National Consultant 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: National Consultant - To Contribute to the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in 12 UNICEF Assisted States of Nigeria, Abuja Nigeria, 9 Months.

Job no: 579994
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Contract type: Consultant
Level: Consultancy
Categories: WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene)

Background

• Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are preventable and treatable diseases, they affect over 1.7 billion people across the world, particularly in tropical and subtropical countries.
• Two (2) out of every 3 Nigerians harbor at least one Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD)i. Seven of these diseases are highly prevalent and include ascariasis, hookworm infection, trichuriasis, lymphatic filariasis (LF), onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, and trachoma.
• These diseases result primarily from poor housing and poor access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) provisions. 
• The conditions are perpetuated by the vicious cycle of poverty, ignorance, and disease. NTDs can lead to long-term disability that can limit the life expectancy and productivity of an individual. 
• NTDs bring about stigmatization of affected individuals; they have ruined more than a billion lives. 
• NTDs affect families’ ability to earn income because of debility, the diseases reduce self-worth and confidence due to stigma, and some women lose their marriages when affected by some NTDs like genital Schistosomiasis, Leprosy, and Elephantiasis.
• Whole communities become infected since most of the diseases are communicable. Local populations can become impoverished due to endemic NTDs. NTDs have huge impact on economies because of their devastating impact on health, long-term disabilities, and stigma, which can result in mental health challenges.

Rationale

• In view of the importance of providing a focused and frequent field support to the FMoH and twelve states supported by UNICEF in the NTDs elimination efforts, the services of an independent national consultant with local expertise, knowledge and understanding of NTD issues in Nigeria and its linkages with WASH is required. 
• The support to the twelve states requires expert technical support of a parasitologist. The assignment requires carrying out multiple activities concurrently and needs ample time and travel to achieve objectives as the program covers 12 states. 
• The assignment will also involve documentation and support for epidemiological reviews of UNICEF’s technical support to NTDs elimination in Nigeria.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment
How can you make a difference? 

• UNICEF is seeking a qualified consultant to implement activities that will consolidate the gains of NTD elimination activities carried out in the previous years and follow up on recommendations and the strategic objectives, as contained in the WHO 2021 – 2030 NTD Roadmap and the Nigeria NTD Masterplan 2023-2027.
• The purpose of the consultancy is to provide technical support to field-level coordination with partners which is essential to achieve and maintain optimal treatment coverage for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). 
• This coordination support will involve planning and facilitating monthly meetings at the state and zonal level to review activity implementation, track progress and provide recommendations for improvement as required. 
• A key output of this coordination support will include supporting states to achieve at least 80% therapeutic coverage and 100% geographic coverage in all supported states. 
• Additionally, epidemiological and entomological evaluations need to be conducted in 40 selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) where prescribed treatment coverage has been maintained for the required number of years for onchocerciasis (15 years) and lymphatic filariasis (5 years).

Scope of Work

• The National Consultant is expected to provide technical support to Federal and State Ministries of Health, NTDs Unit of State Primary Health Care Development Boards, Water Resources, Ministries of Environment, WASH institutional structures, and other relevant stakeholders involved in NTDs elimination and WASH program, and directly report to the WASH Officer (WASH in Institutions).
• With guidance from the supervisor (WASH Officer) and the WASH Manager, in close collaboration with sector stakeholders, the following are the key assignments of the consultancy:
  • Provide an Inception Report detailing the approach to the assignment and associated timelines for completion, in consultation with the supervisor and other WASH section staff, especially in the Bauchi, Enugu, Lagos and Kaduna Field Offices.
  • Facilitate local ownership and resource mobilization in collaboration with policy and decision-makers, including traditional rulers, professional bodies, private sector individuals and corporate organizations, etc. to generate resources in support of NTDs elimination.
  • Provide technical coordination for the implementation of the WASH/NTD guidelines in collaboration with FMoH, WASH NTDs steering committee and the non-governmental development organizations involved in NTDs elimination programme.
  • Coordinate non-governmental development organizations (NGDOs) coordination and planning meetings and make technical presentations to influence efficient technical decision making.
  • Provide technical support in the planning and field coordination for Epidemiological and Entomological evaluation and LF assessments in selected states as indicated by the National Onchocerciasis Elimination Committee (NOEC) recommendations.

Work Assignment/ Overflow
Task/Milestone: 

• Produce a detailed work plan for the consultancy and inception report.

Deliverable Outputs: 

• Inception Report including detailed work plan outlining the specific deliverables, strategies, activities, timeline and expected outputs is submitted to the supervisor.

Task/Milestone: 

• Facilitate local ownership and resource mobilization in collaboration with policy and decision-makers, including traditional rulers, professional bodies, private sector individuals, corporate organizations, etc. to generate resources in support of NTDs elimination.

Deliverable Outputs:

• Itinerary of advocacy visits to the endemic states including key issues and messages for each state, stakeholders targeted and expected result.
• Comprehensive reports of each state and advocacy activity that highlights the issues of concern, the specific commitments of the duty bearers to address the issues with specific timeline, and plan for follow-up to ensure that the planned actions are taken on time.
• At least 6 states are responding positively in addressing the relevant issues (funding, coordination of interventions, suitable storage facilities

Task/Milestone:

• Provide technical coordination for implementing the WASH/NTD guidelines in collaboration with FMoH, the WASH NTD steering committee, and the non-governmental development organizations involved in the NTD elimination programme.

Deliverable Outputs:

• Finalized WASH/NTDs guidelines with the foreword signed by at least the Director of Public Health and launched to serve as the Government of Nigeria strategy for rapid elimination of the NTDs. 
• A plan for the inclusion of WASH interventions, especially sanitation and hygiene into the work plans of the NGDOs in their states of operations is facilitated by the NTDs Unit, in collaboration with the RUWASSAs. 
• Documentation of the implementation of WASH/NTDs Guidelines by the NGDOs in collaboration with the FMoH in at least 36 LGAs across the 12 UNICEF supported states.

Task/Milestone:

• Coordinate with other NGDOs in affected states to implement treatment for onchocerciasis elimination as recommended by NOEC, including pre-, in, and end-process monitoring of MAM activities in the supported states.

Deliverable Outputs:

• Comprehensive schedule for MAM in the respective states shared by March 20, 2025. Report of achievements against MAM targets in UNICEF-supported states for 2025 (targets: realize 100% geographic and 80% and 65% therapeutic coverage for Oncho and LF treatment respectively). 
• Assessment report on ‘Effective reporting of treatment data and reverse logistics’ by implementing partners for medicines accountability and early reporting of treatment data.

Requirements
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:

• An Advanced University Degree in Parasitology or Public Health or any other specialist field related to Health and WASH.
• A minimum of 5 years' experience in National and subnational work in WASH/NTD implementation.
• Experience with facilitation, research, and consultations.
• Proven knowledge and understanding of the national and state level policy, institutional, regulatory, and legal frameworks for NTDs.
• Evidence of solid knowledge of stakeholder in the country, in particular national institutions, ministries, departments, and agencies in Health and WASH sectors.
• Willingness to travel to rural and semi-urban areas of the country.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset. 
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. 

For every Child, you demonstrate:

• UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). To view our competency framework, please visit  here.

Application Closing Date
19th February, 2025; West Central Africa Standard Time.