of contract award as well undertake travel (administrative approval) after approval by UNODC.

Scope of Work

• The assignment will last 17 working days from August to September 2015 and consist of the following:
• Review the Unplugged material that is being used in the Phase I of the pilot programme to assess the suitability of the material for use in a Nigerian context.
• This includes the Handbook for the Teachers, Workbook for the Pupils and Cards;
• Liaise with the international expert, national researcher, UNODC and government counterparts on to discuss the findings of the Phase I of the pilot and incorporate these changes in the relevant material;
• Suggest specific changes in language, expressions, idioms, examples, images etc. specifically for the Handbook for the Teachers, Workbook for the Pupils and Cards;
• Present these changes to the Unplugged Coordination Group and incorporate all approved suggestions made by them.

Expected outputs/Deliverables
The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:

• A draft report of changes specific to each document (by page number and type of change);
• A final report of changes specific to each document (by page number and type of change).
• Activity 1: Review the Unplugged material that is being used in the Phase I of the pilot programme to assess the suitability of the material for use in a Nigerian context. This includes the Handbook for the Teachers, Workbook for the Pupils and Cards.
  • Number of working days: 4
• Activity 2: Liaise with the international expert, national researcher, UNODC and government counterparts on to discuss the findings of the Phase I of the pilot and incorporate these changes in the relevant material.
  • Number of working days: 5
• Activity 3: Suggest specific changes in language, expressions, idioms, examples, images etc. specifically for the Handbook for the Teachers, Workbook for the Pupils and Cards.
  • Number of working days: 6
• Activity 6: Present these changes to the Unplugged Coordination Group and incorporate any suggestions made by them.
  • Number of working days: 2

Period of Consultancy and Schedule of Remuneration:

• The consultancy will take place between September and October 2015, for a total of 17 workdays. The consultant will be remunerated in the following manner:
  • 60% of agreed fees upon submission of draft report of changes specific to each document
  • 40% upon submission of final report of changes specific to each document

Competencies
Corporate Competencies:

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Highest standard of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent understanding of organisational issues;
• Commitment to professionalism;
• Commitment to effectiveness, accessibility, accountability, transparency and fairness;
• Excellent knowledge of the social, political and economic situation of Nigeria.
• Good understanding of change management, including system development and organizational skills;
• Commitment to quality;
• Commitment to deadlines;
• Objectivity, honesty and fairness;
• Logic and ability to operate systematically;
• Excellent oral and writing communication skills;
• Timely and accurate submission of reports and other required documents;
• Substantive and linguistic quality of documents prepared;
• Commitment to confidentiality of the assignment and handing over of products and documents paid for by UNODC used in the delivery of consultancy outputs;
• Demonstrable drafting and report-writing skills.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Bachelor's University degree in the field of Social Sciences, Education, Public Health.

Experience:

• 5 years of experience in the field of education or drug demand reduction or treatment and rehabilitation;
• Experience in developing or adapting drug prevention programmes education materials, training material, from international to Nigerian contexts;
• Sound knowledge and wide experience working with education sector, children issues, IEC material with a focus on children, especially in the Nigerian context;
• Sound knowledge of the Unplugged package would be an advantage.

Language:

• Fluency in spoken and written English is required.

Application Closing Date
17th August, 2015.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online