UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children’s rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: National Consultant – Education Programme Monitoring Data Analysis and Report
Job Number: 514890
Location: Nigeria
Work Type: Consultancy
Location: Nigeria
Work Type: Consultancy
Purpose of Assignment
- The purpose of this consultancy is support the analysis of UNICEF education programme monitoring data and prepare narrative reports and policy briefs
- The consultant will specifically analyse the data and prepare narrative reports for the following:
- Community mapping and listing of out of school children data collected from four focus states (Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara).
- School based management committee effectiveness monitoring data collected from five states (Bauchi, Niger, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara).
- Integrated Quranic school interim survey data collected from three states
- The consultant will report to the Education Specialist (M&E) with technical support from Basic Education Programme team based in Abuja
- The assignment does not require travel outside the consultants home based.
Background
UNICEF Nigeria is implementing Basic Education programme which contributes to reducing the number of out-of-school children and improving learning outcomes for children in development and humanitarian context primarily focusing on states in the north west and north east of Nigeria with high burden of out of school children. The Basic Education programme is being implemented in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education, Universal Basic Education Commission at the national level and with the state ministries of education and State Universal Basic Education Board of target states and other implementing partners.
UNICEF Nigeria is implementing Basic Education programme which contributes to reducing the number of out-of-school children and improving learning outcomes for children in development and humanitarian context primarily focusing on states in the north west and north east of Nigeria with high burden of out of school children. The Basic Education programme is being implemented in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education, Universal Basic Education Commission at the national level and with the state ministries of education and State Universal Basic Education Board of target states and other implementing partners.
The education programme has a strong focus on strengthening monitoring and evaluation (M&E), especially building capacity of government to generate timely and reliable data required for equity based planning and tracking of progress. The M&E data collection processes UNICEF is aiming to strengthen include annual school census, school based management committee effectiveness monitoring and tracking out of school children in targeted communities, through a process called community mapping and listing of out of school children.
The UNICEF M&E approach relies on the government systems primarily to ensure capacity building of government officials for sustainability. In addition, a quality assurance process has been built into the M&E systems to validate quality and reliability of monitoring data generated through government system. The quality assurance processes use the same tools and approach but undertaken by independent enumerators directly managed by UNICEF.
This consultancy is required to analyse three sets of monitoring data collected with UNICEF financial assistance so that the information can be used for assessing/reporting progress as well as fed back to partners to improve programming. The community mapping data for instance enables the measurement of change in the number of out-of-school children in target areas and support evidence based planning to reduce the number of out of school children in in communities with high number of out of school children.
Scope /Focus of the assignment Areas of focus
The assignment entail analysis of three sets of programme monitoring data and preparing narrative technical report with recommendations based on analysis of the data and prepare advocacy briefs for engagement with government partners on out-of-school children issues. The scope and specific tasks for each component is presented below.
The assignment entail analysis of three sets of programme monitoring data and preparing narrative technical report with recommendations based on analysis of the data and prepare advocacy briefs for engagement with government partners on out-of-school children issues. The scope and specific tasks for each component is presented below.
Detailed Analysis of Community Mapping Data:
- The mapping and listing of out-of-school children covered 628,061 households in 18 focus Local Government Areas (LGAs) in four focus states (Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto)
- In total, 1,582,406 children aged 3-17 years were recorded in the targeted households out of which 528,869 children were reported to be in school, 1,018,521 out of school and 35,016 completed primary six
- The consultant will receive the community mapping data in Microsoft Access format.
- The data analysis will focus on the following key variables:
- Out-of-school children in the targeted LGAs
- Community underserved with regard to education service delivery
- Availability of schools within the catchment area and by extension overview of school capacities in terms of classrooms and teachers
- Identified existing inequalities / disparities in access and distribution of schools
- Detailed information on OOSC Age, Residence’ particular household where they reside, status of school attendance (in school and out of school) and the reasons why the child is not enrolled in school
- Characteristics of respondents (household heads)
- Type of school preferred by parents, (h) distance to school (mean and median).
- Based on analysis of the data, a comprehensive narrative technical report will be prepared by the consultant highlighting the key findings and recommend how the out of school data and the reasons for non-school attendance might be used to support programmatic interventions and decisions.
- In addition, the consultant will prepare a policy brief for each state highlighting major findings and recommendations to support evidence-based advocacy, communication and dissemination
- Therefore, narrative state specific process oriented reports will be shared with the consultant. In addition, UNICEF Basic Education Programme team based in Abuja will provide summary of how community data has been used so far to support the targeting and implementation of various interventions within EAC project.
