Social Development Adviser at Department for International Development
DFID Nigeria is responsible for managing the British Government’s contribution to development in Nigeria, with the objective of supporting government and development partners at federal and state levels to reduce poverty to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Background
Social Development adviser, Northern Nigeria office, Kano
This is an exciting opportunity for a bright, dynamic, experienced and committed Nigerian professional to become Social Development Adviser based in Kano, with frequent travel to Abuja and across the North.
She/he will promote gender equality and women’s empowerment, social inclusion, voice and accountability and poverty reduction. She/he will ensure DFID Nigeria’s work is informed by the realities of poor people’s lives.
She/he will play a key role in building strong relationships and influencing key actors in Kano and Northern states across a wide range of programmes and policy issues.
More specifically, the post holder will:
1. Provide social development (SD) advice and analysis for DFID programmes in Northern Nigeria in Governance, Growth, Health, Education, Nutrition, Water & Sanitation, Empowerment and Accountability and Gender Equality.
2. Play a leading role in generating and coordinating policy, data and evidence on social development issues in the North – particularly poverty and gender.
3. Support implementation and monitoring of key programmes with a focus on health programmes - Maternal and Child Care Health and Women for Health and Child Development Grants (CDG); empowerment and accountability through the State Voice and Accountability Programme (Savi), Mobilising for Development ( M4D).
4. Actively support DFID Nigeria’s big push on results for girls and women providing implementation support for DFID Nigeria’s Gender Strategy within the Northern Nigeria Team, as well as the Voices for Change programme. Develop an effective working relationship with Girlhub to promote adolescent girls’ empowerment.
5. Lead coordination and coherence of DFID Nigeria’s work on Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG).
6. Support mainstreaming of core social development agendas into DFID Northern Nigeria strategy, strategic discussion papers, analysis, results framework and six monthly reviews. Support DFID’s broader SD agenda and the work of the SD cadre.
7. Effectively influence the approach of Government officials, development partners, civil society and general public through developing effective relationships and representing DFID at high level policy and programme discussions in Northern Nigeria.
8. Help drive forward DFID policy and programme objectives in Kano State including on results, influencing, programme coordination and policy analysis working closely with the DFID Kano state representative.
9. Contribute to DFID Nigeria and DFID Northern Nigeria Office Management on corporate requirements for correspondence, briefings, reporting, preparations for high level visits, communications and core agendas e.g. Value for Money and Results.
Reporting line: The post holder will be a member of DFID Northern Nigeria Office, Kano, and the Governance and Social Development (GSD) Team in Abuja. She/he will jointly report to Deputy Head of DFID Northern Nigeria and the Senior Social Development Adviser in Abuja. At least 70% time will be spent on core SD agendas and up to 30% on broader Northern Nigeria team objectives.
Qualification and Experience
The successful candidate is expected to have the following qualifications, technical competencies and behavioural competencies.
Qualifications:
a. Minimum of a Masters level qualification from an internationally recognised University in Gender, Social Development or related Social Policy field.
b. Significant proven practical experience of providing social development advice to programmes and policy with development partners or service providers is essential
c. Experience of design, management budgets and results’ delivery of SD development programmes.
d. Proven cultural, social and political sensitivity of working in Northern Nigeria, including with girls and women, with a good working knowledge of Hausa.
Technical competencies:
Primary competencies
1. Experience of conducting social and political analysis and applying it to policy and programmes in Nigeria is essential
2. Understanding and application of poverty, vulnerability and exclusion to inform programmes and policy in Nigeria is essential.
3. Proven track record of understanding of the local context and influencing change is essential Specialist competencies
4. Ability to demonstrate a degree of specialist knowledge and results in at least one of the core areas: gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment; empowerment and accountability; social protection and cash transfers
Applied knowledge and skills
1. Ability to demonstrate the application of primary and specialist competencies to at least one of the following wider DFID development priorities:- delivering the MDGs; governance, justice and security; growth and private sector development; conflict and peace building.
Behavioural Competencies:
1. Make effective decisions: break down and simplify complex data, policy documents and similar information on social development issues; assess and interpret information to identify main issues and to inform non-technical colleagues.
2. Deliver at pace: ensure tasks are done to the required standard and deadlines; plan work to meet individual, team and office-wide objectives, achieve high quality and value for money.
3. Lead and Communicate: communicate clearly both orally and in writing, using appropriate language; communicate on a range of issues to diverse internal and external audiences.
4. Collaborate and Partner: excellent team player; work effectively with government, development partner, civil society and private sector stakeholders, including traditional and religious leaders; build good relationships for partnership, implementation, and support for DFID Programmes.
5. See the bigger picture: develop an in-depth understanding and knowledge of how the role fits and supports organisational objectives and wider public needs. Scan the political context and take account of wider impacts to develop long term implementation strategies that maximise opportunities and minimise risks.
Remuneration: DFID offers a competitive salary and benefit package. The current salary for this position (graded A2L) full time per annum is between N9, 479,244 and N20,508,178.00 inclusive of local taxes. DFID policy is that new recruits start at the scale minimum but an exceptional candidate maybe offered a higher salary and benefits package, with proportionate increase in the stretch of the job description.
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