Knowledge Management Analyst (consultancy)

Purpose

The UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) with funds from DFID is seeking to recruit a Knowledge Management Analyst to support the management of the documentation processes of the UNFPA Innovation Accelerator and ensure timely production of relevant content to populate the initiative’s SRHR knowledge base.

Background

The United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) contributed over 18 million Pounds to the two-year project “Preventing Maternal Deaths in East and Southern Africa (PreMDESA)”. The projects outcomes are:

- An increase in robust evidence relating to sexual and reproductive health (SRH)

and

- The improved awareness of, access to and uptake of family planning and SRH services across the ESA region, with a focus on women and adolescent girls.

The PreMDESA programme touches a range of areas – including contraceptive provision and capacity building, innovation, knowledge sharing, research, and advocacy – with this TOR focused on the Innovation Accelerator.

The Innovation Accelerator is a mentorship-driven acceleration program supporting young entrepreneurs with seed funding, training and skills development to generate innovative solutions in response to challenges related to Sexual and Reproductive Health services, sexuality education, family planning, maternal health and other population development issues in line with UNFPA's mandate. The project is an initiative and model led by the UNFPA East and Southern Regional Office, with aims to explore new and engaging ways to tackle pressing population challenges in the region while promoting social entrepreneurship among young people. As the project has a strong focus on documenting and communicating innovative solutions and the lessons learnt from experimenting innovative approaches, solid documentation processes need to be put in place in order to ensure both production of validated documentation and systematization of existing relevant knowledge which can inform SRH interventions. All documentation will be hosted in an ad hoc SRH Knowledge Base and made available to target audiences.

Scope of work

Under the overall guidance of the coordinator of the unit and direct supervision of the Innovation and Knowledge Management Specialist, the Knowledge Management Analyst will support the management of the documentation processes of the Innovation Accelerator, with particular focus on the management of the project’s knowledge base. The Knowledge Management Analyst will also provide general support for planning and project administrative activities as needed. Detailed activities include:

• Identify and collect existing relevant resources (operational research and data analysis) from the ESARO website, from Country Offices in the ESA region and from ESARO advisors, and publish them on the SRH Knowledge Base;

• Support the unit in conducting literature reviews in public health websites with the aim to identify relevant publications to be promoted on the SRH Knowledge Base;

• Contribute to mapping relevant SRHR knowledge platforms;

• Generally update the Innovation Accelerator Knowledge Base web pages and sections to ensure content is always current;

• Assist the unit in developing templates to colleagues and other contributors to facilitate the posting of knowledge base materials and electronic communications and to ensure compliance with and consist ency in style, structure, visual attributes and platform standards;

• Develop country sheets in liaison with in-country innovation focal points, to document the activities in relation to activation of the initiative in specific countries;

• Compile inputs from in-country innovation focal points concerning sourcing of challenges for submission to the Innovation Accelerator Advisory Panel;

• Assist the unit in liaising with in-country innovation focal points to ensure timely production of documentation of acceleration cycles (including calls for solutions, profiles of mentors and applicants, technical documentation of innovations, learning materials, and various other documentation);

• Develop partner sheets to keep track of interactions with potential and actual partners of the initiative;

• Support the maintenance, expansion and review the mapping of entities within the innovation ecosystem in East and Southern Africa (Google Spreadsheet);

• Assist the unit in drafting documentation aimed at facilitating establishment of partnerships within the scope of the initiative;

• Draft user manuals, how-tos and other support documents providing good practices, lessons learnt, and tips on documentation of the initiative, aimed at providing innovation focal points with useful information for performing their documentation duties;

• Support the unit in drafting project reports in accordance to the project’s reporting modalities;

• Support the unit in drafting documentation relevant to the preparation and management of the workshop on innovation planned for 2016;

• Assist the Communication Specialist in producing content to support internal and external communication activities in regard to the initiative, including blog posts, tweets and any other communication materials identified in the initiative’s Communications Strategy

Duration

6 months with possibility of extension for up to 11 total months, based on need, performance, and budget availability.

Preferred starting date is 1 June 2016 or ASAP.

Deliverables

• List of SRH resources produced by July 1;

• List of relevant SRHR knowledge platforms available by August 15;

• Country sheets updated weekly to reflect activities in countries;

• Mapping of SHR challenges in countries updated as content is received from countries;

• Call for Solutions for acceleration cycles produced according to the project timeline;

• Partner sheets of all partners involved in the initiative updated regularly and consequently production of further partner sheets based on planned implementation of the initiative in further countries;

• Mapping of innovation ecosystem in one country every two weeks (July 13, 27,August 10, 24, September 8, 22, October 5, 19);

• MoUs and other partnership building documentation produced timely as needed;

• How-tos on documentation of acceleration cycles for in-country innovation focal points produced by August 15;

• How-tos on partnership building for in-country innovation focal points (including requirements for local partner accelerators) drafted by September 15;

• Weekly documentation of progress updates and lessons learnt from acceleration cycles in conjunction with implementation of each acceleration cycle running within the time span of the consultancy;

• UNFPA and donor reports filled in timely according to reporting deadlines

Monitoring and progress control

A fortnightly progress report is required based on agreed outputs.

Supervisory arrangements

The assignment will be supervised by the Innovation and Knowledge Management Specialist, ESARO.

Expected travel

Possibility to travel to selected countries in East and Southern Africa where the initiative is implemented, in order to support documentation of activities.

Qualifications and expertise

Values

Exemplifying integrity, Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, Embracing cultural diversity, Embracing change.

Core Competencies

i. Demonstrates commitment to UNFPA’s mission, vision and values;

ii. Exerts strict adherence to corporate rules, regulations and procedures;

iii. Integrates in a multidisciplinary environment, displaying cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

Functional Competencies

i. Achieves results and is accountable;

ii. Develops and applies professional expertise/business acumen.

iii. Adapts and applies knowledge / innovations in different contexts;

iv. Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view;

v. Thinks analytically and strategically;

vi. Is able to prioritize and complete tasks in a very limited time span under pressure (time-management);

vii. Develops and implements conceptually innovative approaches to the provision of technical expertise;

viii. Shares knowledge and experience, communicates ideas and manages information flows internally and externally to the organization;

ix. Has outstanding communication and presentation skills;

Education

• Master’s degree in public health, development communication, knowledge management, information architecture, population and development or other related field.

Experience / Expertise

• Professional work experience working in technical writing, communications or knowledge management is a desirable;

• Familiarity with content management systems. Experience on the following specific tools an asset: WordPress, the Google Apps suite (in particular Google Sites and Google Drive), Mediawiki, Slack;

• Familiarity with online social networks and social media. Experience on the following specific tools an asset: Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, Instagram, Flickr;

• Excellent writing skills;

• Data visualization skills a strong asset;

• Experience in preparation of conferences, workshops and meetings for the UN and/or other international organizations an asset.

Language Requirements

• Fluent in English. Knowledge of any other UN languages an asset.

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA

UNFPA will provide office space. The consultant will be required to arrange internet connectivity and telephone services during off-site work.

Other relevant information or special conditions

Payment

Payment will be made monthly upon delivery of satisfactory output in accordance with specified requirements and on a monthly rate basis. Travel costs will be covered by UNFPA according to prevailing rules and regulations.

Application Procedure

Qualified candidates are requested to apply by 18 May 2016 by sending an email to jobs.esaro@unfpa.org with Subject “Application for Knowledge Management Analyst”. The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position and, if available, links to examples of your work;

• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (P11 form can be downloaded from /resources/p11-un-personal-history-form);

You may include also a copy of your CV, but be advised that only applications that include a P11 will be considered.