Foresight Consultant - International Consultancy at 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: Foresight Consultant - International Consultancy

Job ID: 582431
Location: Abuja
Contract type: Temporary Appointment
Duration: 10 Months
Duty Station: Abuja
Categories: Knowledge Management

Purpose Of The Assignment

• This assignment seeks to contribute to the development and institutionalization of a child- and adolescent-focused foresight within the broader national foresight programme. The purpose of this consultancy is to advance the integration of child- and adolescent-focused foresight within Nigeria’s anticipatory governance ecosystem, ensuring that the needs, perspectives, and rights of young people are systematically considered in long-term national development planning.

Scope of Work
Specifically, The Consultancy will:
Define the scope of a foresight analysis, identify key trends and disruptors affecting children’s and adolescents’ futures, and provide insights to guide further analysis and planning:

• In consultation with relevant stakeholders, co-create and define the scope of the foresight analysis, narrowing down on the possible areas related to children that need to be further unpacked.
• Use existing data to identify global, regional, and national trends and disruptors relevant to children’s and adolescents’ futures within the scope of the foresight analysis.
• Prepare a summary of findings to share with relevant stakeholders to inform further foresight analysis.

Develop and analyse future scenarios based on identified trends and disruptors, and engage stakeholders in interpreting their implications for children and adolescents:

• Facilitate deep-dive workshops with multi-sectoral stakeholders—including government officials, academics, civil society, and youth—using adapted methodologies from UNICEF’s foresight primer to examine emerging signals, set priorities, and co-create plausible future scenarios for children and adolescents across near-, mid-, and long-term time horizons.
• Synthesize findings identifying key trends, risks, opportunities, and implications for policy and planning.
• Document the process to capture lessons learned and recommendations, providing feedback to refine the primer and enhance its adaptation to the local context.

Translate foresight insights into actionable policy options and strategic recommendations using appropriate foresight methodologies:

• Facilitate stakeholder consultation sessions to validate insights and discuss potential policy directions and strategic choices
• Use appropriate foresight tools and techniques to assess the feasibility and impact of different policy options.
• Develop a set of evidence-informed, actionable policy options and strategic recommendations aligned with national priorities and children’s and adolescents’ rights.
• Draft and present a brief summarizing the recommended actions, their rationale, and suggested implementation pathways that can be integrated into the OVP-led Anticipatory Governance and Foresight Capacity Framework.
• Engage with decision-makers and partners to refine recommendations based on feedback, produce final knowledge products and build ownership for implementation.

Promote inclusive foresight processes that elevate young people’s voices:

• Engage children, adolescents, and youth networks in the foresight process using participatory methods (e.g., storytelling, visioning, youth dialogues).
• Ensure diverse representation, including children and adolescents from marginalized and underserved communities.
• Build capacity among young people and relevant stakeholders to use foresight tools and contribute meaningfully to scenario planning and policy design.

Minimum Requirements

• An advanced University degree in Futures Studies, Public Policy, International Development, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Proven experience in applying foresight methodologies (e.g., scenario planning, horizon scanning, Futures Literacy Labs) in development or governance contexts, preferably with a child rights or equity lens.
• Strong understanding of child rights, intergenerational equity, and sustainable development, including familiarity with relevant global frameworks (e.g., UN CRC, SDGs, Declaration on Future Generations
• Experience working with government institutions, think tanks, and multilateral agencies, particularly in policy development, systems thinking, and long-term planning processes.
• Excellent facilitation and participatory research skills, including the ability to engage diverse stakeholders such as children, adolescents, policymakers, academics, and civil society.
• Strong analytical and writing skills, with a track record of producing high-quality reports, policy briefs, and knowledge products.
• Ability to translate complex foresight findings into practical policy recommendations and tools for decision-makers and youth audiences.
• Familiarity with the Nigerian development context and ability to navigate political, institutional, and cultural dynamics is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage multi-stakeholder processes in a dynamic and iterative project environment.
• Prior working experience with UNICEF and understanding of UNICEF programs is an asset.
• Ability to work productively, independently and to handle requests or issues as they arise.
• Computer literacy and the ability to effectively use standard office software tools (Word, Excel, PPT, Teams, SharePoint) and other office technologies including MS Teams and Zoom.
• 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
1st August, 2025.

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