Population and Data Specialist UNFPA Nigeria (Abuja)

The specialist heads UNFPA Nigeria’s upstream work on population dynamics, demographic data and evidence-based development planning. They report to the Deputy Representative and deputise for them when absent.

The role drives Outcome 4 of the UNFPA Strategic Plan 2026–2029: helping countries adapt to demographic change through evidence- and rights-based policies. It sits alongside UNFPA’s three other outcomes: ending unmet need for family planning, preventable maternal deaths, and gender-based violence and harmful practices.

Working closely with the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the specialist helps government, parliament, donors, UN agencies, civil society and academia put population data at the centre of planning and financing. Nigeria’s context makes this urgent: fertility is falling slowly, maternal mortality and unmet need for family planning remain high, and the population is young and growing fast. Harnessing the demographic dividend depends on these trends being built into national and sectoral plans.

Key responsibilities

1. Strategic policy leadership

• Lead UNFPA’s engagement to integrate population dynamics into national development planning.
• Lead high-level policy dialogue with government, the UN and development partners so that UNFPA and ICPD priorities shape national plans and frameworks such as the CCA, UNSDCF, HNA and HRP.
• Contribute to designing, implementing and reviewing the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, including through thematic groups and joint programmes.
• Use population data and demographic intelligence to adapt global and regional frameworks to Nigeria and to craft evidence-based advocacy that is sensitive to the political and social context.
• Help programme teams track Nigeria’s commitments under global, regional and national frameworks, and strengthen accountability for progress on the ICPD Programme of Action.
• Produce white papers, policy briefs, briefing notes and infographics tailored to their audience.
• Design and run a political engagement strategy with key ministries (Finance; Budget and Economic Planning; Health and Social Welfare; Education; Youth Development; Women Affairs), international financial institutions, academia, civil society, and religious and traditional leaders.
• Build relationships with media and journalists; support briefings, visibility events and partner field visits.
• Represent UNFPA in strategic forums and coordination mechanisms, and support the Delivering as One approach.

2. Demographic intelligence, data and foresight

• Oversee UNFPA support to the national census, population-based surveys and civil registration and vital statistics, including technical assistance, funding and digital innovation.
• Strengthen national and sectoral information systems, including the National Health Management Information System (NHMIS) and the GBV Information Management System (GBVIMS).
• Build national capacity to collect, analyse and use disaggregated data for policy and for tracking commitments.
• Promote demographic foresight to make the case for investing in young people and harnessing the demographic dividend.
• Support migration-aware planning that reflects the rights and needs of migrants, displaced people and host communities.
• Help government use demographic and geospatial data to assess climate and humanitarian vulnerability and integrate SRHR and gender equality into adaptation plans.
• Lead production of analytical reports, demographic profiles and policy products that advance all four Strategic Plan outcomes.

3. Programme leadership and implementation

• Support country programme design, implementation, monitoring and reporting, and guide implementing partners on effective practice.
• Serve as UNFPA’s liaison with the Ministries of Finance and of Budget and Economic Planning, other MDAs and civil society, keeping management informed of the national context.
• Support evaluations of the UNSDCF, the Country Programme and individual projects.
• Manage Population and Development projects end to end, including budgeting, financial management, monitoring and donor reporting.
• Foster collaboration across thematic units and between national and sub-national levels.
• Champion knowledge management: document lessons and good practice and promote scale-up, including through South–South cooperation.

4. National capacity development

• Oversee implementing partners’ activities and delivery across all units, and coordinate capacity assessment and building.
• Provide day-to-day technical support to federal, state and local government, civil society and academic partners.
• Coordinate capacity development strategies at national and sub-national levels.
• Recommend technical assistance priorities based on ongoing analysis of demographic, socio-economic, cultural and political trends.

5. Resource mobilisation and partnerships

• Support engagement with government, UN agencies, donors, civil society, academia and the private sector on priority investments, including joint programmes under UN Reform.
• Coordinate the country office’s Resource Mobilisation and Partnership Strategy and document good practice.
• Identify domestic and partner funding to broaden financing for the ICPD agenda in Nigeria.
• Lead the technical content of proposals, project summaries, conference papers and donor profiles; take part in donor meetings.
• Support efficient management and reporting of core and non-core funds.
• Contribute human-interest stories, field updates and social media content on UNFPA’s results.
• Conduct budget and expenditure analyses, investment cases and cost-of-inaction studies so that SRHR, gender equality and population issues are properly funded in national budgets.

Other duties may be assigned by the Representative, Deputy Representative, Regional Office or Headquarters.

Qualifications and experience

Education

• Master’s degree in demography, population studies, statistics, geography, economics, public health, sociology, development studies or a related field, with an emphasis on demography.
• A first-level university degree in one of the same fields.
• Programming experience is required.

Experience

• At least 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in population and data, with sound knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Strong results-based programme management experience, especially in strategic planning and capacity building.
• Experience with large-scale national surveys and censuses.
• Proven ability to produce high-quality policy analysis, papers and briefs.
• Understanding of development planning and policy processes.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in standard office software and corporate IT systems.
• Self-motivated and proactive; works well independently and in teams.

Desirable

• Previous UN experience and an understanding of the human rights dimensions of population and data.
• Experience in national or sectoral policy dialogue, particularly in the context of UN Reform, joint programming and the changing aid environment.

Language

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

What UNFPA offers

A competitive net salary inclusive of rent, plus health insurance and other applicable benefits. UNFPA values gender equality, diversity, teamwork, integrity and work–life balance. Women and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.