Save the Children Nigeria Fresh Recruitment [5 Positions]

Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children in need, with programs in over 120 countries, including the United States. We aim to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives by improving their health, education and economic opportunities. In times of acute crisis, we mobilize rapid assistance to help children recover from the effects of war, conflict and natural disasters. Each year, we and our partners reach millions of children in communities around the world. Join our dedicated and diverse staff in their work to improve the well-being of children everywhere.

We are recruiting to fill the following vacant positions below:

 

Job Title: Senior Finance Manager – Budgeting Planning & Control
Location: Abuja

Role Purpose

• The primary function of the Senior Finance Manager is to support the Director of Finance in ensuring SCI Nigeria Country program compliance with Save the Children’s accounting policy, donor requirements and generally accepted accounting principles through the development and implementation financial policies and procedures.


• S/he is responsible for accurate, complete and reliable financial information is maintained in the Country program financial system, and there exists effective control procedure. And also to provide expert support and advice to regional Hubs, Sub offices, SMT and budget holders.


• S/heWorks with the FD in establishing and implementing short- and long-range departmental goals, objectives, and work plans for direct supervisory area.


• S/he has to incorporate the highest standard of donor requirements into CP accounting process. And s/he is responsible for Budget vs actual Review, plan and entered into Agresso, Country offices retain and can access on demand a valid supporting document for every transaction (securely filed and stored for the minimum period required).


• In addition, S/he is expected to manages the Country Program financial systems(Agresso) and provide Hubs and sub offices  monthly updates, prepares annual plan and budget submissions before 31 January, ensures  timely  preparation and audit of SCI Nigeria  annual Statutory account for submissions before 31 March.


• S/he is responsible for staffing, coaching and mentor staff, providing equal and relevant opportunities for professional and career development.

Key Areas of Accountability
Planning and Budgeting:

• Assist the Director of Finance (FD) in supporting the management /administration of the Country Office resources and its sub-offices including (a) the formulation of country work program and resource allocation, (b) providing effective support and guidance to the Senior Management Team and other key program staff during planning and allocation exercises; (c) monitoring implementation of donor agreements and resource utilization. Highlight variances, provide analyses and recommend resolution or reallocation of resources


• Participate in the Identification and effective management of all key risks, especially financial, related to delivering the Country Office program.  Support the FD in the development of mitigation plans at proposal stage


• Ensure correct level of budget authority exists within Country Office


• Support the FD in management of  financial aspects of budget development for new proposals


• Ensure appropriate and adequate emergency finance and grants procedures are detailed in the Country Office Emergency Preparedness Plan in order to enable rapid scale up


• Ensure budget holders understand their responsibilities (e.g., through training)


• Ensure sub-offices receive adequate support to operate efficient accounting systems, including timely receipt of monthly budget variance analysis by budget holders, timely answers to queries and scheduling tasks and deadlines


• Provide support as delegated to Director of HR/Support Services to establish equitable staff compensation policies and practices within the approved budget and donor requirements

Financial Accounting, Reporting, and Control:

• Manage the Country Office financial systems and provide the SMT and all budget holders a monthly update on the budget variance analysis and led the monthly finance meeting


• Submit timely financial reports to centre, Regional Office and donors as required


• Ensure that effective systems are put in place, and regularly reviewed, to allow adequate financial management and control including:
  
  • Annual accounts and tax statement preparation;
  
  
  • Accounting and management information systems;
  
  
  • Cash and cash flow management and control in particular gain/losses on currency exchange;
  
  
  • Financial procedures during emergency responses, including meeting all relevant responsibilities in the Rules and Principles for Emergency Response;
  
  
  • Expenditure procedures, especially around procurement;
  
  
  • Documentation of all controls and procedures;
  
  
  • Finance training for staff in the field and partners as necessary;
  
  


• Monitor accurate and timely submission of financial reports and attachments to members, donors and government regulatory agencies


• Coordinate submission of control reports, respond to findings and recommend resolutions or action plans


• Lead and participate in the development of finance policies and procedures to be able to maintain a well-financially controlled environment in both development and emergency contexts


• Coordinate and assist CD during any internal or external audits


• Support focal persons in conducting effective grants audits

Award Management:

• Monitor completion of financial reports for awards/contracts. Work with awards focal persons to ensure proper accounting and closing of books upon receipt of completed reports and documents from various sub-offices


• Coordinate the release of donor fund summaries from the members to ensure accurate and systematic accounting of grant transactions


• Provide guidance to finance and non-finance staff and coordinate efforts to ensure compliance with donor requirements


• Ensure timely and accurate information is provided through Award Management systems


• Oversee and monitor sub grantees/ grants as required per SC policies and procedures


• Develop sub-grantees through training and capacity building


• Ensure that donor financial reports and additive reports align

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development – Finance:

• Support the FD to ensure appropriate staffing within finance


• Ensure that all staff understand and are able to perform their role in an emergency


• Manage finance team; define expectations, provide leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluate direct reports regularly


• Support the FD to ensure the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff incorporates staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems into team building process.


