National Consultancy-Domestication of the National Guidelines for the Facilitation of Re-entry of Pregnant and Married Adolescent Girls into Schools in Kwara State, Abuja Nigeria , 3 Months, Abuja

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Background:

Education is a fundamental human right and a critical pathway for gender equality, girls’ empowerment and national development. Despite progress in expanding access to education, many adolescent girls continue to face barriers that interrupt their education, particularly due to adolescent pregnancy, child marriage, and other socio-economic factors. These challenges contribute significantly to school dropout rates among girls and limit their opportunities for learning, empowerment, and future economic participation.

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of the Assignment: The Federal Ministry of Education, with support from UNICEF and partners, developed the National Guidelines for the Facilitation of Re-entry of Pregnant and Married Adolescent Girls into Schools (‘National Re-entry Guidelines), which provide a framework for ensuring that girls who leave school due to pregnancy, marriage, or related circumstances are supported to return, remain, and complete their education. The guidelines promote equitable access to quality education, strengthen school management capacities, establish supportive school environments, and provide mechanisms for tracking, referral, retention, and re-entry of adolescent girls. The guidelines also include actions to prevent adolescent pregnancy. As part of efforts to strengthen inclusive education and ensure no girl is left behind, the Kwara State Ministry of Education, with UNICEF support, seeks to domesticate the National Re-entry Guidelines and develop a state-specific framework that reflects the state's context, priorities, existing policies, and implementation structures. The consultancy aims to support the Kwara State Ministry of Education and relevant stakeholders to adapt, validate, and operationalize the National Re-entry Guidelines for effective implementation across the state.   Scope of Work:   UNICEF seeks an experienced consultant to support the domestication of the National Guidelines for the Facilitation of Re-entry of Pregnant and Married Adolescent Girls into Schools in Kwara State. The consultant will work closely with the Kwara State Ministry of Education, SUBEB, Teaching Service Commission, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Health, State Planning Commission, civil society organizations, development partners, school administrators, and other relevant stakeholders.   The specific objectives of the consultancy are:   1.Conduct a desk review of the National Re-entry Guidelines and relevant state policies, laws, strategies, and institutional frameworks that support girls' education, retention, transition, and re-entry, to identify opportunities for alignment, contextualization, and effective domestication within Kwara State.   2.Facilitate stakeholder consultations and a state-level domestication workshop.   3.Adapt the National Guidelines into a Kwara State Re-entry Guidelines and Implementation Framework.   4.Develop practical monitoring, reporting, referral, and tracking mechanisms for implementation.   5.Support validation and finalization of the domesticated guidelines and implementation framework.   6.Produce a final document and implementation guidelines.  

Work Assignment Overview:

1.Desk review of existing state documents for the domestication process.

Deliverable/output:

Draft analytical report produced - detailing key gaps and opportunities for alignment.

2.Facilitate stakeholder consultations and a state-level domestication workshop.

Deliverable/output:

Re-entry Policy domestication workshop conducted and report submitted.

3. Development of State Guidelines: Collate input from workshop and develop first draft of the re-entry guidelines for review by UNICEF and Kwara State ME.

Deliverable/output:

First draft guideline and implementation framework.

4.Validation and Finalization: Incorporate feedback from the state and UNICEF.

Deliverable/output:

Validation report and revised draft.

5.Produce finalized re-entry guideline documents shared with Kwara SME and UNICEF for copy editing and design.

Deliverable/output:

Final signed off Re-entry Guideline for Kwara state submitted.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: Advanced university degree in Education, Gender Studies, Social Policy, Public Policy, Development Studies, Sociology, Law, International Development, or related field.

Work Experience: At least 5 years of experience in education policy development, gender and education, adolescent development, child protection, or related fields.

Skills: Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations and policy dialogue. Experience working with government institutions and development partners.   Demonstrated knowledge and experience in current global issues and best practices in education.   Demonstrated experience supporting policy development, domestication, and implementation at state or national level.   Strong understanding of girls' education, gender equality, inclusive education, child rights, and safeguarding.   Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables: Knowledge of the Nigerian political landscape and recent developments in education.   Experience working with UN agencies or other international development agencies.   A good understanding of UNICEF’s programmatic areas.   Ability to work to tight timeframes and flexibility to adjust to needs of government and UNICEF   Ability to present ideas concisely for diverse audiences and to give practical, actionable advice grounded in evidence.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

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