Nigeria’s central role in ECOWAS, its large population and strong economy is a strategic player in West Africa and in sub-Saharan Africa more generally. However, Nigeria faces several security challenges including low-intensity conflicts over resource wealth, crimes and kidnappings and in recent years, the onset of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East which poses the biggest humanitarian challenge in Nigeria. It has caused displacement, disruption of livelihoods, food insecurity, increasing rates of severe acute malnutrition, and severely weakened basic social services and protection mechanisms. The situation has been further aggravated by the involuntary return of IDPs from neighboring countries registered by the Nigerian Immigration Service in 2017. Amongst them, the most vulnerable are women, adolescents, older persons, child headed households who are exposed to high protection risks including gender based violence.

UN Women, with the support of the Government of Japan, is implementing a project on Protection, Empowerment and Resilience Building in Borno and Yobe States. The project will empower communities and build resilience through promoting social and behavior change including women’s empowerment to mitigate and address the root causes of GBV as well as promote access to information and services. It will support need-based and market driven income generating activities (IGAs) for vulnerable women with the necessary technical and financial support to empower women economically and reduce the risk of GBV. The project will also support male involvement and participation to promote positive behavior change to reduce GBV and put a strong focus on building the capacity of humanitarian actors to enhance gender mainstreaming in programming processes.

Under the strategic guidance of the UN Women Country Representative, with day-to-day reporting to the Deputy Representative, the Policy Specialist will facilitate the launch and kick-start the implementation of the Project, including establishing the requisite project oversight management structures in Borno and Yobe States and develop Terms of Reference for their effective operation. He/ She will manage the preparatory phase of studies to be undertaken (the assessment of the formal and informal judiciary system, a research on preferred and economically empowering livelihoods activities by women, and Mapping the level of representation of women in leadership committees). He/ She will develop TORs for the recruitment of consultants for these studies and support consultants with the requisite documents to facilitate desk reviews. The Policy Specialist will support the project team to roll out the project implementation plan, monitor activities and deliver timely reports. Additionally, He/ She will facilitate the process of developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be signed between UN Women and The Economic Community of West African States (The ECOWAS Commission). He/ She will develop an Action Plan for the operationalization of the MOU and a Proposal for resource mobilization for the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA).

• Facilitate the launch, initial consultative dialogue meetings and other processes to kick-start implementation of the UN Women PERD project
• Develop an implementation plan of the PERD project with timelines and milestones to be achieved within the project implementation period
• Establish the requisite project oversight management structures in Borno and Yobe States and develop Terms of Reference for their effective operation, including ensuring synergies with other humanitarian and development programmes
• Support the recruitment process of new staff for the project
• Develop TORs for the recruitment of consultants for the following studies: the assessment of the formal and informal judiciary system, a research on preferred and economically empowering livelihoods activities by women, and Mapping the level of representation of women in leadership committees
• Support consultants with the requisite documents to facilitate desk reviews on the above studies
• Provide technical support to the project team to facilitate the roll-out and implementation of project activities
• Support project monitoring activities and delivery of reporting requirements
• Facilitate the process of developing an MOU to be signed between UN Women and The ECOWAS Commission
• Elaborate an Action Plan for the operationalization of the MOU between UN Women and The ECOWAS Commission
• Develop a proposal for resource mobilization for the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA)

Key Deliverables

• A detailed costed concept note and plan for the launch of the PERD project
• An implementation plan of the PERD project with timelines and milestones to be achieved within the project implementation period
• TOR for project oversight management structures in Borno and Yobe States
• TORs for the recruitment of consultants for the following studies: the assessment of the formal and informal judiciary system, a research on preferred and economically empowering livelihoods activities by women, and Mapping the level of representation of women in leadership committees
• A signed MOU between UN Women and The ECOWAS Commission
• An Action Plan for the operationalization of the MOU between UN Women and The ECOWAS Commission
• A Resource mobilization proposal for the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA)

Key Performance Indicators

• Timely and quality technical advice and support
• Leadership in area of expertise in the region
• Quality reports and other strategic documents drafted and submitted in a timely manner
• Strong relationships with various partners and stakeholders
• Timely and quality resource mobilization and knowledge products
• Quality monitoring and reporting
• Increased awareness about UN Women’s work
• Increased cooperation and communication between UN Women and the humanitarian partners in Borno and Yobe States

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Functional Competencies

• Excellent knowledge of Gender, Humanitarian, Peace and Security issues, including in Nigeria
• Excellent project implementation, monitoring and Evaluation skills
• Excellent networking skills
• Excellent writing skills including the writing of policy papers, speeches, briefing notes
• Ability to interact with donors, identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills;
• Strong knowledge of programme development, implementation, results based management and reporting
• Ability to develop detailed operational plans, budgets, and deliver on results
• Ability to lead formulation of strategies and their implementation

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Peace and Security, human rights, international relations or other social science fields is required.

Experience:

• At least 5 years progressively responsible experience in designing and implementing programmes on humanitarian and women’s participation in politics and peace and security processes ideally with some experience in Africa
• Experience in project implementation, monitoring and evaluation
• Experience in proposal development, policy analysis, and strategic planning;
• Experience working with, and building partnerships with governments, donors and civil society organizations internationally and in the field;
• Technical experience of implementing women’s economic empowerment and livelihood projects
• Experience in working with women in politics is an asset
• Experience working with the UN is an asset;
• Experience working in Nigeria is an asset

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required;
• Knowledge of any other UN official working language is an asset;