National Individual Consultant: Development of a National Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Implementation Manual, Training Modules and Curriculum Package for Nigeria, NOC

Nigeria has domesticated the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda through the National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security, under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and partners. The YPS agenda recognises young women and men as critical actors in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, social cohesion, civic participation, protection, partnership, and disengagement and reintegration.

UNFPA Nigeria, through the SAFEYOPS/YPS programme, is supporting the Federal Government to move the YPS agenda from policy commitment to operational implementation. State-level inception and contextualisation processes have shown the need for practical, standardised, government-owned guidance that can be used by federal and state ministries, Youth Development Centres, Technical Working Groups, youth-led organisations, education actors, justice/protection actors, information and communication structures, and implementation partners.

The proposed assignment will therefore support the development of a National YPS Implementation Manual, accompanying training modules, and a curriculum package that can be adapted for state-level implementation, non-formal learning platforms, Youth Development Centres, peer education structures and, where appropriate, education-sector pathways in collaboration with UNESCO and relevant authorities.

The purpose of this consultancy is to develop a practical, youth-centred, gender-responsive and conflict-sensitive National YPS Implementation Manual and associated training/curriculum package for Nigeria, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development with technical support from UNFPA and relevant partners.

The consultancy will translate the National YPS Framework, UNSCR 2250/2419/2535, the AU YPS framework and relevant UN programming guidance into operational tools, training content, state contextualisation templates, facilitator resources, participant materials and rollout guidance for federal, state and community-level implementation.

The consultant will:

• Review and synthesise existing national, regional and global YPS frameworks and relevant education, youth development, peacebuilding, protection, gender and communication materials.
• Develop a National YPS Implementation Manual that operationalises the YPS National Framework for practical use by federal, state and community-level actors.
• Develop standardised training modules for government officials, youth development officers, YDC managers, TWG members, youth-led organisations, peace actors, protection/justice actors, information/communication actors, education actors and implementing partners.
• Work with UNESCO and relevant education stakeholders to develop a curriculum package for non-formal education, Youth Development Centres, peer educators, peace clubs, community learning spaces and possible education-sector integration pathways.
• Develop/Adopt practical tools and templates, including state YPS context mapping tools, stakeholder mapping matrix, action planning template, coordination organogram, training evaluation forms, M&E framework and reporting templates.
• Facilitate participatory consultations, pilot testing and validation with FMYD, UNFPA, UNESCO, IPCR, relevant MDAs, youth-led organisations, state representatives and civil society partners.
• Finalise editable, government-owned materials suitable for printing, digital sharing, training rollout and state-level adaptation.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will perform the following tasks:

Task 1: Inception and assignment design

• Hold inception meetings with UNFPA, FMYD and technical partners to clarify expectations, target users, approval process, state-level application, UNESCO collaboration and timelines.
• Prepare an inception report with methodology, workplan, manual outline, stakeholder engagement plan, validation approach and quality assurance framework.
• Agree the practical boundaries between manual development, training module development, curriculum design and any formal education approval process.

Task 2: Desk review and gap analysis

• Review the Nigeria YPS Framework, UNSCR 2250/2419/2535, AU YPS framework, UN YPS programming guidance, SAFEYOPS documents and state inception outputs.
• Map existing manuals, curricula, training materials and tools on youth development, peacebuilding, civic participation, protection, GBV, justice, education, communication and reintegration.
• Identify implementation gaps, duplication risks, unclear roles, missing tools, capacity needs and opportunities for alignment with government systems.

Task 3: Stakeholder and user mapping

• Identify intended users of the manual and training package, including federal MDAs, state ministries, YDC managers, TWGs, youth-led organisations, security/justice actors, education actors, media/NOA structures, CSOs and development partners.
• Analyse mandates, roles, influence, coordination relationships and training needs.
• Produce a stakeholder/user matrix showing who will use each component of the manual and training package.

