Save the Children is a child rights organization working to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. Save the Children established an office in Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, in 2001. The organization focuses on full spectrum programming - development and humanitarian - with core thematic work in education, child protection, hunger and livelihoods, social protection, child rights governance, health and nutrition.
Activities generally focus on building government capacity in policy development and service delivery, while also working with communities and civil society organizations to build demand and accountability mechanisms, and implementing direct services through specific projects and operational research activities. Working with and through partners such as Action Against Hunger (ACF), Save the Children has also invested heavily in advocacy and campaigns.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Accompanying Advocacy Strategy Consultant
Locations: Jigawa and Zamfara, JI, Nigeria
Overview
- The Child Development Grant Programme - CDGP (DFID Funded) provides an unconditional cash transfer of 3,500 NGN per month for up to 70,000 pregnant women and women with children under the age of two (2) in Zamfara and Jigawa.
- It is a joint programme with Action Against Hunger (ACF). The programme is aimed at reducing the prevalence of stunting and infant mortality. There are 4 key outputs of the programme:
- Output 1: Design and delivery a secure payments mechanism providing regular, timely cash transfers to 70,000 pregnant women and women with under-2s.
- Secure payments mechanism providing regular, timely cash transfers to pregnant women and women with under-2s
- Output 2: Effective system for mobilisation, targeting and delivering complementary interventions established.
- Output 3: Enhanced government capacities for and engagement in managing social protection and cash transfers in focus states.
- Output 4: Evidence of cash transfer modalities and impacts provided to policymakers and practitioners at State and Federal levels.
Objectives of the Consultancy
- A key requirement of the CDGP is to secure increased political and institutional commitment to implement effective state-wide social protection programmes that ensures improved nutrition, food security and poverty reduction for women and children.
- Understanding the political dynamics of a state and how to engage stakeholders are of paramount importance to the programme. In June 2014 a political economic analysis (PEA) of the two implementing states was carried out providing the programme with a clear picture of state dynamics. In 2015 a state engagement and advocacy strategy was also drafted which provided a brief summary of the political intelligence in the two states. The changes in the political environment both national and state levels requires stronger analysis and review of the existing PEAs. Therefore the primary objectives of the consultancy will be:
- To update and strengthen the analysis in the PEA report of Jigawa and Zamfara drawing from existing reports and documents.
- To develop an accompanying advocacy strategy that draws from the PEA and the state engagement strategy to help garner political and institutional commitments.
- The PEA will outline the critical political change in the two states and the political dynamics at play. The PEA report will be provided in a summary form of not more than five pages. The PEA report will also outline key political drivers, risk and critical assumptions to the institutionalization of the CDGP model in the two states.
- The updated advocacy strategy will extract from the current advocacy strategy and updated analysis from the PEA. This document should also establish a clear pathway to mitigate potential risk factors outlined in the PEA.
Methodology
Stage 1 - Extract and summarize data:
- Collect data from all the relevant documents already existing within and outside the organisation. A desk review will be carried out utilizing the existing PEA report of the programme done in 2014 which has a good background of the political dynamics in the states.
- The state engagement and advocacy strategy and PEA for the CDGP and WINNN respectively will provide relevant background information to build on.
- The desk review will make sure all existing assessments of domains of stakeholders at national, state and LGA levels including donors, government, partners and politicians are considered.
- Review programme documents and identify priority issues in order to bring intended outcomes to fruition.
Stage2 - Work with Programme Team:
- Work with the programme team both at state and national level to collect any relevant information that may be missing from the desk review. This may involve the team making important enquiries where necessary.
Stage 3 - Analyse the data and develop a causal framework:
- Using data already collected, develop a 10 page document with the first five pages providing a summary update of the PEA and the last five pages summarizing the advocacy/engagement strategy with clear details on strategic drivers and priorities.
Deliverables:
- A draft PEA report for the Child Development Grant Programme - not more than 5 pages
- A summarized advocacy/engagement Strategy and plan - narrative should not be more than 5 pages
Qualifications
- Advanced university degree
- A sound understanding of the political economy of Nigeria particularly Northern Nigeria (particularly Zamfara and Jigawa)
- Experience of developing advocacy and state engagement strategies
- An awareness of social protection and poverty reduction policies
- Previous experience in development of analytical reports and policy documents related to partnerships
- Ability to synthesize and analyze large amounts of information combining quantitative and qualitative data
- Excellent written English
- Knowledge of rights-based approach to programmes
Application Closing Date
22nd July, 2016.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online
Note: This is an on-going process and applications will be reviewed on receipt with selection made once an acceptable candidate is identified.