Climate Resilient Infrastructure Consultant, Abuja, Nigeria (with travel to LGAs in Kano and Jigawa States – 6months)

The WASH team needs a consultant to support the UNICEF team in Kano and Abuja to monitor and accelerate implementation of CRIBS project, including WASH facilities and the rehabilitation of PHCs and schools.

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In Nigeria, UNICEF works in a complex humanitarian and development setting to fulfill and protect children’s rights in partnership with government, civil society, children, and families.  UNICEF Nigeria is one of the largest UNICEF Country Offices globally – click the link to learn more about UNICEF in Nigeria: https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/.

Organizational Context and Purpose for the job

UNICEF Nigeria supports the Government of Nigeria at national and sub-national levels in providing equitable, sustainable, and climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene services to children and their families, through the design and implementation of projects at the national and sub-national levels.

An innovative project ‘Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services’ (CRIBS) has been developed by UNICEF in collaboration with FCDO in Nigeria that aims to demonstrate a scalable model for assessing climate risks and vulnerabilities of primary healthcare facilities (PHCs) and primary schools and subsequently identifying and implementing interventions to make those facilities more resilient.  UNICEF as the lead implementing partner is working with the Kano and Jigawa State Government partners on this project. As the project includes rehabilitation of 54 facilities (schools and PHCs) with climate resilient solutions in 15 LGAs in Kano and Jigawa States to be completed within a short period of time, UNICEF needs to ensure very close monitoring/tracking and quality assurance on the ground. A further key component of the CRIBS is to implement a sustainable operation and maintenance (O&M) mechanism for schools and PHCs supported by the CRIBS so that the climate resilient facilities continue to function and that, when break down occurs, the facilities are promptly fixed. State and LGAs authorities need to be engaged appropriately in case of any issues arising that could potentially delay the implementation process.  

This Consultancy TOR is designed to support the UNICEF team in Kano and Abuja to monitor and accelerate implementation of CRIBS project, including WASH facilities and the rehabilitation of PHCs and schools.  

UNICEF is seeking services of a consultant to achieve the following deliverables:

• Develop a simple tool for tracking the progress of CRIBS interventions (est. 30 schools and 24 PHCs), emerging issues, progress analysis tool, and summary reports.
• Visit construction sites regularly and track progress of construction work and develop a concise analytical summary report focussing on key achievements, emerging issues and lessons learned in the implementation of CRIBS interventions.
• Update UNICEF team and partners on any emerging issues in the implementation of CRIBS interventions in Kano and Jigawa states.
• Prepare an analytical paper outlining CRIBS innovations, success factors, challenges, and mitigation measures implemented by CRIBS programme.

The Consultant will work very closely with UNICEF team in Abuja and Kano, while leading all the technical processes on his/her own.

Key responsibilities:

The consultant is required to support the UNICEF team in Kano and Abuja in monitoring and documenting implementation progress, emerging issues and lessons learned in implementation of CRIBS project. S/he will provide high level support to State and LGA authorities and school/PHC management teams in CRIBS focus LGAs of Kano and Jigawa States. This will broadly encompass the facilitation of consultative meetings, participation in relevant UNICEF and stakeholders’ meetings, site visits for quality assurance and for tracking of progress, and analysis and synthesis of evidence to produce reports, analysis and production of high-quality report and documents.

Therefore, to complete the assignment, the consultant will be expected to work collaboratively with UNICEF team, and other CRIBS stakeholders in Kano and Jigawa States. Collaboration with the State Education and Primary Healthcare Development Authorities, State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agencies (RUWASSAs) and Education/Health/WASH Units/Departments at the Local Government Area (LGA) level as may be appropriate.

The consultancy is expected to undertake the following activities among others:

1. Develop a tool for tracking, recording, analysing, and reporting of implementation progress of CRIBS interventions (estimated 30 Schools and 24 PHCs), climate resilience of those interventions, emerging issues and lessons learned in implementation of CRIBS project.
2. Meet with key stakeholders at State and LGA level to discuss on progress, challenges and potential solutions.
3. Visits to the 15 LGAs (in Kano and Jigawa) to monitor progress of CRIBS interventions and to consult with the School and PHC management teams, users, WASHCOMs and officials of LGAs.
4. Develop high-level analytical summary of progress made, emerging issues, lesson learned and follow up actions. Also develop high quality PowerPoint slides for presenting the issues to UNICEF team and stakeholders   
5. Attend CRIBS related meetings at Kano/Jigawa and Abuja and share the progress and emerging lessons as and when required.

Task/Milestone

1. Develop a tool for tracking, recording, analysing, and reporting on progress of the CRIBS interventions (est. 30 schools and 24 PHCs) in close consultation with UNICEF team.

Deliverables/ Outputs:

• Brief inception report, including tools for tracking of milestones, analyzing progress summary (dashboard) and reporting formats.

1. Visit construction sites regularly and track progress of construction work and develop a concise analytical summary report focussing on key achievements, climate resilience, emerging issues and lessons learned in the implementation of CRIBS project based on visit to project locations in 15 LGAs (in Kano and Jigawa) to monitor progress and gather feedback interactions with the School and PHC management teams, users, and officials of LGAs.

Deliverables/ Outputs:

• Monthly reports (six) with graphs/charts, emerging issues, lessons learned, and site photographs (as evidence of visit to 15 LGAs)

1. Update UNICEF team and partners on any emerging issues in the implementation of CRIBS interventions in Kano and Jigawa states, including climate aspects.

Deliverables/ Outputs:

• Bi-weekly written updates (estimated six reports)

1. Prepare an analytical paper outlining CRIBS innovations, success factors, challenges and mitigation measures implemented by CRIBS programme (two drafts and final report incorporating UNICEF feedback)

Deliverables/ Outputs:

• • Two draft versions (Jan, Feb) report, and final lessons learned report – in a format pre-agreed with UNICEF.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

Advanced Degree in Construction Management, Development Studies, Economics, Public Health, Community Health, Public Administration, Engineering, Environment, Climate Change and any other related field. Some experience in climate resilience work would be highly desired.

Experience:

The consultant shall have a minimum of 8 years’ experience in national and sub-national work in the construction management with skills in climate resilient infrastructures development in rural contexts.

S/he should also have a solid analytical and writing skills in English language, with evidence of having done similar kinds of work at the national and sub-national level. Samples of written work could be asked for, if needed. Communication skills in Hausa language would be an added advantage.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English (verbal and written) is required. Fluency in Hausa language is an asset, and an added advantage.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. 

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible for ensuring that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. 

Please submit your all-inclusive financial and technical proposal along with the application. Application without these will not be entertained.