Consultants — Programme-Based Budgeting Support to 10 State Governments

UNICEF is recruiting consultants to provide technical support to ten state governments in implementing Programme-Based Budgeting for the 2027–2029 multi-year budget period.

The consultancy will run for approximately 4.7 months and will involve remote work and travel.

The assignment will use Programme-Based Budgeting as an entry point for strengthening Child-Responsive Budgeting and improving planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting across Education, Health, WASH and Social Protection sectors.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development of the 2027–2029 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework for the ten participating states.

• Develop and review Medium-Term Sector Strategies for Education, Health, WASH and Social Protection.

• Strengthen the capacity of ministries, departments and agencies to implement Programme-Based Budgeting.

• Train government officials on programme-based planning, coding, monitoring, reporting and evaluation.

• Conduct sensitisation and training for State Houses of Assembly committees responsible for finance, appropriation, health, education, social protection and WASH.

• Support states to transition from traditional line-item budgeting to Programme-Based Budgeting.

• Strengthen results frameworks and assist government officials to develop realistic outputs, deliverables and measurable indicators.

• Support the development of budget-performance indicators and monitoring mechanisms.

• Strengthen planning, supervision, monitoring, evaluation and reporting systems.

• Support the establishment or strengthening of state budget-performance monitoring committees.

• Organise citizens’ budget forums and sensitisation sessions for civil-society organisations and media organisations.

• Promote public awareness of budget transparency and accountability.

• Document lessons, challenges and recommendations for scaling Programme-Based Budgeting to additional sectors and states.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of a master’s degree in Economics, Public Financial Management, Social Policy, Finance, Accounting, Development Studies, Social Sciences or a related discipline.

• Minimum of ten years of relevant experience in public financial management.

• Experience implementing international development programmes or donor-funded activities.

• Experience developing Medium-Term Sector Strategies for Education, Health, Social Protection or WASH in Nigeria.

• Experience developing Medium-Term Expenditure Frameworks at the subnational level.

• Experience supporting state governments to develop budgets using Programme-Based Budgeting approaches.

• Experience building the capacity of government officials on MTSS, MTEF and Programme-Based Budgeting.

• Experience developing budget-performance indicators and monitoring systems.

• Experience working with UNICEF, another UN agency or donor-funded governance and public-finance programmes is an advantage.

• Strong reporting, monitoring, evaluation, planning, coordination and time-management skills.

• Fluency in English.

Required Application Documents

• Updated UNICEF recruitment profile and curriculum vitae.

• Cover letter.

• Separate financial proposal completed using the template provided in the official vacancy announcement.

UNICEF does not charge applicants any fee at any stage of its recruitment process.