Task 4: Development of the National YPS Implementation Manual

• Draft a practical manual translating YPS principles into step-by-step operational guidance for government and partners.
• Ensure the manual includes state contextualisation, youth-sensitive conflict analysis, meaningful youth participation, protection, prevention, partnership, disengagement/reintegration, education and peacebuilding, communication, safeguarding, coordination and M&E.
• Develop annexes with templates, checklists and practical tools for immediate use at federal, state and community levels.

Task 5: Development of training modules and learning materials

• Develop modular training content with learning objectives, session plans, facilitator notes, participant handouts, group work exercises, case studies, pre/post tests and evaluation forms.
• Ensure modules can be delivered as a 2-day orientation, 3-day technical training or 5-day Training of Trainers, depending on audience and resources.
• Develop slide content or slide deck outlines for each module where required.

Task 6: Curriculum package development with UNESCO and education actors

• Work with UNESCO and relevant education partners to align YPS content with peace education, global citizenship education, media and information literacy, life skills, civic education and non-formal learning approaches.
• Develop a curriculum framework for Youth Development Centres, peer educators, school peace clubs, community learning spaces and youth leadership platforms.
• Develop a pathway note for possible formal curriculum integration through the appropriate education authorities, where applicable.

Task 7: Consultations, pilot testing and validation

• Facilitate technical consultations with FMYD, UNFPA, UNESCO, IPCR, relevant MDAs, youth-led organisations and state actors.
• Pilot selected modules or tools with a small group of intended users to test clarity, relevance, timing and usability.
• Document feedback and produce a validation/pilot report showing how comments were addressed.

Task 8: Finalisation and knowledge transfer

• Revise and finalise all materials based on feedback.
• Submit final editable and PDF-ready versions of the manual, modules, curriculum package and tools.
• Conduct a final handover/briefing session for UNFPA, FMYD and technical partners on rollout and state-level adaptation.

Guiding Principles:

• Human rights-based and youth-rights approach.
• Leave No One Behind (LNOB), including PWDs, displaced youth, rural youth, out-of-school youth, young women and girls, and other marginalised youth groups.
• Meaningful, safe and inclusive youth participation and voice.
• Gender-responsive, age-responsive and conflict-sensitive programming.
• Do No Harm, safeguarding, ethical engagement and protection from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PSEAH).
• Survivor-centred and protection-sensitive approach where violence, abuse, GBV or justice issues are discussed.
• Evidence-driven, culturally grounded, practical and systems-oriented guidance.
• Government ownership, youth co-creation and intergenerational partnership.
• Alignment with UNFPA mandate, UNESCO education expertise and federal/state implementation systems.

1. Inception report with methodology, detailed workplan, refined scope, proposed manual outline, stakeholder engagement strategy, validation approach and quality assurance framework.
2. Desk review and gap analysis report covering National YPS frameworks and linkages, existing tools, implementation gaps and training needs.
3. Stakeholder/user mapping matrix for federal, state and community-level users of the manual and training package.
4. National YPS Implementation Manual with practical chapters, tools, checklists and annexes.
5. Training modules, facilitator guide, participant workbook, session plans, case studies, exercises, pre/post tests and training evaluation tools.
6. Curriculum package developed in collaboration with UNESCO/TWG stakeholders and education actors for non-formal education, Youth Development Centres, peer educators, peace clubs and community learning spaces.
7. State contextualisation toolkit, action planning template, coordination templates and YPS reporting/M&E tools.
8. Validation/pilot report showing stakeholder feedback and how comments were addressed.
9. Final editable and PDF-ready manual, modules, curriculum package, tools and rollout/handover brief.

Deliverables and Schedule

The assignment will be conducted over an indicative period of 60 working days with specific milestones as outlined in the deliverable schedule below

The consultant shall submit electronic copies of all reports, tools and materials in editable Word/PowerPoint/Excel formats and in PDF-ready formats where required.

