Sermon Guide Consultant (Individual Consultant) - Remote at Girl Effect

Girl Effect, We’re a creative non-profit empowering girls to change their lives. Started by the Nike Foundation, we are experts in media, mobile, brand and international development: a unique mix of skills that we use to solve global problems in a different way.

We work across the world in the places where girls are marginalised and vulnerable. We create for young people in ways they love and interact with. And it's all delivered through the media and mobile tech they use every day – from apps that build skills, to TV dramas that explore vital issues, to magazines written by girls.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Sermon Guide Consultant (Individual Consultant)

Location: Nigeria (Remote)

The Objective 

• Girl Effect seeks to engage a qualified consultant with demonstrated expertise in Islamic teachings, social norms change, and community engagement to develop a culturally relevant and theologically sound Sermon (Khutbah) and Discussion Guide to support Imams and Islamic leaders in communicating child marriage prevention and girls’ protection messages within communities in Rimin Gado LGA, Kano State. 

Target Group

• Parents/ caregivers and community leaders 
• Other religious leaders in the community .

Facilitators

• The Imams and Islamic scholars are the appropriate facilitators because of their credibility, influence, and community reach.
• They are trusted religious authorities whose teachings are widely respected.
• They have regular access to large audiences through sermons and community engagements, allowing them to consistently reinforce messages.
• As community advisors and counsellors, they also influence family decisions, including marriage.

Expected Outcome
The assignment is expected to result in:

• Increased capacity of Imams and religious leaders to communicate positive social norms and child protection messages;
• Improved community dialogue around delaying child marriage and promoting girls’ education;
• Development of a practical, culturally appropriate, and rights-based faith engagement tool adaptable for broader community use.

Scope of Work
The Consultant shall:
Inception & Review:

• Review relevant programme documents, formative research, safeguarding guidance, and relevant Nigerian laws and policies relating to child protection and child marriage;
• Review relevant Islamic teachings, Qur’anic verses, Hadith, and scholarly interpretations related to:
  • Child wellbeing
  • Education
  • Consent
  • Responsible parenting
  • Prevention of harm
  • Protection of girls.

Stakeholder Engagement
Conduct consultations with:

• Religious leaders and Islamic scholars
• Traditional/community leaders
• Programme and safeguarding teams
• Content review committee.

The purpose of consultations will be to:

• Validate theological accuracy
• Ensure cultural relevance
• Strengthen community acceptability
• Ensure alignment with safeguarding and rights-based approaches.

Sermon (Khutbah) & Discussion Guide Development
Develop a user-friendly and practical guide that includes:
Core Content:

• Key messages on the harms and consequences of child marriage;
• Messaging around:
  • Girls’ education
  • Child protection
  • Economic empowerment
  • Delayed marriage
  • Positive parenting.

Islamic References:

• Qur’anic verses
• Hadith references
• Relevant Islamic principles and scholarly guidance.

Facilitation Approach:

• Sample Khutbah outlines
• Discussion prompts
• Community dialogue guidance
• Group facilitation methods
• Recommended seating and engagement arrangements
• Listening and probing techniques
• Suggested responses to common concerns/questions

Safeguarding Integration:

• Child safeguarding and protection messaging
• Referral and support guidance where appropriate
• Ethical engagement considerations.

Validation & Revision:

• Facilitate at least one validation session/workshop with stakeholders;
• Revise and finalize materials based on feedback received.

Deliverables
The consultant is expected to deliver:

• Draft Sermon  (Khutbah) and discussion guide
• Validation workshop report
• Final Sermon (Khutbah) and discussion guide.

Who You Are Skills and expertise
The consultant should have:

• Demonstrated experience in developing Islamic or faith-based guidance materials, with samples of previous work where possible. 
• knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh), Qur’an, and Hadith related to child marriage, child protection, and social wellbeing.
• Experience engaging with Imams, Islamic scholars, or traditional and other Muslim community leaders.
• Strong understanding of child marriage prevention and the social norms change context.
• Excellent writing and facilitation skills.
• Familiarity with the local Muslim cultural context in Kano state is highly desirable.

Attitudes we are looking for: 

• Highly responsive and able to manage short turnaround times under pressure.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to take creative direction and adapt to Girl Effect's brand and guidelines.
• Reliable, punctual, and self-organised.
• Commitment to ethical storytelling and safeguarding principles when working with vulnerable populations, particularly young girls.

Reporting and Supervision:

• The consultant will report to the Project Manager and work closely with program staff throughout the assignment.

Location:

• The consultant may work remotely; however, availability for in-person engagement in the office, where required, is highly desirable.
• Strong familiarity with Northern Nigerian Islamic and cultural contexts is essential. 

Deliverable Timelines (10 days in May 2026) Tentative Timelines

• Terms of reference published: 13th May, 2026
• Proposal Submission Deadline: 18th May, 2026
• Commencement: May, 2026.

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