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
Organizational Context
UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to promote and advocate for the rights of every child, guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In Nigeria, UNICEF operates in a complex humanitarian and development setting, partnering with the government, civil society, children, and families to fulfill and protect children's rights. UNICEF Nigeria is one of the largest Country Offices globally.
Job Purpose
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 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. 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 to provide a framework for supporting girls to return, remain, and complete their education. This consultancy aims to domesticate these National Re-entry Guidelines into a state-specific framework for Kwara State, Nigeria.
Responsibilities
The consultant will be responsible for reviewing the existing National Guidelines for the Facilitation of Re-entry of Pregnant and Married Adolescent Girls into Schools and adapting them to the specific context of Kwara State. This includes conducting a needs assessment to identify barriers and facilitators to re-entry in the state, consulting with key stakeholders (e.g., Ministry of Education officials, school administrators, teachers, community leaders, parents, and adolescent girls), and developing a state-specific framework and action plan for the domestication of the guidelines. The consultant will also be responsible for organizing and facilitating workshops and meetings to validate the draft framework and action plan with stakeholders. Additionally, the consultant will develop training materials for teachers and school administrators on implementing the re-entry guidelines and provide recommendations for monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track the progress and impact of the domestication efforts. The consultant will ensure that the developed framework aligns with national policies and international best practices, promoting equitable access to quality education and strengthening school management capacities to support adolescent girls' re-entry and retention.
Work Experience
A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in education programming, policy development, or gender equality initiatives, with a focus on adolescent girls' education and/or re-entry into school. Experience working with government ministries and international organizations is desirable.
Skills
Policy analysis and development, Stakeholder engagement and consultation, Curriculum development and adaptation, Gender mainstreaming, Adolescent reproductive health, Project management, Report writing, Facilitation and training, Research and needs assessment, Understanding of the Nigerian education system, Knowledge of child rights conventions