| Vacancy announcement number: | 10/28/P |
| Date of issue: | 9 September 2010 |
| Deadline for applications: | 8 October 2010 |
| Position Title: | Knowledge Management Officer |
| Organizational unit: | Near East and North Africa Division (NEN) - Programme Management Department (PMD) |
| Level: | P-3 |
| CCOG Code | 1.A.08 |
| Duty station: | Rome |
| Date of entry on duty: | As soon as possible |
| Duration of assignment: | 3-year fixed term (not renewable) |
Functional statement
Under the direct supervision of the Regional Economist and the general supervision of the Director, Near East and North Africa Division (NEN), the incumbent will work to systematize the acquisition and generation of knowledge generated by the NEN division in the area of rural development and poverty reduction. He/she will act as the Knowledge Management (KM) focal point and champion for the Division, and will promote systematic learning from the experience and knowledge of the NEN loans and grants programmes. He/she will coordinate the development and implementation of a regional knowledge management system. The functions of this position are limited to 3 years.
Duties and responsibilities
Work with the regional economist, portfolio advisor, communication manager, grants and systems coordinator, county programme managers (CPMs), country teams (CTs), and with partner organizations to increase the quality and quantity of lessons learned from NEN-supported operations.
Support to operations
- Support NEN staff in producing knowledge products emanating from their loans and grants projects, and especially from the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Results Impact Management Systems (RIMS), as well as from Project Supervision and Completion Reports.
- Advise and support CPMs/CTs as required on how to build knowledge management into ongoing projects (M&E systems, reporting etc), and into design of new projects. Ensure that success stories, lessons and examples of best practice emerging from country programmes are documented and shared within country programmes, throughout the region and feed-in corporate communications with broader audiences.
- Provide technical support to projects (loans and grants) in developing their capacity in knowledge management, including the development of lessons’ learning systems and tools, data collection and reporting processes for the provision of accurate and timely information.
Divisional and corporate systems
- Coordinate and ensure effectiveness of NEN knowledge sharing activities by analyzing information and KM activities, monitoring their use, and measuring their impact.
- Develop a knowledge management (KM) business plan and implement it, within the NEN division Medium-Term Plan (MTP) 2010-2012 and in line with IFAD's KM corporate strategy.
- In coordination with the communication division, significantly increase the direct dissemination of targeted NEN knowledge products to internal and external audiences (such as briefs, journal articles, stories from the field, case studies, etc.), including organizing knowledge sharing events.
- Lead and develop additional project summaries for the “Seeds of Innovation” series already launched by NEN, and contribute to on-going KM products such as the NEN thematic PPT slides and videos, NEN Newsletter, the NEN section of the IFAD annual report, IFAD’s Rural Poverty Rural and the NEN part of IFAD’s website (incl. the country-by-country profiles).
- Manage the IFAD grant-funded regional knowledge network Karianet, and the related thematic networks. Work with the regional economist, CPMs, the IDRC Karianet project coordinator and IFAD’s communication division to identify gaps and opportunities to improve synergies between the networks.
- Advocate and enable good knowledge management practices; contribute to the building of a knowledge sharing culture to “institutionalize” KM practices to facilitate the creation, sharing and utilization of knowledge among internal teams and external partners, including the establishment and nurturing of communities of practice.
- Map existing resources and promote a network of partnerships for knowledge sharing including governments, scientific and technical expert institutions, universities, civil society and the private sector; mine and analyze information to create linkages and bridge initiatives, and feed information to relevant projects, and institutions; build comprehensive data base of appropriate experts/contacts and consultants to respond to network demands.
- Network and coordinate with internal and external users of knowledge about rural poverty generated by NEN financed loans and grants.
- Draft reports (or parts of) related to NEN’s KM activities and progress in relation to the KM strategy.
- Act as NEN’s focal point on KM and represent the division in the corporate-based KM community of practice.
Education and experience
- University degree in: Information Science; Communication; Agricultural Science; Economics or a related subject. Master’s degree in one of the above-mentioned subjects would be a strong asset;
- Demonstrated ability at statistical treatment of M&E data for development projects desirable.
- Minimum of five years of progressively responsible professionally relevant experience, with at least three years’ experience in knowledge management, communication, and/or treatment of technical data for application purposes--preferably in the rural development sector - essential.
- Proven experience in writing and disseminating knowledge products—preferably in the area of rural development - essential.
- Experience in, or solid understanding of, use of modern information and communication technology (ICT) in development - essential.
- Good basic knowledge of and experience with project monitoring and evaluation systems and their use in lesson-learning, implementation and/or policy definition - essential.
- Knowledge of the Near East and North Africa, and CIS region would be a distinct advantage.
Required technical / functional competencies
- Results-oriented Performer: Strong analytical skills plus solution-oriented project management skills. Dynamic, self motivated and creative thinker. Ability to work independently and with limited supervision.
- Team Worker: Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in a multi-culture, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity. Strong social skills and open-minded
- Networker: Ability to work effectively with others and create and maintain a solid network within and outside the Organization.
- Planner/organizer: Ability to meet tight deadlines in a high-pressure and high-energy environment.
- Communicator: Strong diplomatic and communication skills, with the capacity to listen and communicate effectively to engage others and develop close and effective working relationship with internal and external clients.
Communications
- Very strong written and oral communication skills in English essential;
- Knowledge of French and/or Arabic would be a distinct advantage.
- Excellent knowledge of computer-based communications tools, in particular web-based technology.
Other information
Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD, and they may be assigned by him/her to any of the activities of IFAD, including field assignments and/or rotation within IFAD.
IFAD reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than that advertised commensurate with experience and knowledge.
Interested candidates are requested to apply by completing IFAD’s Personal History Form (PHF) in English. A separate CV may be attached if you so desire, only as a supplement and not a substitute to the PHF. The applications need to be addressed to the Human Resources Division, Via Paolo di Dono 44, 00142 Rome, Italy, Fax +39-06-5043463, Email vacancy@ifad.org. and must clearly indicate the Vacancy Number and position title. Any application received by IFAD after the closing date or not fulfilling the above-indicated requirements, will not be considered.
In the interest of making most cost effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful.
Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.