• Establish result based system and follow up


• Ensure adequate segregation of finance duty within Country Office and Manage the performance of all Direct reports in the finance work area through:
  
  • Effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, measureable objectives, ongoing feedback, periodic reviews and fair and unbiased evaluations;
  
  
  • Coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities;
  
  
  • Recognition and rewards for outstanding performance;
  
  
  • Documentation of performance that is less than satisfactory, with appropriate performance improvements/ workplans
  
  

Core Competencies:

• Leading and inspiring others – Delivering results – Developing self and others – Problem solving and decision making – Innovating and adapting – Applying technical and professional expertise

Qualifications and Experience

• Recommended a minimum of 5 years management experience in a corporate or an NGO environment, of which three at a management level within the finance department of a national or international organization


• Experience with recent experience working in an emergency context


• CPA or equivalent degree (CA, ACMA, ACCA) strongly recommended


• Excellent understanding of business and financial planning including strategic modelling


• Excellent analytical skills – the ability to analyse complex financial data and design and produce effective management information


• Excellent experience of budgeting and budget management


• Excellent understanding of financial systems and procedures


• Strong business acumen and the ability to contribute to strategic decisions


• Excellent experience of computerised accounts packages, Excel, PowerPoint and Word


• Experience of general administration work


• Strong communication and interpersonal skills


• Ability to manage a complex and diverse workload and to work to tight deadlines


• Ability to build a small, proactive team, motivating staff and working collaboratively with colleagues and providing support and advice as necessary


• Willingness and ability to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies


• A full appreciation of the value of co-operation, both internationally and within a team environment


• Understanding of Save the Children’s vision and mission and a commitment to its objectives and values


• Written and verbal fluency in  English


• Adhere to SCI Values: Accountability; Ambition; Collaboration; Creativity; Integrity

 

Job Title: Partnership Manual and Framework Review Consultant
Location: Abuja

Background

• Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in over 120 countries around the world. Recognized for commitment to accountability, innovation and collaboration, our work takes us into the heart of communities, where we help children and families help themselves. We work with other organizations, governments, non-profits and a variety of local partners while maintaining our own independence without political agenda or religious orientation. Save the Children’s mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.


• Working in partnership is central to Save the Children’s Theory of Change, and the mission to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.SCI partnership is broadly build around three principles of value driven and empowering relationships, transparency and accountability, and mutual benefit.


• Save the Children as a global organization has a Partnership Framework with the purpose of ensuring a shared understanding of what partnership and partnering mean across the organization. The Partnership Framework aims to leverage SCI global capacity to bring consistency to the way SCI enter into and manage partnerships. Specially, The Partnership Framework aims to contribute to SCI breakthroughs, manage risk, and foster shared ownership. Save the Children works with a wide range of partner organizations, reflecting the varied country contexts globally. Context is crucial in determining the range and profile of partners. Save the Children Nigeria program works in partnership with government, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) the children and their families and communities to ensure full participation of and ownership by all stakeholders in programs and projects design and implemented in development programs as well as humanitarian response activities.


• To effectively respond to the rapidly growing Nigeria Country Program and partnership, Save the Children is looking for an experienced development professional consultant to work within the Nigeria Country Programme to review and contextualize SCI

Objectives

• The objective of this consultancy is to to review and contextualize SCI Partnership manual and Framework to support the capacity of Nigeria Country program in partnership management.

Scope of the Work
The consultant will be expected to.

• Review the Nigeria Country Program partnership functions across different types of partners including civil society, government, research institutions, private sector and media


• Review SCI partnership manual with a view to produce a Nigerian contextualized partnership manual.


• Conduct a desktop review of different pieces of SCI partnership manual and framework documents. The documents includes but not limited to:
  
  • Partnership Framework, including a presentation and a narrative description;
  
  
  • Partnership Principles and Essential Standards, developed in 2013;
  
  
  • Partnership Functions Matrix;
  
  
  • Partnership Practices Country Office Analysis Tool;
  
  
  • Partnership Tools Map; and
  
  
  • Partnership Management training course.
  
  

The aims of the reviews are to, in the context of partnership management in Nigeria:

• Clarify roles and expectations between the Country and partners.


