International Education Consultant to Lead the Development of a Federal Ministry of Education of Nigeria , SBC Strategy 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: International Education Consultant to Lead the Development of a Federal Ministry of Education of Nigeria, SBC Strategy

Job no: 584475
Locations: Abuja (FCT)
Contract type: Consultant
Duration: 8 Months
Level: Consultancy
Categories: Education

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 of primary school age and 8.1 million children of junior secondary school age remain out of school.
• Due to the limited access to schooling and poor quality of education, about 75 per cent of children aged 7–14 do not develop foundational literacy and numeracy skills, which are critical building blocks for continued learning and acquisition of advanced skills.
• Insecurities such as armed conflicts and natural hazards in Northeast and Northwest of Nigeria poses additional challenges in securing and expanding access to quality, inclusive education for children in Nigeria.
• Education is being transformed in Nigeria, specifically though the NESRI initiative.
• This is the Nigerian education sector reform initiative and focuses on six key education reform areas: These areas are 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.
• Alongside these reform areas, there is also significant work taking place in social behavior change initiatives at Federal, State, LGA. School and community levels.
• The FME has requested the support of a technical specialist in SBC in the development of a national SBC strategy. Therefore, UNICEF seeks an international consultant to support FME in this development.

How can you make a difference? 
Scope of work:
The scope of work for this consultancy is to:

• Develop a national SBC strategy with leadership and guidance from the FME. This will include four parts:
  • The development of a rapid needs assessment which will provide evidence for strategy development
  • The development of the strategy  
  • Validation workshop with FME and all stakeholders
  • Dissemination of the strategy to selected States
• Co-lead a series of (at least 2) high-level technical workshops with FME who will provide input and guidance on all four parts of the development (as stated above)
• Provide up-to-date ideas on SBC implementation strategies to the technical group through-out the consultancy.

Work Assignment Overview:
Task / work area

• The development of a rapid needs assessment which will provide evidence for strategy development.
  • Deliverables / Outputs:
    • Rapid needs assessment report
• The development of the national strategy
  • Deliverables/Outputs
    • Draft strategy submitted
• Validation workshop with FME and all stakeholders
  • Deliverables / Outputs
    • Workshop programme submitted. Workshop facilitated.
• Dissemination of the strategy to selected States.
  • Deliverables/Outputs
    • Dissemination plan/programme and dissemination to one State

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Communication, advocacy and social behaviors change.
• At least ten years of leading/managing SBC programmes at a senior level
• Experience in developing SBC strategies in international contexts
• Experience in supporting Governments to develop national SBC strategies.
• Experience in working with Ministries of Education an assets
• Experiences in working in Nigeria or other sub-Saharan African countries an asset.
• Experience of working with UNICEF in SBC roles an asset.

Application Closing Date
3rd November, 2025; 11:55 PM West Central Africa Standard Time.

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