The Integrated Quranic Schools (IQS) Interim Survey Data:
- The IQS survey was conducted in three states (Niger, Bauchi and Sokoto) covering 600 IQS (200 in each state). The survey focused only on quantitative data related to student enrolment & attendance, teacher information, teaching/learning schedules and learning environment
- The consultant will receive the survey data in both Microsoft Access and Excel files. The analysis and report is expected to cover the following indicators/variables and others the consultant may propose for discussion with UNICEF:
- Enrolment disaggregated by gender
- Teachers and students’ attendance rate on the day of survey disaggregated by gender
- Number of teachers/facilitators disaggregated by gender and professional qualifications
- Mean and median students to class ratios disaggregated by state
- Mean and median students to teacher ratios disaggregated by state
- Mean and median teaching time by day disaggregated by state
- IQS with established centre based management committees
School Based Management Committee (SBMC) Effectiveness Monitoring:
- The SBMC effectiveness was conducted in 350 schools randomly selected from the list of 1,050 GEP3 pilot schools in five states (Bauchi, Niger, Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara)
- The effectiveness monitoring covers both qualitative and quantitative data in relation to SBMC roles and responsibilities described in the national guidelines. The consultant will receive entered data in Microsoft Excel and Access
- The analysis and report is expected to cover the following indicators/variables and others the consultant may propose for discussion with UNICEF:
- Girls attendance rate on the day of visit
- Teachers attendance rate on the day of visit
- Proportion/number of SBMC that meet effectiveness criteria
- Proportion/number of SBMCs that have activities in school development plan that target girls’ enrolment/retention
- Resources mobilised by the SBMCs to support school improvement
- Estimated number of out of school children who are no school because of SBMC action
- For each of the above components, the consultant will undertake the following processes:
- Draft report outline and update it based on feedback from UNICEF
- Review the datasets received from UNICEF to ensure, in consultation with UNICEF Education Specialist, the data is clean and error free before commencing analysis.
- Conduct analysis of the data and prepare appropriate data tables and charts.
- Prepare draft report and share with UNICEF for comments
- Finalize reports incorporating comments from UNICEF.
Deliverables
- Consultancy work plan indicating timelines for the deliverables and draft report outlines
- Analytical report on out of school children with recommendations based on major findings of the analysis
- Policy briefs on out of school children issue for each of the four states
- Analytical report of the IQS interim survey for the three states
- Analytical report on SBMC effectiveness for the five states
- Data tables and graphs used in all reports submitted in MS Excel file
Qualifications or Specialized Knowledge/Experience Required
- Advanced Degree in Education, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science.
- At least 8 years of experience and demonstrated experience in education, research or monitoring and evaluation
- Demonstrated skilled in the use of data analysis packages (Excel, SPSS, and Access)
- Strong analytical skills using diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data
- Experience working on gender issues
- Extensive knowledge and skills of education and social sectors in Nigeria, in northern Nigeria will be an added advantage.
- Demonstrates, applies and shares technical knowledge.
- Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, to varied audiences,
- Fluency in English language and writing skills.
- Contract will be for a total duration of 4 months
Interested and qualified candidates should:Click here to apply
Job Title: International Wash Consultant
Job Number: 514886
Location: Abuja
Work Type: Consultancy
Purpose of Assignment
Job Number: 514886
Location: Abuja
Work Type: Consultancy
Purpose of Assignment
- Cholera is transmitted through food or water contaminated with toxigenic Vibrio cholera. A 2012 review of cholera’s global burden estimated that 1.4 billion people are at risk for cholera, with 2.9 million cases and 95,000 related deaths in endemic regions annually (Ali & al, 2015). The burden of cholera is disproportionately borne by the young, with children under five having the highest incidence of cholera and contributing almost half of the mortality (Ali & al, 2015). UNICEF is committed to reduce under five mortality while the West Africa region has shown little progress up to now.
- Since 2009, the UNICEF regional office pays special attention to cholera issues in the region. Since 2013, the UNICEF regional office has entered in a partnership with ECHO as part of a regional program to contribute to the elimination of cholera in the region. In April 2017, UNICEF has signed a new contract agreement with ECHO for a total amount of around 1 million euros where most of the action is happening in cholera affected countries such a Nigeria representing 47% of cholera in the WCARO region and 98% of West Africa influencing negatively neighboring countries. This consultant will support activities implemented under ECHO in Nigeria in 2018.