• Provide clear Guidance to the Country Program in strengthening partnership management and practices.


• Clarify the synergies needed from Members and Country Offices for effective partnerships management.

Key Deliverables
The following deliverables are expected from the consultant:

• An Inception Report describing the work plan and approach (within 3 days of signing of contract)


• First draft partnership manual and framework clearly responding to the scope of this consultancy spelled out in number 3 above.


• Second draft partnership manual and framework integrating all observations and comments from SCI.


• End of Assignment Report (finalized copy of Save the Children Nigeria Partnership Manual and Framework)

Inputs:

• The consultancy will be for the period of 20 working days including preparatory, actual work and report writing time.

Methodology:
Save the Children Nigeria will:

• Provide initial detailed briefing to the consultants on the assignment.


• Make available to the consultant relevant documents on SCI partnership management, manual and framework.


• If necessary provide work (desk) space for the consultant at the Country office.


• Pay a daily fees of NGN50, 000 on successful completion of the assignment.

The consultant will:

• Be under the supervision of the Director of Awards and Compliance.


• Provide weekly progress brief to the Director of Awards and Compliance.


• Within 3 days of signing the contract, provide detailed work plan for the assignments.


• Review all relevant documents provided by SCI including those on oneNet relating to partnership management, manual and framework.


• Document level of efforts using Save the Children approved time recording form.


• Provide finalized and acceptable copy of SCI specific Partnership Manual and Framework.

Qualifications
The consultant will be selected based on demonstrated expertise in Nigeria context partnership management and reviews. Specifically, the successful candidate will have the following training skills, experience and abilities:

• Demonstrated previous experience of successful completion of similar assignment with references.


• Strong analytical and report writing skills is highly required.


• Should have very strong experience on partnership management issues and challenges in Nigeria.


• At least 8 years of development work experience.

 

Job Title: Fiscal Space Analysis Consultant
Locations: Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara & Yobe, JI, Nigeria
Job Type: Temporary

Introduction
Terms of Reference to conduct Fiscal Space Analysis for Nutrition in 5 states (Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara and Yobe):

• Every year in Nigeria one million children die before reaching their 5th birthday. This translates into the deaths of 2,740 children every day. Over a third of these deaths are linked to malnutrition. Statistics like this make Nigeria, along with six other countries, responsible for 50% of the global deaths of under-fives due to malnutrition. These death rates make it impossible for Nigeria, and Africa, to achieve Millennium Development Goal 4 by the target date of 2015.


• Working to Improve Nutrition in Northern Nigeria (WINNN) is funded by UK’s Department for International Development and implemented by UNICEF, Action Against Hunger (ACF) and Save the Children International (SCI), in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria and the State Governments of Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara. The overall objective of the project is to reduce mortality through decreasing the incidence and prevalence of under nutrition in Nigeria with focus on Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara States.


• WINNN programme aims to build the capacity of the state and LGAs to implement nutrition interventions as routine services through existing PHC structures and to use evidence-based advocacy to improve political commitment to, and government funding for nutrition interventions.


• WINNN’s goal is to improve nutritional status of children under five in Northern Nigeria with an expected outcome of nutrition interventions been delivered through routine health services, funded by the Government of Nigeria.

Justification

• The total cost required to operationalize the strategic plan for five years is estimated at 1.95 billion USD and the average annual cost is 391 million USD (Federal Ministry of Health, 2014). Although, the government of Nigeria has made commitments to increase funding for nutrition interventions; these commitments are often not followed through.


• Lack of resources and dwindling oil prices has impacted negatively on the release of funds for public project such as nutrition. Recent analysis by WINNN showed that budget release for nutrition was less than 5%.Thus it has become apparent that government will need to look at innovative financing mechanism for nutrition.


• In continuation to the costing done for nutrition, WINN will be conducting a fiscal space analysis for nutrition in target states. Although nutrition is a multidimensional phenomenon, earmarked funds across all sectors to scale up nutrition interventions are rare. Furthermore, support for budgetary commitment to sectoral nutrition activities are not considered priority in public expenditure. Inadequacy in political funding and resources has hindered the establishment of the necessary structures needed to scale up cost-effective nutrition interventions.


• Fiscal space as defined in the literature is said to exist when a government has budgetary room to increase spending, and can do so without impairing fiscal solvency, i.e. the government’s present and future ability to cover its recurrent expenditures and service its debt.


• In line with the general definition of fiscal space, fiscal space specifically for Nutrition refers to the ability of governments to increase spending for the sector without jeopardizing the government’s long term solvency or crowding out expenditure in other sectors needed to achieve other development objectives.

