Social Protection Policy Advisor at Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

The Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (German Agency for International Cooperation) is an international enterprise owned by the German Federal government, operating in many fields across more than 130 countries.

In Nigeria, GIZ's portfolio includes among others, a programme to support the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in its regional integration goals. The programme aims to strengthen sector-specific capacities in the areas of Peace and Security, Customs and Trade as weir as Strategic Management and Organizational Development in the ECOWAS Commission.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Social Protection Policy Advisor

Vacancy No: 043B
Location: Yola, Adamawa
Employment Type: Full-time
Organization: GIZ Nigeria, SEPIN programme

Background
GIZ Solutions that Work:

• As a service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, we are dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world.
• GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment promotion, energy and the environment, and peace and security.
• The diverse expertise of our federal enterprise is in demand around the globe – from the German government, European Union institutions, the United Nations, the private sector, and governments of other countries. We work with businesses, civil society actors, and research institutions, fostering successful interaction between development policy and other policy fields and areas of activity. Our main commissioning party is the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
• The registered offices of GIZ are in Bonn and Eschborn. Our approximately 23,500 employees, almost 70 percent of whom are national personnel, work in around 120 countries (July 2020).
• GIZ has worked in Nigeria since 1974. Since 2004, GIZ has maintained a country office in the capital city, Abuja. Currently, 361 national and 66 international employees, 19 regional staff, 4 integrated specialists, and 3 development workers are working in the country (June 2020).

The Project
Social and Economic Participation of Returnees, IDPs, and the Host Population in North-East Nigeria (SEPIN):

• On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is implementing the programme "Social and Economic Participation of Returnees, IDPs, and Host Population in North-East Nigeria" (SEPIN). The main objective of the programme is to improve the economic and social participation of returnees, internally displaced persons, and vulnerable members of host communities in Adamawa State in a gender-responsive way.
• Adopting an integrational approach, the programme contributes to SDGs 1, 2, 5, 10, and 16 in accordance with the "leave no one behind" principle. It hopes to complement the humanitarian response to the crisis in the Northeast by going beyond a humanitarian short-term approach and focusing on a more long-term development perspective, through the institutionalization of gender-responsive participatory planning and provision of livelihood support.
• Addressing the situation of IDPs, returnees, and the host population, the Programme is primarily implemented at the LGA and community level to ensure direct benefit for the target groups. Through Community Development Planning (CDP), the Programme aims to strengthen the relationships between local communities, community leaders, government institutions, and civil society. Simultaneously, the Programme seeks to build the capacities of local and state governments, as well as civil society and community-based organizations, for improved service delivery. Alongside the CDPs, the Programme will set up and consolidate spaces and mechanisms where women can engage in dialogue to identify problems, needs, and priorities and voice their concerns to the leadership of their communities.
• The gender and governance interventions will be supported by livelihood activities in the agricultural sector, focusing on group initiatives that provide access to markets and improve conditions for economic participation.

Responsibilities & Tasks
Responsibilities:
Under the general guidance of the Head of Social Protection Component, and in close collaboration with the Senior Governance Advisor, the Social Protection Policy Advisor is responsible for the following:
Programme Planning & Implementation – Social Protection Policy Design & Development:

• Plan and/or provide technical assistance and operational support to set social protection program priorities, strategies, design, and implementation plans.
• Keep abreast of national/regional/international development priorities on social protection to enhance program management and delivery.
• Analyse key research studies, evaluations, and reports on social protection in Nigeria to identify and document lessons and produce analytical summaries for internal use and/or policy application.
• Support advocacy efforts and engagements with relevant government agencies, policymakers, and stakeholders in Adamawa State to generate demand for policies on social protection, social inclusion, and human capital development in the state.
• Facilitate legislative engagements for developing and approving a social protection legal framework with the Adamawa State House of Assembly.
• Support the design and development of contextualized social protection, social inclusion, and human capital development policy and legal frameworks in Adamawa State.
• Provide technical inputs to oversee drafting, peer review, validation, and institutionalization of social protection policies in Adamawa State.
• Facilitate high-level political advocacy and engagements, including legislative engagements, for domestication, approval, and implementation of social protection policies and legal frameworks in Adamawa State.
• Conduct capacity assessments and design and implement capacity-building initiatives for social protection actors and institutions in Adamawa State.
• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships through networking and advocacy with local/national governments, development and humanitarian partners, NGOs, funding organizations, and the private sector to reinforce cooperation and promote sustainable and broad results on social protection.

Tasks:
Knowledge Management, Monitoring, Visibility, and Other Duties:

• In close liaison with the M&E Advisors, support effective impact monitoring and reporting for the Components in line with the requirements of the commissioning parties (EU and BMZ).
• Support effective communication and visibility of the Programme in line with requirements of commissioning parties.

Other Duties / Additional Tasks:

• Perform other duties and tasks as requested by management.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
Qualifications:

• A University Degree in Social Sciences (Economics, Political Science, Public Administration, Social Statistics, Mathematics, Demography, or similar fields). A Master’s degree will be an added advantage.

Professional Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years of professional work experience in relevant thematic areas of the Programme (Social Protection, Social Policy, Governance, Policy Development & Design, Institutional Strengthening).
• Good knowledge of the Nigerian Social Protection context at federal and sub-national levels.
• Strong skills in policy design, policy advocacy, institutional strengthening, policy analysis, and development of strategic frameworks.
• Effective project management skills and experience managing or working in complex, multi-faceted projects.
• Ability to work in a dynamic, multidisciplinary, and highly political context.

Other Knowledge, Additional Competencies:

• Strong writing, reporting, and presentation skills.
• Proficient in performance-driven planning, monitoring, and reporting.
• Resourceful, resilient, and motivated, even in the face of setbacks or during periods of pressure.
• Self-motivated, performance-oriented, with good analytical ability.
• Solutionist orientation.
• Proficiency in Office 365 tools (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Teams).
• Proficiency in English is required. Fluency in Hausa and/or Fulfulde would be an asset.

Salary
According to GIZ salary scale for Band 4.

Application Closing Date
21st November, 2024.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and Letter of Motivation as one document with complete contact details to: [email protected] using the Job Title as the subject of the email.

Note

• Please include vacancy no. 043B in mail subject
• GIZ is an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity. All qualified candidates, regardless of disability, age, sex, ethnicity, race, and religion are encouraged to apply.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.