National Consultant - ISDB Project Coordination, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning 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 - ISDB Project Coordination, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

Job no: 588611
Location: Kaduna
Contract type: Consultant  
Duration: 12 Months
Level: Consultancy
Categories: Education

Background

• Nigeria is home to an estimated 237 million people, 49.7 per cent of whom are children aged 0–18. 
• The child population is growing at 1.5 percent per year. 
• The rapid child population growth places significant pressure on the delivery of social services, while it creates potential to reap dividends from the impending youth bulge if the country successfully invests in children’s education and skilling.
• Kaduna state, located in the Northwest of Nigeria, has made progress in providing quality education but fallen short of the goal. About 18 per cent of children of primary and junior secondary school ages remain out of school. 
• Only 9 per cent of out-of-school children aged 3–18 attend non-formal education.  Due to the limited access to schooling and learning, 84 per cent of children aged 7–14 do not develop foundational literacy and numeracy skills, which are building blocks for continued learning and acquisition of advanced skills.
• There are multiple barriers to accessing quality education. Supply-side bottlenecks include inadequate government funding, which resulted in a shortage of classrooms, teachers and teaching and learning materials.
• Demand-side barriers include poverty and social/gender norms, which often prevent girls from continuing their education. Insecurities such as armed conflicts and natural hazards also pose challenges in securing the provision and access to quality education.

How can you make a difference? 
Scope Of Work:
Activity 1: Coordinate the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the outcome 4 component of the ROOSC project:

• The consultant will provide technical and administrative support to ensure that the project activities under the outcome 4 component are implemented, monitored and reported as planned in close collaboration with the state and local governments (i.e., State Ministry of Education; State Universal Basic Education Boards), education institutions, teachers, learners, parents, community members, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), implementing partners and donor partners, among other stakeholders. The consultant will be responsible for regular project monitoring and reporting through field visits and data collection. Areas of support include the following:
  • Sharing and use of budget/expenditure analysis is supported.
  • Capacity building of CSOs supported.
  • Education data management using Education Information Management System (EMIS) supported.
  • Technical assistance for learning assessment supported.
  • Development of Local Education Sector Operational Plan (LESOP) supported.
  • Capacity building of SBMCs supported.
  • Data collection for project progress reports supported

Activity 2: Support the ROOSC project management unit in conducting project monitoring, evaluation and learning:

• The consultant will provide technical advice and support to the ROOSC project management unit (PMU) to help them conduct coordination, monitoring, review/evaluation, learning and reporting activities of the entire project.
• Project coordination and review
• Project coordination supported through assistance for programme coordination/review meetings (e.g., project steering committee meetings; joint performance sector review)
• Monitoring, evaluation, learning (MEL) and reporting
• Oversee execution of the MEL plan and support the production of quarterly and annual project report covering all the components though data collection. Support the capacity building of PMU in MEL.

Activity 3: Support the implementation of other UNICEF programmes in alignment with the government strategies and priorities:

• The consultant will provide technical and administrative support to implement the following UNICEF education programmes, in line with the state government’s strategies and priorities.
• Improving access to education and learning through support for alternative learning (e.g., non-formal education; digital learning; blended learning; Integrated Quranic School)
• Improving quality of education and learning through support for foundational literacy and numeracy programmes (e.g., Teaching at the Right Level)
• Data collection and reporting on UNICEF programmes on education access and learning.

Work Assignment Overview
Task/ Work Area:
Activity 1: Coordinate the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the outcome 4 component of the ROOSC project.

• Deliverables/ Outputs:
  • 1st report on support provided to:
  • Sharing and use of budget / expenditure analysis.
  • Capacity building of CSOs.
  • Education data management.
  • Learning assessment.
  • Development of LESOP.
  • Capacity building of SBMCs.

Activity 2: Support the ROOSC project management unit in conducting project monitoring, evaluation and learning:

• 1st report on support for ROOSC project coordination meetings and reviews.
• 1st report on MEL training provided to ROOSC PMU, and monthly briefs on project activities.
• Consolidated quarterly and annual progress reports on the ROOSC project.

Activity 3: Support the implementation of other UNICEF programmes in alignment with the government strategies and priorities:

• 1st monitoring report on education access interventions including a record of support for alternative learning.
• 1st monitoring report of the FLN model implementation including a training record on formative assessment.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 
Minimum requirements:

• Advanced university degree in education, international development, social sciences or other relevant fields.
• At least five years of experiences in supporting the government agencies in planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of development projects.
• Demonstrated expertise and experiences in providing training and coaching to government officers in project management and coordination.
• Experiences in managing and coordinating projects in emergency contexts.
• Experiences in working with UNICEF or international organizations.
• Experiences in working for development projects funded by international donors.
• Fluency in English with strong written and oral skills.

Application Closing Date
19th December, 2025; 11:55 PM West Central Africa Standard Time.

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