National Consultant - Children in Armed Conflict, including Armed Violent 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: National Consultant - Children in Armed Conflict including Armed Violent

Job No: 583942
Location: Abuja
Contract type: Consultant - 12 Months
Level: Consultancy
Categories: Child Protection

Background

• The purpose of this consultancy is to strengthen UNICEF’s capacity to protect and respond to the needs of children affected by armed conflict and armed violence in Nigeria.
• The consultant will provide technical support and guidance on contingency planning, monitoring, and coordinated action across sectors to ensure effective protection responses.
• Specific attention will be given to children at risk of recruitment and use by armed groups, sexual and gender-based violence, family separation, and other grave violations.
• The consultancy will also support the development of early warning systems, enhance the capacity of staff and partners to respond to emergencies involving children in conflict-affected areas, and provide technical input on the financial and programmatic aspects of humanitarian interventions addressing armed violence.

How can you make a difference? 

• The consultancy will play a critical role in Child Rights Monitoring, reporting and response, ensuring that violations against children affected by armed conflict and those in non-emergency settings are documented, analyzed, and addressed.
• The assignment will further support implementation and monitoring of the Handover Protocol for children encountered in conflict in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin, serve as Secretariat for the Group of Friends on Children and Armed Conflict (GOF-CAAC) in Nigeria, and provide leadership as the Abuja-based Emergency Focal Point for the Child Protection Section.
• Through these interventions, consultancy will contribute to improved preparedness, timely response, and accountability in addressing the protection needs of children affected by emergencies and violence.

Scope of Work:

• The Consultant will support UNICEF Nigeria’s Child Protection Section in strengthening emergency preparedness, response, and child rights monitoring through the following key responsibilities:
• Child Rights Monitoring Reporting and Response:
  • Support the monitoring and reporting of child rights violations, including for children affected by armed violence in non-emergency settings.
  • Contribute to the design, planning, and monitoring of the Handover Protocol for children encountered in the course of armed conflict in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin Region.
• Coordination and Secretariat Functions:
  • Serve as Secretariat for the Group of Friends of Children and Armed Conflict (GOF-CAAC) in Nigeria, ensuring effective coordination, communication, and follow-up of activities.
  • Act as the Abuja-based Emergency Focal Point for the Child Protection Section, supporting coordination, reporting, and response actions.
• Capacity Building and Training:
  • Support the design, organization, and delivery of emergency preparedness and response training for UNICEF staff, partners, and regional standby Emergency Response Teams.
  • Strengthen office and partner capacity in emergency preparedness, coordination, and response through workshops, technical guidance, and simulation exercises.
• Emergency Preparedness and Planning:
  • Support the development, updating, and implementation of country contingency plans and early warning mechanisms to enhance preparedness for potential emergencies.
  • Participate in the formulation of emergency response plans and monitor compliance across sectors, including financial resource allocation.
  • Provide policy and program advice on emergency management issues, offering direction and guidance to strengthen preparedness and response mechanisms.

Work Assignments Overview

• Develop inception report, workplan, and methodology
  • Deliverables / Outputs:
  • Inception report and approved 11.5 months workplan
• Update and validate national contingency plans, including early warning mechanisms
  • Deliverables / Outputs:
  • Updated contingency/early warning plans
• Support development of emergency response action plans and monitor compliance
  • Deliverables / Outputs:
  • Draft and validated response action plans
• Provide policy advice and guidance on emergency preparedness to Country Office
  • Deliverables / Outputs:
  • Policy briefs and technical guidance note
• Develop and maintain emergency information database.
  • Deliverables / Outputs:
  • Functional emergency information/response database

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Law, International Development, Public Policy, Humanitarian Affairs, or a related field.
• A first-level university degree combined with at least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
• Professional training/certification in emergency preparedness, child protection, or project management is an asset.

Knowledge, Expertise, and Skills:

• Strong knowledge of child protection, humanitarian principles, emergency preparedness, and UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children (CCCs).
• Proven expertise in program management, emergency response, inter-agency coordination, and monitoring & evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience in financial/resource management, including Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) planning, budgeting, and reporting.
• Skills in capacity building, training design, and strengthening emergency response mechanisms for staff and partners.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, negotiation, and report-writing skills, with fluency in English (knowledge of Hausa or Kanuri languages is an advantage

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others.

Application Closing Date
25th September, 2025; 11:55 PM West Central Africa Standard Time.