Major Tasks to be Accomplished
Estimated time required completing tasks. Attach additional sheets, if necessary, to describe assignments:
Estimated time required completing tasks. Attach additional sheets, if necessary, to describe assignments:
The following objectives and activities will be expected (following the ECHO project framework):
- Cholera emergency response and preparedness:
- Establish water quality monitoring and reporting mechanism using capacity available in the field.
- Provide immediate support to FOs where there is a cholera outbreak including undertaking rapid needs assessment during outbreak.
- Monitoring of cholera emergency activities and reporting using existing systems and mechanisms while suggesting and implementing improvements and as required.
- Cholera supply:
- Evaluate supply needs and request accordingly in coordination with the supply section.
- Collect and analyze information and advice on contingency cholera stocks and partners capacity to implement supply management plans.
- Monitoring:
- Monitoring of epidemiological data and information sharing
- Support NCDC to improve monitoring of cholera epidemiological data
- In coordination with WASH staffs and partners, complete monitoring template of WASH project for cholera hotspots in Nigeria
- Advocacy:
- Develop concept note to support UNICEF fund raising in Nigeria for cholera elimination and prevention (at national level and in cholera hotspots)
- Collect and document success stories and impact studies on cholera in Nigeria and share with the WASH section for review and sharing and as required.
- Develop advocacy material to donors and partners stressing the fact that an adequate response to cholera would need to factor in longer term needs that aim at eliminating the disease
- Strategy:
- Liaise with NCDC, FMoH, FMoW to define the needs and priority in the fight against cholera
- Review UNICEF strategy in the fight against cholera in Nigeria (short and long-term) and suggest improvements.
End Product/Deliverables:
- Water quality monitoring and reporting mechanism
- Monthly progress report with achievements as well as bottlenecks along with way forward
- Cholera supplies (items) managed and distributed
- Epidemiological data collected, analyzed and shared analysis to improve the response
- Monitoring template of WASH project for cholera hotspots response in Nigeria
- Concept note to support UNICEF fund raising in Nigeria for cholera elimination and prevention
- Success stories and impact studies on cholera in Nigeria
Requirements
Academic qualifications or specialized knowledge/experience and competencies required:
Academic qualifications or specialized knowledge/experience and competencies required:
- Master’s Degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Public Health or a related field;
- At least five years experience in the WASH sector in developing countries;
- At least two years experience on cholera (response, preparedness, prevention)
- Knowledge of WASH-Epidemiology integrated approach and/or the regional shield and sword strategy against cholera is desired.
- Experience in training facilitation, scientific studies, advocacy, coordination, project management and implementation will be evaluated
- Understanding of institutional mandates and operations of UNICEF preferred;
- Prior experience of working in West Africa region is advantageous;
- Speaking and writing English is mandatory; any other UN language is an asset.
Interested and qualified candidates should:Click here to apply
Application Deadline 1st August, 2018.
Job Title: International Consultant – Analysis of MICS Education Data on Out of School children
Job Number: 514893
Location: Nigeria
Work Type: Consultancy
Job Number: 514893
Location: Nigeria
Work Type: Consultancy
Purpose of Assignment
- The objective of this consultancy service is to support further analysis of the latest education data from various data sources including MICS and Population (Census) to provide evidence on the status of key education indicators and in particular progress made in reducing the number of out-of-school children Nationally and disparities that exist between States.
- Reporting to the UNICEF Education Specialist(M&E), the consultant will:
- Design a sound methodological approach for estimating the absolute number of Out-of-School Children based on UNESCO Institute for Statistics Out-of-school dimensions for both primary and secondary education levels and per State and gender using recent MICS data and realistic projected population data in consultation with the National Bureau of Statistics of Federal Republic of Nigeria and Federal Ministry of Education;
- Conduct trends analysis of Education related MICS data and produce Out-of-School Children profile for Nigeria and all the States and FCT,
- Propose relevant policy recommendations to inform future education programme priorities both at State and federal levels.
Background
UNICEF Nigeria is implementing a new (2018-2022) country programme whose key priority is to support the reduction in the large number of Out-of-School Children in target states mainly in northern Nigeria. With a total of 10.5 million children out of school, Nigeria accounts for almost one in five of all school age children living in extreme educational poverty worldwide. Thus, the SDG 4 related targets cannot be achieved globally unless a significant progress is made in reducing the burden of out of school children in Nigeria.
