UNICEF International Consultant – Inclusive Education (Nigeria, Remote)

(Job No: 585932 | Location: Abuja / Remote | Duration: 12 Months | Deadline: 18 November 2025)

About UNICEF

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) works in over 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF’s mission is to save lives, defend rights, and help children reach their full potential—particularly those in the world’s most disadvantaged communities. Through its education, health, and protection programs, UNICEF strives to ensure that every child, everywhere, has access to quality learning opportunities and a better future.

Position Overview

Job Title: International Consultant – Inclusive Education
Job No: 585932
Location: Abuja (Remote with regular travels to Nigeria, including Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States)
Contract Type: Consultancy
Duration: 12 Months
Category: Education

This consultancy provides a unique opportunity to work with UNICEF Nigeria to strengthen inclusive education systems, particularly for children with disabilities in conflict-affected regions of the country.

Background

Nigeria is home to an estimated 206 million people, with 43% under the age of 14. By 2030, the number of children is projected to reach 126 million. The growing child population poses major challenges to the provision of equitable and quality education.

Despite progress in recent years, over 18 million Nigerian children remain out of school—10.2 million at primary level and 8.1 million at junior secondary level. Moreover, three-quarters of children aged 7–14 lack foundational literacy and numeracy skills.

In the North-East and North-West regions, insecurity caused by armed conflict and displacement has further deepened the education crisis, particularly for children with disabilities. Access, inclusion, and quality remain significant barriers.

Through the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) Multi-Year Resilience Programme II (MYRP II), UNICEF Nigeria aims to improve access and learning opportunities for children with disabilities by supporting both the Federal Ministry of Education and state governments in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa.

Purpose of the Assignment

The consultant will provide technical expertise to strengthen inclusive education policies, training, and implementation frameworks at both national and state levels. Working closely with UNICEF, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and state partners, the consultant will:

Conduct a comprehensive disability assessment to generate reliable data.
Identify barriers affecting children with disabilities in accessing education.
Develop scalable, evidence-based interventions to enhance inclusion.
Support partners to integrate inclusive practices across the education system.

Scope of Work

Under the supervision of UNICEF Education Managers in Abuja and Maiduguri, the consultant will:

Provide technical expertise to UBEC on implementing inclusive education policies for children with disabilities through three high-level technical meetings.
Support the Government to develop guidelines and operational protocols—aligned with national documents—to ensure the inclusion of children with disabilities in education (infrastructure, teaching, learning, and assessment).
Review and update teacher training materials on inclusive education in collaboration with UBEC.
Support state governments to domesticate and implement state-level inclusive education action plans.
Assist MYRP consortium partners to mainstream inclusive education across project-supported schools, offering mentoring, workshops, and high-level technical input.

Deliverables and Outputs

Task	Expected Output
Support Bay States to map existing referral pathways for children with special needs	Meeting minutes and mapped referral pathways submitted
Develop national and state-level inclusive education guidelines	Draft and final guidelines submitted
Review and update training materials for teachers	Updated training pack for teachers submitted
Provide technical support to consortium partners on inclusion	Short technical report submitted
Lead and present results of the disability assessment	Meeting minutes, assessment plan, and report submitted

Required Qualifications

Education:

Master’s degree in Education, preferably with a specialization in Inclusive or Special Education.
Additional qualifications in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are desirable.

Professional Experience:

Minimum 10 years of experience working in inclusive education at the global level.
At least 5 years of experience supporting inclusive education initiatives in developing contexts.
Proven expertise in designing and conducting assessments for children with disabilities.
Strong background in developing teacher training materials and capacity-building for Ministry of Education staff.
Experience leading high-level technical working groups and providing policy-level guidance.

Skills and Competencies:

Strong understanding of inclusive education frameworks and disability-inclusive pedagogies.
Proven ability to engage with government and development partners.
Excellent writing, facilitation, and analytical skills.
Fluency in English (both oral and written) is mandatory.

Duration and Work Arrangement

Contract Length: 12 months
Work Location: Remote, with regular travel to Nigeria (Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States) for field support and technical meetings.

Application Deadline

Closing Date: 18 November 2025
Time: 11:55 PM (West Central Africa Standard Time)

Late submissions will not be considered.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should:
CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE

Applicants are advised to prepare and upload the following:

Updated CV/resume
Cover letter highlighting relevant experience in inclusive education and consultancy work
Copies of academic qualifications and references

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Why Join UNICEF

Working with UNICEF means contributing to a mission that truly transforms lives. This consultancy offers the opportunity to:

Support national education reform in one of Africa’s most dynamic contexts.
Apply your expertise to ensure children with disabilities are not left behind.
Collaborate with global experts and local partners in education and inclusion.
Drive policy change and capacity building that has long-term impact.

By joining this assignment, you will play a direct role in ensuring that every child has the right to learn, grow, and thrive no matter their background or ability.

Organization: UNICEF Nigeria
Position: International Consultant – Inclusive Education
Contract Type: Consultancy (12 months, remote with travel)
Deadline: 18 November 2025
Apply Here: CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE