National Consultant, ASWA III Systems strengthening and knowledge management, Abuja, Nigeria (Remote + travel), 6 months, #596032

Job Overview

UNICEF is seeking an experienced national consultant to support systems strengthening, knowledge management and evidence generation under the ASWA III programme in Nigeria.

The consultant will document promising programme practices, strengthen the systems used to measure the effects of WASH interventions on health and education outcomes, and support government institutions in advancing their sustainability commitments. The assignment will also contribute to federal government engagement connected to the Heads of State Initiatives (HOSI).

This consultancy combines remote work with travel to programme locations. Activities will cover ASWA III-targeted communities in Lere and Kagarko Local Government Areas of Kaduna State and Shelleng and Ganye Local Government Areas of Adamawa State.

Job Details

• Organisation: UNICEF
• Job Number: 596032
• Contract Type: Consultancy
• Contract Duration: Six months
• Duty Station: Abuja, Nigeria
• Work Arrangement: Remote with travel
• Programme Area: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
• Application Deadline: 14 October 2026, 11:55 p.m. West Central Africa Time

Purpose of the Consultancy

The assignment will help UNICEF and its government partners generate practical evidence, strengthen programme learning and improve the long-term sustainability of WASH services.

The consultant will provide recommendations that can be used to improve programme implementation during the remaining ASWA III period and support sustainable results beyond the programme.

Key Deliverables and Responsibilities

The consultant will be expected to:

• Develop four knowledge products documenting progress in climate resilience, WASH sustainability and gender-transformative programming.
• Establish relevant indicators for measuring the relationship between WASH interventions and health and education outcomes.
• Collect and organise baseline data for 2024, 2025 and 2026 using routine government monitoring systems.
• Generate evidence from ASWA III-targeted communities in Kaduna and Adamawa states.
• Support state governments in advancing and institutionalising priority actions contained in their sustainability plans.
• Assist the federal government in developing concrete activities for implementation from January 2026 to 2027 in response to the 2021 Sector-wide Sustainability Check.
• Support government engagement and initiatives related to HOSI.
• Contribute to preparations for the United Nations Water Conference scheduled for December 2026.
• Support the implementation and documentation of two to three priority actions from the Nigerian Youth–Government Collaborative Work Plan developed after the Kigali symposium.
• Support the finalisation and implementation of the Nigeria Water Compact.
• Produce practical learning and adaptive-management recommendations to improve programme delivery, effectiveness and sustainability.

Applicants should consult the official Terms of Reference for the complete deliverables, timelines and reporting requirements.

Education Requirement

Applicants must possess an advanced university degree—Master’s degree or higher—in at least one of the following areas:

• Public Health
• Community Health
• Public Administration
• Social Sciences
• WASH Engineering
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Another closely related discipline relevant to the consultancy

Required Professional Experience

Candidates must have at least seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in WASH and public health.

Applicants should also demonstrate:

• Experience supporting high-level government participation in international meetings and conferences.
• Expertise in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, including the design and implementation of data-management and data-collection tools.
• Experience using evidence and analysis to inform programme design, policy recommendations and strategic planning.
• Knowledge-management experience.
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Experience supporting the sustainability of WASH services.
• Experience working with government institutions, United Nations agencies, NGOs and community stakeholders.
• Experience operating in low-resource or development settings.
• Strong facilitation, communication and stakeholder-engagement capabilities.
• The ability to interact effectively with stakeholders at national, state and community levels.
• Strong analytical, synthesis and report-writing skills.
• The ability to produce evidence-based deliverables within demanding timelines.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

The assignment requires:

• A strong understanding of WASH systems strengthening.
• Knowledge of institutional arrangements, governance, financing, planning and monitoring within the WASH sector.
• Familiarity with approaches used to assess the sustainability of WASH services.
• Experience conducting gender-sensitive and inclusive data collection and analysis.
• Awareness of ethical and safeguarding requirements associated with research and data collection.
• A strong understanding of climate-resilient WASH.
• Knowledge of the relationship between WASH programming and gender equality.

Proficiency in qualitative or quantitative data-analysis tools is desirable.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Working knowledge of Hausa or another language relevant to the target communities in Kaduna and Adamawa is a strong advantage.

Desirable Experience

UNICEF will consider the following additional assets:

• Previous experience working in Northern Nigeria, particularly Kaduna or Adamawa State.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Sensitivity to the social and cultural circumstances of participating communities.

Application Documents

A complete application must include:

• An updated UNICEF Talent Management System profile.
• A current curriculum vitae.
• A cover letter.
• A separate financial proposal prepared using UNICEF’s specified template.
• A detailed technical proposal explaining the proposed methodology, work plan and timelines.

Applications submitted without a technical proposal will not be considered.

Candidates should use the financial proposal template and review the complete Terms of Reference provided on the official vacancy page before submitting their applications.

Selection and Safeguarding Information

Only shortlisted applicants will proceed to the next stage of the selection process.

Selected candidates will undergo reference and background checks, including verification of academic qualifications and employment history. UNICEF may request additional information when conducting these checks.

UNICEF maintains zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. Successful candidates must comply with the organisation’s child-safeguarding and professional-conduct standards.

Reasonable accommodation is available to applicants with disabilities during the recruitment process.

Important Application Notice

UNICEF does not charge application, processing, interview, appointment or training fees. Applicants should not provide bank-account information or make payments to anyone claiming to represent UNICEF recruitment.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should submit all required documents through the official UNICEF recruitment portal before 14 October 2026 at 11:55 p.m. West Central Africa Time.

Apply through the official UNICEF recruitment portal

Because the application requires both a technical proposal and a financial proposal, candidates should allow enough time to prepare and upload every document before the portal closes.