UNICEF Nigeria is implementing a new (2018-2022) country programme whose key priority is to support the reduction in the large number of Out-of-School Children in target states mainly in northern Nigeria. With a total of 10.5 million children out of school, Nigeria accounts for almost one in five of all school age children living in extreme educational poverty worldwide. Thus, the SDG 4 related targets cannot be achieved globally unless a significant progress is made in reducing the burden of out of school children in Nigeria.
Statistically, sound and internationally comparable data are essential for developing evidence-based policies and programmes, as well as for monitoring countries’ progress toward national goals and global commitments including the SDG. Since 1995, UNICEF has supported the implementation of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), assisting countries in generating high quality data on the situation of children and women. Nigeria has so far three data points on MICS which constitute a useful data source of data to complement administrative data collected through Education Management Information System(EMIS), used for situation analysis, policy decisions and programme interventions, and for influencing the public opinion about the situation of children and women. Indeed, MICS surveys carried out by government organizations, with the support and technical assistance of UNICEF, enable countries to produce statistically sound and internationally comparable estimates of a range of indicators in the areas of health, education, child protection, water and sanitation and HIV and AIDS.
In addition to the standard MICS reports produced in collaboration with the government, the rich dataset is always available for further in-depth thematic analysis to inform programmatic decisions and situation analysis. UNICEF Nigeria country office is therefore seeking the support of an experienced data analyst to carryout in-depth analysis of the MICS datasets and the official projected population data to estimate the number of out of school children in the country disaggregated by state and other levels of disaggregation for each of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics Out-of-School dimensions. The analysis will be done through a participatory process involving the federal ministry of education and the national bureau of statistics to ensure ownership of the final product as well as facilitate capacity building of the government partners on the statistical methods used to estimate out of school children population.
Scope /Focus of the Assignment
Scope /Focus of the Assignment
- The assignment will entail the consultant effectively supporting a trends analysis of MICS education data, develop in collaboration with National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) of Federal Republic of Nigeria realistic projected population estimates to be used as reference for the estimates of Out-of-School Children in Nigeria, estimate the number of out-of-school children per State, gender and age, develop Out-of-School profile and policy recommendations and implications for current and future education programmes design and or implementation.
- Under the management supervision of Basic Education Chief and technical oversight of the Education Specialist M&E, the incumbent shall carry out the following major tasks in fulfilling the expectations of this post.
Work Schedule
This contract is to run for 40 working days between June and August 2018:
This contract is to run for 40 working days between June and August 2018:
- Trends analysis of MICS education data and production of Out-of-School profile (national and 6 geopolitical zones)
- Working closing with National Bureau of Statistics of Federal Republic of Nigeria to develop a technically sound methodological approach for estimating the absolute number of out-of-school children based on the UNESCO Institute of Education out of school children dimensions for both primary and secondary education levels using recent MICS data and the official projected population data
- Estimate the number of out-of-school children for primary and secondary education levels, wealth quintile, state and gender.
- Â Develop relevant policy recommendations to inform current and future design and or implementation of education programmes at State and federal levels
Deliverables
- Trends analysis of Education related MICS data and Out-of-School Children profile finalized
- Policy recommendation developed to inform current and future education programme priorities both at State and federal levels
- A document describing the methodological approach agreed with the federal ministry of education and nation bureau of statistics for estimating the absolute number of out-of-school children based on UNESCO Institute for Statistics Out-of-School dimensions.
- Statistical profile (national and 6 geological zones) indicating estimated number of out-of-school children disaggregated by gender and wealth quintiles
- Mission report.
Qualifications or Specialized Knowledge/Experience Required
- At least a Master’s Degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Demography, Statistics, Epidemiology, or other related technical field with significant measurement or analysis component is required.
- At least 5 years’ experience in the coordination and/or management of quantitative household surveys.
- Expertise in statistical analyses (familiarity with data processing and data analysis software, SPSS highly desirable);
- Experience in managing and conducting analysis and interpret large complex data sets to uncover trends or patterns in order to locate and define new process improvement opportunities.
- Experience in survey report writing;
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
- Ability and willingness to travel to Nigeria.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships with national partners;
- Demonstrated leadership, managerial and supervisory ability.
- Fluency in English language and writing skills.
Interested and qualified candidates should:Click here to apply
Application Deadline 8th August, 2018.
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