Consultant for the development of FLN Policy and implementation plan (Internationals only), Nigeria, Abuja (Office-based), 6 months, #594660

Organizational Context

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of every child's rights not just as a job, but as a calling. UNICEF fosters diverse opportunities for professional and personal development.

Job Purpose

The consultant will be responsible for leading the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) and its agencies in Nigeria in the development of a Foundational Learning Policy and its associated implementation guidelines. This critical role involves guiding the strategic direction and operationalization of policies aimed at improving foundational learning outcomes across the country. The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Chief of Education and report directly to the Education Manager (Learning), ensuring alignment with UNICEF's strategic objectives and national education priorities. The consultancy is crucial for strengthening the education sector and ensuring that all children in Nigeria have access to quality foundational learning opportunities, contributing significantly to their future development and well-being.

Responsibilities

Lead the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) and its agencies in the development of a comprehensive Foundational Learning Policy and its implementation guidelines. Provide technical expertise and strategic guidance throughout the policy development process, ensuring it aligns with national education goals and international best practices. Facilitate consultations and workshops with key stakeholders, including government officials, educators, civil society organizations, and development partners, to gather input and build consensus. Conduct research and analysis on the current state of foundational learning in Nigeria, identifying key challenges, opportunities, and best practices. Develop draft policy documents, implementation strategies, and monitoring frameworks, incorporating feedback from stakeholders. Support the finalization and official adoption of the Foundational Learning Policy and its implementation plan. Provide recommendations for capacity building and technical assistance to support the effective implementation of the policy. Ensure that the policy and implementation plan address issues of equity, inclusion, and quality in foundational learning. Prepare regular progress reports and a final consultancy report detailing achievements, challenges, and lessons learned. Contribute to knowledge management by documenting processes and outcomes related to policy development and implementation.

Work Experience

A minimum of 8 years of experience in improving learning quality, with a focus on curriculum or learning materials development, teacher professional development, quality pedagogy, and teaching/learning approaches in basic education. Demonstrable experience supporting the development, implementation, and scale-up of effective approaches for improving learning quality, particularly in developing and rolling out quality, curriculum-aligned content for basic education focused on foundational literacy and numeracy. Proven experience supporting government-led education reforms in Sub-Saharan Africa or a similar context to Nigeria.

Skills

Education sector planning and strategy development, Out-of-school programming, Excellent written and oral communication, Translating evidence for diverse actors, Foundational Learning landscape expertise, Competency-based education standards, Instructional design in low-resource settings, Knowledge of Nigerian political landscape, Familiarity with Nigerian education context, Working with UN agencies, Ability to work to tight deadlines, Presenting ideas concisely

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