International Education Consultant (Research and Evidence Generation in Nigeria) 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: International Education Consultant (Research and Evidence Generation in Nigeria)

Job no: 580786
Location: Abuja
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Abuja
Level: Consultancy
Categories: Education
Duration: 200 Working Days

Background

• Nigeria is home to approximately 206 million people, 43 per cent of whom are below 14 years of age. By 2030, there will be close to 126 million children in Nigeria. The growing child population places significant pressure on the provision of schooling and the delivery of education services. 
• Despite the progress made in the past years, 10.2 million children at the primary level and 8.1 million at the junior secondary levels remain out of school. Lack of access to safe, quality, inclusive education impacts learning of children.
• Approximately 50 per cent of students in school cannot read or write, while only one in four children in Nigeria demonstrate foundational literacy and numeracy skills.
• The Federal Ministry of Education has recently launched the Nigeria Education Sector Renew Initiative (NESRI). 
• The six key priority areas are: promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences (STEMM), education, Reducing the Number of Out-of-School Children, Enhancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), advancing Girl-Child Education, Harnessing Data and Digitalization and Strengthening Quality Assurance Mechanisms. 
• UNICEF’s education programme is centered around providing technical expertise in education to the Federal and State Ministries of Education, as well as key education commissions including the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in support of NESRI and across three the pillars of access, learning and system strengthening.

How can you make a difference?
The international consultant will undertake the following research and evidence generation assignments:

• Work closely with UBEC, development partners and UNICEF to undertake a detailed mapping of FLN activities across Nigeria. This research will inform UBEC on the strategic direction to take with FLN in the next 1-3 years.
• Produce a summary report on the two alternative TVET interventions that UNICEF is currently implementing including recommendations for scale-up. The two alternative interventions are the use of trade schools and the use of Master tradesmen. This report will support the Federal MoE’s TVET strategic plans.
• Complete a mixed method analysis of student absenteeism using student-level attendance data in 4 states (Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto and Zamfara) collected through Learner Unit Record Information Tracking System (LURITS) in the academic year 2023/2024. and produce a summary report for LGA and State Ministries of Education. This includes quantitative analysis to examine the extent of absenteeism at school, LGA and state levels and a qualitative study to identify reasons and factors explaining high/low absenteeism in some of the schools and LGAs. The qualitative data will be collected from students and their families, school personnel and state and local government officers through field visits, which include a minimum of 4 schools per state (a total of 16 schools).     
• Undertake a scoping exercise for a small-scale research grant with the Gates foundation and complete the application process.
• Provide technical oversight of a participatory Action Research as part of an FCDO programme entitled Girls Education and Skills Programme by coaching the providers, monitoring the training and quality assuring the final report

Work Assignment/Overview
Tasks/Milestone:

• Work closely with UBEC, development partners and UNICEF to undertake a detailed mapping of FLN activities across Nigeria. This research will inform UBEC on the strategic direction to take with FLN in the next 1-3 years.

Deliverables / Outputs:

• Completed mapping of FLN interventions across Nigeria.

Tasks/Milestone:

• Produce a summary report on the two alternative TVET interventions that UNICEF is currently implementing including recommendations for scale-up. The two alternative interventions are the use of trade schools and the use of Master tradesmen. This report will support the Federal MoE’s TVET strategic plans.

Deliverables / Outputs:

• Summary report completed.

Tasks/Milestone:

• Undertake a scoping exercise for a small-scale research grant with the Gates foundation and complete the application process.

Deliverables / Outputs:

• Scoping report and completed application

Tasks/Milestone:

• Provide technical oversight of a participatory Action Research as part of an FCDO programme entitled Girls Education and Skills Programme by coaching the providers, monitoring the training and quality assuring the final report.

Deliverables / Outputs:

• Quality assurance of report of impact assessment of the PAR intervention with 20 selected participants from GESP

Tasks/Milestone:

• Provide other evidence generation and support as required to the Education team through-out the contract period.

Deliverables / Outputs:

• Submission of timely reports as agreed

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

• An advanced university degree in Education and social sciences 
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in Ministries of Education in international settings in a range of programmes.
• Advanced education research skills
• Excellent communication and team working skill
• Willingness to travel regularly to Niger
• Previous work experience with a UN agency desirable
• 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. 

Application Closing Date
9th April, 2025. (W. Central Africa Standard Time).