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The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does—in programmes, advocacy, and operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop, and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life—in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions—his or her rights are violated.
There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens—addressing inequity—not only gives all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also leads to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS), with emphasis on Birth Registration and Legal Identity, is one of the key programmatic priorities in the UNICEF Nigeria Country Office and is one of the West and Central Africa Region’s (WCAR’s) eight Key Results for Children (KRCs). UNICEF Nigeria has made significant progress in birth registration coverage, with a high annual rate of change. In 2023, UNICEF supported the Government of Nigeria through the National Population Council (NPC) to register over 11 million births of children under the age of five years.
Informed by the Regional KRC#7 Multi-Country Formative Evaluation (2021), Nigeria implements three priority strategies endorsed by the AU Africa Programme on Accelerated Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (APAI-CRVS) to accelerate universal birth registration: digitisation of systems, interoperability, and decentralisation of service delivery. UNICEF Nigeria's visionary support materialized in 2023 with the establishment of an advanced digital Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system. This transformative platform facilitated digital birth registration services at healthcare points and within communities across 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Complemented by a robust legal framework ensuring data protection and identity theft prevention, the integration of birth registration with primary health care services became a reality. Collaborative efforts with the National Population Commission and National Primary Health Care Development Agency enhance the synergy between civil registration and health, significantly advancing birth registration coverage nationwide.
Ensuring a fixed-term staff capacity at the country level to coordinate and manage the Nigeria CRVS and legal identity agenda is critical to sustaining results in Nigeria. This ensures high-quality technical assistance, management of country-wide programmes and initiatives, management of political and financial partnerships, and coordination between the different UNICEF sections, government ministries, and departments that contribute to this multi-sectoral agenda.
The Child Protection - CRVS Specialist, with a focus on Birth Registration, reports to the Child Protection Manager for guidance and general supervision. The Specialist supports the development and preparation of the Civil Registration programme(s) with emphasis on Birth Registration and is responsible for the management, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation of the Civil Registration programmes/projects within the country programme.
The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes. He or she facilitates the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable contributions to national and international efforts to create a protective environment for children against all harm and to protect their rights to survival, development, and well-being as established under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, international treaties/frameworks, and UN intergovernmental bodies. The Specialist contributes to the achievement of results according to plans, allocation, results-based management (RBM) approaches and methodology, and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework.
Key Functions / Accountabilities
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
1. Support to Programme/Project Development and Planning
2. Programme Management, Monitoring and Delivery of Results
3. Technical and Operational Support to Programme Implementation
4. Networking and Partnership Building
5. Innovation, Knowledge Management and Capacity Building
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education:
An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.
Experience:
Language Requirements:
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values.
UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
During the recruitment process, candidates are tested following the competency framework. Applicants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the competency framework and its different levels.
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 race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. Flexible working arrangements are strongly encouraged.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination.
All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. Additional information may be requested.
Remarks:
This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes, as it involves direct contact with children and is a safeguarding response role. Additional vetting and assessment may include enhanced criminal background checks.
UNICEF’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to delivering the best results for children. Eligible and suitably qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Appointments are subject to medical clearance, visa issuance by the host country (facilitated by UNICEF), and inoculation requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2. Government employees may be required to resign prior to taking up an assignment. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer if these requirements are not met within a reasonable period.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Method of Application: Click on this link to get detailed information and apply