Evidence Action has officially opened applications for the highly strategic and impactful position of Deputy Country Director in Nigeria for 2026. This senior leadership opportunity is designed for experienced professionals in international development, public health, program management, and government stakeholder engagement who are passionate about driving large-scale social impact across Africa.

The position is based in Abuja, Nigeria, and offers candidates the opportunity to work with one of the world’s leading evidence-driven global health organizations. The selected candidate will help lead and scale transformative health and development interventions that have already impacted hundreds of millions of people globally.

Professionals with strong leadership experience in multi-state program implementation, donor-funded initiatives, public health systems, and operational management are strongly encouraged to apply.

About Evidence Action

Evidence Action is a globally recognized nonprofit organization focused on delivering data-driven interventions that improve and save lives at massive scale. The organization specializes in identifying neglected global health issues and implementing solutions backed by rigorous academic evidence and operational efficiency.

The organization works closely with governments, partners, and local communities to ensure sustainable impact across multiple countries.

Currently operating in 11 countries with more than 900 staff members worldwide, Evidence Action has reached over 500 million people through innovative and evidence-based programs.

Evidence Action’s Global Impact

Evidence Action has built a strong reputation through several globally recognized interventions and programs.

Deworm the World Program

One of the organization’s flagship initiatives, Deworm the World, has delivered more than:

• 2 billion deworming treatments globally

The program has significantly:

• Reduced worm prevalence
• Improved child health outcomes
• Increased school participation
• Generated over $23 billion in estimated lifetime productivity gains

Safe Water Now Initiative

Through its Safe Water Now initiative, Evidence Action has:

• Saved the lives of more than 15,000 children

The program focuses on improving access to safe and clean drinking water in vulnerable communities.

Accelerator Program

Evidence Action’s Accelerator identifies and tests:

• Low-cost interventions
• High-impact health innovations
• Scalable public health solutions

The goal is to explore untapped opportunities capable of dramatically improving health outcomes in underserved populations.

Deputy Country Director Nigeria 2026 Position Overview

Job Title

Deputy Country Director (Nigeria)

Organization

Evidence Action

Job Type

Full-Time

Work Arrangement

On-Site

Location

Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Role Summary

The Deputy Country Director will serve as a senior member of Evidence Action’s Nigeria leadership team and will support the Country Director in overseeing the organization’s multi-state portfolio across Nigeria.

The successful candidate will:

• Lead strategic implementation efforts
• Strengthen operational systems
• Support program execution
• Coordinate stakeholder relationships
• Enhance organizational performance
• Manage teams and partnerships
• Drive sustainable impact across Evidence Action programs

The Deputy Country Director will also deputize for the Country Director during periods of absence and transition.

This role requires a highly strategic, people-centered, and operationally strong professional capable of translating organizational goals into measurable results.

Reporting Structure

The Deputy Country Director will directly supervise or coordinate with:

• Zonal Managers
• Policy and Government Relations Senior Associate
• Nutrition Program Manager
• Nutrition Associates
• Associate Manager MLE-D (dotted line)

Core Responsibilities

The role combines strategic leadership, operational oversight, stakeholder engagement, financial management, and team development.

1. Strategy and Operations

The Deputy Country Director will help shape and execute Evidence Action’s strategy in Nigeria.

Key Duties Include:

• Supporting development of country strategies and annual plans
• Translating strategic goals into operational activities
• Managing implementation timelines and deliverables
• Resolving operational and programmatic risks
• Ensuring data-driven decision-making
• Supporting organizational compliance requirements
• Leading country operations in the absence of the Country Director

The role requires strong systems thinking and strategic execution capabilities.

2. Program Performance Management

The selected candidate will oversee implementation quality across multiple active states in Nigeria.

Responsibilities Include:

• Monitoring service delivery standards
• Reviewing monitoring and evaluation data
• Identifying performance gaps
• Implementing corrective actions
• Coordinating with national and sub-national government stakeholders
• Supporting evidence-based programming
• Conducting field visits for implementation oversight
• Supporting pilot interventions and new program integration

The candidate will ensure all interventions align with Evidence Action’s evidence-based operational model.

