Country Lead, Nigeria - Women's Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) Dividend, Policy & Systems Programme

Nigeria Country Lead

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Background/Programme Information Women’s Integrated Sexual Health (WISH)-Dividend is FCDO’s flagship sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) programme in Africa, with three components: WISH2, Policy and Systems (P&S), and Evidence and Learning. WISH P&S is a demand-led, problem-driven technical assistance (TA) programme supporting governments to tackle policy, financing, and institutional bottlenecks that constrain progress on human development, with a focus on demographic transition (DT) and SRHR outcomes. WISH P&S – delivered by Palladium and its consortium partners PRB, EngenderHealth, and BBC Media Action

• works closely with FCDO Posts to agree its government-aligned TA priorities and delivers using problem-driven iterative adaptation, with a focus on testing, learning, and adapting. Launched in January 2025, WISH P&S operates across seven countries: DRC, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Position Details The Nigeria Country Lead (CL) will serve as the primary representative of the programme in-country and the principal relationship manager for engagement with FCDO Post and government. S/he will oversee the development and implementation of consecutive annual country workplans in alignment with FCDO in-country and government partners. Through their oversight of workplan TA activities and direct delivery, they will be responsible for the timely and high-quality achievement of deliverables, logframe targets, and institutionalisation and sustainability principles. They will likewise hold responsibility for financial management, including through the provision of high-quality inputs into forecasting, spend monitoring, and cost control measures. They will report directly to the Team Leader and work in close collaboration with other country CLs, P&S partners, and broader MEL, programme, and financial management colleagues. In this way, they form part of a unified, collaborative team that upholds the one-team approach across all WISH P&S countries.orm part of a unified, collaborative team that upholds the one-team approach across all WISH P&S countries.

Primary Roles and Responsibilities

• In close consultation with government partners and FCDO in-country, design consecutive annual workplans (AWPs) based on problem-driven iterative adaptation principles; negotiate, revise, and finalise inputs to costed workplan activities/TAs following consultations.
• Facilitate effective collaboration between FCDO, government stakeholders and technical partners , ensuring that TA remains government-aligned while also responding to FCDO strategic priorities and evidence needs. Ensure that each TA contributes to sustainable change beyond the life of individual assignments.
• Provide technical and strategic leadership to translate AWPs into practice through the development of TA TORs , including articulating consultant requirements and institutionalisation and sustainability strategies. Ensure full review of TORs with FCDO post and government counterparts.
• Provide end-to-end technical oversight of all agreed AWP TAs, including ensuring progress towards all deliverables and logframe milestones. This includes maintaining a technical and financial tracker for all country activities (to be shared with FCDO), overseeing/managing short-term consultants, quality assuring all deliverables, and generally maintaining the highest standard of technical delivery from TA start to finish.
• Serve as the key liaison with FCDO post and national stakeholders , engaging each in the TA design, delivery, and closure process. This includes providing bi-weekly updates on AWP progress to FCDO and generally anticipating client needs, as well as carrying all government partners along the implementation process.
• Proactively collaborate with the other CLs, the Operations Team, and consortium partners to ensure synergy, learning, and adaptation across the programme.
• Represent WISH Dividend P&S at senior-level policy dialogues, donor coordination platforms and strategic forums , building trusted relationships with government officials, development partners and other key influencers.
• Track and mitigate all risks with the potential to affect TA delivery; adapt plans based on contextual changes and escalate to Team Leader as needed.
• Support the MEL, Knowledge Management, and Operations teams in any requisite data/information collection, technical and financial reporting, and identification of success stories.
• Be responsible for financial management, including forecasting, spend monitoring, and cost control measures , and hold direct accountability for country-level budget development, forecasting, expenditure management, and delivery of value for money in line with FCDO requirements.

Required Experience & Skills

• Significant demonstrated experience in the leadership and management of large, complex donor-funded programmes in Nigeria, with a preference for TA-based programmes in health (particularly with a demography focus), including for FCDO.
• Proven technical knowledge and understanding of demography/DT and SRHR in Nigeria, including key policy and systems bottlenecks in these areas.
• Proven understanding of donor compliance, reporting, and value for money requirements.
• Demonstrated experience engaging effectively with senior government stakeholders, donors, and partners in Nigeria; strength of government relationships and network a key asset.
• Strong track record of managing budgets and financial performance.
• Experience managing and working with multidisciplinary teams and consortium arrangements.

Essential Competencies

• Ability to analyse and navigate complex political, institutional and stakeholder dynamics, identify opportunities for influence, and provide credible strategic advice to government and donor stakeholders.
• Strategic leadership: Ability to set direction, prioritise, and drive delivery in complex environments Programme management: Strong expertise in results-based management, adaptive programming, and risk management
• Financial acumen: Ability to manage budgets, forecasts, and financial risks effectively Stakeholder engagement: Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, with experience working at senior levels
• Partnership management: Ability to build and manage effective partnerships across diverse stakeholders
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, including reporting to donors
• Problem-solving and adaptability: Ability to navigate uncertainty and respond to changing contexts