The purpose of this analysis will be to:

• Gain a  good understanding of innovative  financing mechanism required to enhance planning, improve resource allocation and mobilization for nutrition

Scope of Analysis

• The proposed analysis will look at options around


• Conducive macroeconomic conditions such as economic growth and increases in overall government revenue that, in turn, might lead to increases in government spending for health


• Re-prioritization of  nutrition within the government budget;


• Increase in nutrition  sector-specific resources, e.g., through earmarked taxation;


• Nutrition sector-specific grants


• An increase in the efficiency of existing government outlays.

Deliverables

• Detailed fiscal space analysis report for each of five WINN states


• Action-plans developed by each state for the implementation of recommendations from the analysis


• A monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of experience in Public health and health economics


• A degree in Public Health Nutrition will be added advantage


• Demonstrated evidence of similar work done for DFID,EU,USAID or other multinational agencies, INGOs, programmes or organizations

Timeframe and duration of the assignment:

• Interested consultant should submit detailed methodology showing timeline for proposed activity

 

Job Title: Training Facilitation Consultant
Locations: Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara & Yobe, Nigeria

Introduction
Terms of Reference for Facilitating Training for Nutrition CSOs on Budget, Policy, Project Monitoring and Public Expenditure Tracking and Development of Basic and Simple Monitoring Tools

• In continuation of the V&A and CSO capacity assessment conducted late 2015 and early 2016, Working to improve Nutrition in Northern Nigeria (WINNN) programme plans to further strengthen the CSOs capacity to monitor Nutrition budgets as well as other public expenditure on Nutrition in 3 WINNN implementing states – Zamfara, Katsina and Kebbi.


• It is believed that the Civil Society (CS) which includes but is not limited to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private voluntary organizations (PVOs), community based organizations (CBOs), civic clubs, trade unions, gender groups, cultural and religious groups, cooperatives, environmental groups, professional associations, academia, policy institutions, consumer organizations, the media, the SHoA are integral to the demand for good governance and accountability.


• This is based on the premise that people have a right to influence public choices that shape their lives; and since budgets remain the chief instrument by which governments make choices that affect the people, independent budget work by CSOs should be promoted.


• WINNN’s voice and accountability work stream is thus dedicated to the performance of oversight functions by CSOs, SHoA and media to encourage CS participation in monitoring and tracking public expenditure, project implementation and make government address pressing needs of the populace.

Justification:

• The organizational Capacity Assessment (OCA) conducted for Nutrition CSOs in WINNN implementing states in December 2015, revealed that CSOs working in nutrition lacked basic project monitoring skills and almost all lack the necessary basic monitoring skills and have no access to monitoring tools or templates required to discharge their oversight function. Where the tools were available, it is often clear that skills needed in their proper usage is lacking. Moreover, there is the basic challenge of practical monitoring being considered complex and difficult to undertake. This is compounded by most of the CSOs being active civil servants who are afraid of asking threatening questions which they fear might jeopardize their means of livelihood.


• WINNN’s strategy is to focus on CSOs in the Nutrition/Health sectors who have little or no monitoring experience and needs to have budget/policy/project monitoring and public expenditure tracking de-mystified and simplified. It is therefore important for these CSO to acquire skills needed for actual monitoring.  They also need to know how to develop basic and simple non-threatening monitoring tools. This is expected to ease or reduce tensions which might arise on the part of government in the process of monitoring and would enhance government’s cooperation and support.


• It is in recognition of this that WINNN is organising a capacity building workshop aimed at helping CSOs acquire basic skills of budget/policy/project monitoring and Public Expenditure Tracking.

Project Background:

• Working to Improve Nutrition in Northern Nigeria (WINNN) is funded by UK’s Department for International Development and implemented by UNICEF, Action Against Hunger (ACF) and Save the Children International (SCI), in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria and the State Governments of Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara. The overall objective of the project is to reduce mortality through decreasing the incidence and prevalence of under nutrition in Nigeria with focus on Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara States.


• WINNN programme aims to build the capacity of the state and LGAs to implement nutrition interventions as routine services through existing PHC structures and to use evidence-based advocacy to improve political commitment to, and government funding for nutrition interventions.

Methodology:

• The training sessions will be facilitated by the V&A Consultant and the training will last for 4 days per state and will adopt participatory approach with group work and plenary sessions and all workshop materials will be shared with participants.


• The training will be highly practical, participatory and interactive will utilize techniques that would simulate real-life situations.