3. Team Leadership and Organizational Culture

Evidence Action is seeking a leader capable of building high-performing and mission-driven teams.

Team Leadership Duties:

• Mentoring and supervising country team members
• Promoting accountability and empowerment
• Supporting recruitment and onboarding processes
• Encouraging knowledge sharing and continuous learning
• Embedding organizational values into team culture
• Developing workforce capacity and performance

The ideal candidate should possess excellent interpersonal and people management skills.

4. Resource and Financial Management

The Deputy Country Director will support financial planning and donor accountability efforts.

Key Financial Responsibilities:

• Supporting annual budgeting processes
• Conducting budget-versus-actual analyses
• Monitoring financial controls and compliance
• Supporting donor reporting requirements
• Encouraging cost-conscious program management
• Assisting with funding proposals and due diligence documentation

Experience managing donor-funded programs is considered highly valuable for this role.

5. Government and Stakeholder Engagement

Government collaboration is central to Evidence Action’s operational approach.

The Successful Candidate Will:

• Represent Evidence Action at government forums
• Engage with ministries of health and stakeholders
• Maintain strategic partnerships
• Coordinate with civil society organizations
• Support advocacy and partnership strategies
• Identify potential program implementation partners

Strong government relations experience is essential.

6. New Program Development

The Deputy Country Director will also contribute to innovation and expansion initiatives.

Responsibilities Include:

• Supporting pilot interventions
• Conducting landscape analyses
• Exploring high-potential interventions
• Assisting in proposal development
• Engaging prospective donors
• Supporting program scale-up efforts

This component of the role is particularly suited for professionals passionate about innovation in public health and development.

Key Competencies Required

Evidence Action is seeking candidates with strong technical, strategic, and leadership competencies.

Core Competencies Include:

• Strategic thinking
• Operational execution
• Team leadership
• Program performance management
• Budget and financial oversight
• Stakeholder engagement
• Donor relations
• Problem-solving
• Risk management
• Cross-cultural communication
• Collaboration and teamwork

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

Applicants must meet several important academic and professional requirements.

Educational Requirements

Candidates must possess:

• An advanced degree in:
  • Public Health
  • Health Management
  • Social Sciences
  • Development Studies
  • Or related fields

Professional Experience Requirements

Applicants should have:

• At least 7 years of progressively responsible program management experience
• Minimum of 3 years in a senior leadership role
• Experience managing multi-site programs in Nigeria or Sub-Saharan Africa
• Strong team leadership experience
• Experience using data for program decisions
• Experience managing donor-funded projects

Preferred Experience

Candidates with the following experience will have an added advantage:

• Public health programming
• Nutrition programs
• WASH initiatives
• Neglected tropical disease programming
• Malaria interventions
• USAID-funded programs
• Gates Foundation projects
• GiveWell-funded initiatives
• FCDO-supported projects

Language Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be fluent in English

Additional advantage for:

• Hausa
• Yoruba
• Other Nigerian languages

Employee Benefits

Evidence Action offers a competitive benefits package to support employee wellbeing and professional development.

Benefits Include:

• Private Health Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Training and Development Opportunities

The organization also promotes flexibility, teamwork, innovation, and purpose-driven work.

Why This Opportunity Is Important

The Deputy Country Director role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to transformative health and development initiatives across Nigeria.

Professionals selected for this role will:

• Influence large-scale public health systems
• Work directly with governments
• Lead high-impact programs
• Drive evidence-based interventions
• Improve lives across vulnerable communities

This is an ideal opportunity for experienced development professionals seeking leadership roles with measurable social impact.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply through Evidence Action’s official recruitment platform.

Applicants are encouraged to prepare:

• An updated CV or Resume
• Relevant professional experience details
• Leadership and program management achievements
• Evidence of donor-funded project experience

Apply HERE

Equal Opportunity Statement

Evidence Action is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The organization does not discriminate based on:

• Race
• Gender
• Religion
• Disability
• Sexual orientation
• National origin
• Veteran status
• Age
• Or other legally protected characteristics

 

For more information , visit the official website

Discover more job opportunities on OFY, VISIT