• The consultant shall submit brief weekly progress updates during active drafting periods.
• Bi-weekly progress presentations shall be made to UNFPA/FMYD and the technical review group.
• All drafts shall be submitted in editable formats for technical review and consolidation of comments.
• The consultant shall maintain a comment-response matrix for all substantive feedback received.
• Final payment shall be subject to acceptance of all deliverables by UNFPA and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.

The consultant will work under the overall guidance of the UNFPA Resident Representative and direct supervision of the UNFPA Youth Focal Point.

A technical review group should be constituted to provide quality assurance and may include representatives from the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, UNFPA, UNESCO, the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), the National Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security/youth-led organisations, relevant state ministries of youth development, and sector representatives from education, justice/protection, information/communication and security, as appropriate.

UNFPA and FMYD will facilitate access to relevant documents, stakeholders and validation platforms. The consultant will be responsible for preparing materials, documenting discussions and incorporating agreed feedback.

• Home-based with possible travel to Abuja and selected states for consultations, pilot testing, validation or handover, as applicable.
• Any travel must be agreed in advance and will be covered in accordance with UN travel policies and security guidelines

• The consultant must adhere to UNFPA ethical standards, safeguarding requirements, confidentiality, informed consent and respect for cultural sensitivities.
• Youth participation processes must be safe, inclusive, voluntary and non-tokenistic, with attention to power dynamics between adults and young people.
• The consultant must apply Do No Harm and conflict-sensitivity principles in all consultations, case studies, tools and training materials.
• Any discussion of GBV, violence, justice, protection, trauma, detention, reintegration or other sensitive issues must be handled using survivor-centred and protection-sensitive approaches, including appropriate referral information where needed.
• The consultant must ensure data protection and must not collect unnecessary personal or sensitive information from young people or stakeholders.
• UNFPA has Zero Tolerance to PSEAH.

Academic Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, Development Studies, Education/Curriculum Studies, Youth Development, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Law, Gender Studies, International Relations or related field.

Professional Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience for the lead consultant in YPS, peacebuilding, youth development, governance, conflict prevention, education/curriculum development or related areas.
• Demonstrated experience developing manuals, training modules, facilitator guides, curricula, toolkits or operational guidance for government, UN agencies, CSOs or development partners.
• Strong understanding of Nigeria’s youth development, peace and security, governance, protection and education context.
• Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations with government, youth-led organisations, civil society, UN agencies and development partners.
• Experience applying human rights-based, gender-responsive, LNOB, safeguarding and conflict-sensitive approaches.
• Experience working with federal/state government systems in Nigeria is an advantage.
• Experience working with UNESCO, education-sector actors, peace education, civic education, media and information literacy or non-formal education is an advantage.

Competencies

• Strong analytical, facilitation, curriculum design and technical writing skills.
• Ability to translate policy frameworks into practical tools, templates and training materials.
• Ability to align content with national strategies, global YPS guidance, UNFPA mandate, UNESCO education priorities and donor expectations.
• Strong stakeholder management and ability to work across diverse cultural, political, ethnic, religious and youth contexts.
• Excellent documentation, presentation and validation facilitation skills.
• Ability to deliver high-quality outputs within agreed timelines

Language

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Working knowledge of major Nigerian languages is an added asset, especially for testing tools with diverse youth groups.

• UNFPA and FMYD will provide relevant available documents, including YPS policy documents, programme plans, state inception outputs and existing tools where available.
• UNFPA/FMYD will facilitate access to government counterparts, UNESCO, IPCR, youth-led organisations, CSOs, state actors and other relevant partners.
• UNFPA/FMYD will support convening of technical consultations and validation meetings, subject to approved programme arrangements.
• The consultant will work with its own laptop, software, communication tools and other equipment required to complete the assignment.
• All materials developed under this assignment will be cleared by UNFPA/FMYD and will remain the property of UNFPA/FMYD/government as applicable.

Payment will be made based on accepted deliverables:

All payments shall be subject to satisfactory completion and acceptance of deliverables by UNFPA/FMYD and compliance with applicable UNFPA procedures.