Outcomes:

• By the end of the workshop, participants are expected to have acquired necessary knowledge and skills needed for practical work on budget/policy/project monitoring and the use of development of monitoring tools.


• Improved knowledge, information and understanding of participatory and inclusive budgeting in Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara states.


• Enhanced capacity (skills and competencies) of CSOs to engage with various levels of duty-bearers in budget process.


• Development of State specific action plans on participatory budgeting for the CSOs.

 

Job Title: Accompanying Advocacy Strategy Consultant
Locations: Jigawa and Zamfara, JI, Nigeria

Overview

• The Child Development Grant Programme – CDGP (DFID Funded) provides an unconditional cash transfer of 3,500 NGN per month for up to 70,000 pregnant women and women with children under the age of two (2) in Zamfara and Jigawa.


• It is a joint programme with Action Against Hunger (ACF). The programme is aimed at reducing the prevalence of stunting and infant mortality. There are 4 key outputs of the programme:
  
  • Output 1: Design and delivery a secure payments mechanism providing regular, timely cash transfers to 70,000 pregnant women and women with under-2s.
  
  
  • Secure payments mechanism providing regular, timely cash transfers to pregnant  women and women with under-2s
  
  
  • Output 2: Effective system for mobilisation, targeting and delivering complementary interventions established.
  
  
  • Output 3: Enhanced government capacities for and engagement in managing social protection and cash transfers in focus states.
  
  
  • Output 4: Evidence of cash transfer modalities and impacts provided to policymakers and practitioners at State and Federal levels.
  
  

Objectives of the Consultancy

• A key requirement of the CDGP is to secure increased political and institutional commitment to implement effective state-wide social protection programmes that ensures improved nutrition, food security and poverty reduction for women and children.


• Understanding the political dynamics of a state and how to engage stakeholders are of paramount importance to the programme. In June 2014 a political economic analysis (PEA) of the two implementing states was carried out providing the programme with a clear picture of state dynamics. In 2015 a state engagement and advocacy strategy was also drafted which provided a brief summary of the political intelligence in the two states. The changes in the political environment both national and state levels requires stronger analysis and review of the existing PEAs.  Therefore the primary objectives of the consultancy will be:
  
  • To update and strengthen the analysis in the PEA report of Jigawa and Zamfara drawing from existing reports and documents.
  
  
  • To develop an accompanying advocacy strategy that draws from the PEA and the state engagement strategy to help garner political and institutional commitments.
  
  


• The PEA will outline the critical political change in the two states and the political dynamics at play. The PEA report will be provided in a summary form of not more than five pages. The PEA report will also outline key political drivers, risk and critical assumptions to the institutionalization of the CDGP model in the two states.


• The updated advocacy strategy will extract from the current advocacy strategy and updated  analysis from the PEA. This document should also establish a clear pathway to mitigate potential risk factors outlined in the PEA.

Methodology
Stage 1 – Extract and summarize data:

• Collect data from all the relevant documents already existing within and outside the organisation. A desk review will be carried out utilizing the existing PEA report of the programme done in 2014 which has a good background of the political dynamics in the states.


• The state engagement and advocacy strategy and PEA for the CDGP and WINNN respectively will provide relevant background information to build on.


• The desk review will make sure all existing assessments of domains of stakeholders at national, state and LGA levels including donors, government, partners and politicians are considered.


• Review programme documents and identify priority issues in order to bring intended outcomes to fruition.

Stage2 – Work with Programme Team:

• Work with the programme team both at state and national level to collect any relevant information that may be missing from the desk review.  This may involve the team making important enquiries where necessary.

Stage 3 – Analyse the data and develop a causal framework:

• Using data already collected, develop a 10 page document with the first five pages providing a summary update of the PEA and the last five pages summarizing the advocacy/engagement strategy with clear details on strategic drivers and priorities.

Deliverables:

• A draft PEA report for the Child Development Grant Programme – not more than 5 pages


• A summarized advocacy/engagement Strategy and plan – narrative should not be more than 5 pages

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree


• A sound understanding of the political economy of Nigeria particularly Northern Nigeria (particularly Zamfara and Jigawa)


• Experience of developing advocacy and state engagement strategies


• An awareness of social protection and poverty reduction policies


• Previous experience in development of analytical reports and policy documents related to partnerships


• Ability to synthesize and analyze large amounts of information combining quantitative and qualitative data


• Excellent written English


• Knowledge of rights-based approach to programmes

Application Deadline: 22nd July, 2016.

How To Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply below

Note: This is an on-going process and applications will be reviewed on receipt with selection made once an acceptable candidate is identified.

Save the Children Nigeria Fresh Recruitment [5 Positions]