JOB DESCRIPTION SNIPPET:
UNICEF is seeking a National Consultant to support ASWA III systems strengthening, knowledge management and evidence generation in Nigeria. The consultant will develop knowledge products, establish and analyse WASH-related health and education indicators, support sustainability planning in Kaduna and Adamawa States, and assist the Federal Government on key WASH initiatives.
FULL JOB DESCRIPTION:
Position Description & Requirements
ABOUT UNICEF:
UNICEF works to protect children’s rights and improve the lives and wellbeing of children and communities around the world. In Nigeria, UNICEF works with government institutions and partners across sectors including water, sanitation and hygiene, health, education and child protection.
This consultancy supports UNICEF’s work under the ASWA III programme and focuses on strengthening WASH systems, generating evidence, documenting learning, supporting sustainability initiatives and strengthening government capacity.
JOB SUMMARY:
The National Consultant will provide technical support for systems strengthening, knowledge management, evidence generation and learning under the ASWA III programme.
The consultant will document promising practices, develop knowledge products, establish indicators and collect data on WASH-related health and education outcomes, support Kaduna and Adamawa State governments to advance sustainability plans, and assist the Federal Government of Nigeria with relevant WASH initiatives.
The assignment will also support learning and adaptive management by generating evidence and recommendations that can strengthen implementation, programme effectiveness and the sustainability of ASWA III.
The consultancy is for 6 months and will be based remotely from Abuja, with travel to Kaduna and Adamawa States as required.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
1.Develop four knowledge products documenting progress and lessons related to climate-resilient WASH, sustainability and gender-transformative WASH under ASWA III.
2.Establish appropriate indicators and support the collection, organisation and analysis of baseline 2024, 2025 and 2026 data on health and education outcomes related to WASH in targeted LGAs and communities.
3.Support data collection and evidence generation in Lere and Kagarko LGAs in Kaduna State and Shelleng and Ganye LGAs in Adamawa State.
4.Support state governments to advance and institutionalise priority actions contained in state WASH sustainability plans.
5.Support the Federal Government to develop and implement concrete activities in response to the 2021 Sector-wide Sustainability Check findings.
6.Support Federal Government engagement and initiatives related to the Health Outcomes and Sanitation Initiative (HOSI), including preparations for the UN Water Conference scheduled for December 2026.
7.Support the implementation and documentation of priority actions arising from the Nigerian Youth–Government Collaborative Work Plan following the Kigali symposium.
8.Support the finalisation and implementation of the Nigeria Water Compact.
9.Strengthen knowledge management and learning systems by documenting promising practices, synthesising evidence and generating actionable recommendations for programme improvement.
10.Apply monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches, including the development and use of appropriate data management and data collection tools.
11.Conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis and translate findings into evidence-based recommendations for programme design, strategy development and policy discussions.
12.Support adaptive management by identifying implementation challenges, documenting lessons and recommending practical measures to improve programme effectiveness and sustainability.
13.Facilitate engagement with government institutions, UN agencies, NGOs, communities and other stakeholders at national and subnational levels.
14.Prepare high-quality technical reports, analytical outputs and other knowledge products within agreed timelines.
REQUIREMENTS:
1.An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Public Health, Community Health, Public Administration, Social Sciences, WASH Engineering, Monitoring and Evaluation or another closely related discipline.
2.At least 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in water, sanitation and hygiene and public health.
3.Demonstrated experience supporting high-level government engagements, including international conferences and meetings.
4.Proven expertise in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, including the design and implementation of data management and data collection tools.
5.Strong experience applying evidence and analysis to programme design, strategy development and policy recommendations.
6.Experience in knowledge management and quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
7.Demonstrated knowledge and experience supporting sustainability initiatives for WASH services.
8.Experience working with government institutions, UN agencies, NGOs and community stakeholders, particularly in low-resource or development settings.
9.Excellent facilitation, stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with diverse audiences at national and local levels.
10.Strong analytical, synthesis and report-writing skills, with the ability to produce high-quality evidence-based outputs within tight deadlines.
11.Strong understanding of WASH systems strengthening, including institutional arrangements, governance, financing, planning and monitoring.
12.Familiarity with WASH service sustainability assessments and related approaches.
13.Experience with gender-sensitive and inclusive data collection and analysis, including ethical considerations and safeguarding.
14.Proficiency in qualitative and/or quantitative data analysis tools is desirable.
15.Strong understanding of climate-resilient WASH and the relationship between WASH and gender equality.
16.Fluency in written and spoken English.
17.Working knowledge of Hausa or another relevant local language used in Kaduna and Adamawa is a strong advantage.
18.Experience working in Northern Nigeria, particularly Kaduna and/or Adamawa States, is desirable.
19.Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, with sensitivity to local contexts.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Interested and qualified candidates must apply through the official UNICEF recruitment portal.
Applicants are required to submit:
1.An up-to-date UNICEF Talent Management System (TMS) profile and CV.
2.A cover letter.
3.A separate financial proposal using the UNICEF-provided template.
4.A detailed technical proposal explaining how the assignment will be conducted and setting out the proposed timelines.
Applicants without a technical proposal will not be considered.
UNICEF does not charge any fee at any stage of its recruitment process and will not request applicants’ bank account information.
DEADLINE:
14 October 2026 at 11:55 PM W. Central Africa Standard Time
Source verification: UNICEF official careers page, Job No. 596032.
