Sep 1, 2017
Position: Knowledge Management Specialist (Consultancy)
Background Information: The Agile and Harmonized Assistance for Devolved Institutions (AHADI) is a five - year governance program that is jointly funded by USAID and DFID, and implemented by the State University of New York’s (SUNY) Center for International Development (CID).
AHADI supports Kenya’s vision and agenda for achieving the promise of devolution by promoting governance systems that are transparent, accountable, effective in service delivery, and responsive to empowered citizens.
AHADI’s three main objectives are:
- Targeted counties provide higher quality services through improved governance
- Functionality and effectiveness of the devolved system is increased through intra-government engagement and cooperation
- Improved representation of citizen interests and oversight of targeted county government performance
Position Summary: Working in coordination with AHADI’s communications, program and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) teams, the knowledge management specialist will be responsible for supporting the research and learning agenda.
S/he will keep abreast of all project activities, collate, and analyze lessons learned during activity implementation, develop internal policies and procedures for sharing knowledge across programs, and produce publishable, policy-relevant materials.
Additionally, s/he will interact with and support project partners and beneficiaries in developing their own knowledge products.
Reports to: AHADI’s Deputy Chief of Party
Interrelationships: The knowledge management specialist collaborates with AHADI partners and staff, particularly with communications and M&E teams, consultants, partners, and beneficiaries.
S/he reports directly to the deputy chief of party of the project and will consult with SUNY’s project partner - the Urban Institute.
The knowledge management specialist will work in collaboration with the communication specialist on delivery of key knowledge products.
Qualifications:
- At least 7-10 years of experience designing and implementing organizational, economic, or public policy research.
- A master’s degree in international affairs, public policy, economics, or other social sciences relevant to the position requirements.
- Excellent written and spoken communications skills; experience analyzing both qualitative and quantitative data to develop policy conclusions; and experience developing and producing policy briefs, especially as related to decentralized governance and service delivery.
- Solid understanding of Kenya’s decentralization and governance context. Demonstrated capacity to write clearly and persuasively and to deliver products in a fast-changing political environment.
- Substantial experience working with USAID/DFID democracy and governance programs is desirable.
Research and Learning under AHADI: Kenya’s devolution process is multidimensional, decentralizing power across political, administrative, and fiscal domains.
The process has many complex moving parts and most actors engaged in devolution and devolved governance are learning their roles as they go.
AHADI’s role is to support many of these actors in achieving the promise of devolution and because the program’s activities must be tailored to fit the needs and capacities of our partners, AHADI too must learn on the job.
This active learning process requires effectively analyzing project activities, counterpart abilities, and the political and governance environment in the country at large.
This analysis should result in recommendations and policy briefs intended for both internal and external audiences.
AHADI’s research and learning agenda also involves the active participation and involvement of our project partners.
Our project and policy analysis process must leave improved capacity within partner counties, civil society organizations, and intergovernmental institutions.
The Knowledge Management Specialist will be responsible for liaising with project partners to achieve this goal.
Responsibilities during the Period of the Consultancy
- In partnership with AHADI partners provide research leadership on Kenya devolution, drawing on international experience and evidence.
- Coordinate with AHADI staff and partners to collate and analyze information on project activities, partner capabilities, and the governance environment to produce (a) internal guidance for more effective programming; and (b) external guidance for project and partner best practices.
- Develop internal policies and procedures for effectively establishing a quality assurance system for the knowledge production process and setting up policies and systems for producing, storing and sharing information between program teams and project partners.
- Convene meetings and coordinate activities with relevant teams on knowledge production to streamline support to relevant project activities and develop a unified and coherent approach.
- Manage and coordinate the delivery of all knowledge management products in coordination with project management teams and partners.
- Program, organize, and deliver the Devolution Study Group and Knowledge Friday’s series and other internal knowledge events as may be identified from time to time during the contract period with up-to-date evidence on project activities, counterpart best practices, and Kenya’s devolution context.
- Collaborate with project partners to develop knowledge management and analytic capacity in national, local, and intergovernmental institutions.
- In collaboration with the project management team, communications, and M&E teams, produce relevant, high-quality written products that elevate the debate on Kenyan devolution.
Deliverables
- Timely delivery of 3-4 identified research products.
- Internal and external guidance on effective programming based on analyzed information.
- Policies and procedures for setting up quality assurance of knowledge production and internal sharing of knowledge and best practices.
- High-quality knowledge management products yearly as outlined in the work plan.
- Feedback based on review of all project reporting documents and knowledge management products from inception to completion.
- Monthly Devolution Study Group series, Knowledge Friday series, other internal knowledge events.
- Reports on enhanced capacity for AHADI partners and beneficiaries on their knowledge management capabilities.
Location and Duration: The location for the Knowledge Management Specialist is in AHADI’s Nairobi office.
These terms of reference will be valid for one year and can be revised and renewed by AHADI’s chief of party in consultation with SUNY/CID and the Urban Institute.
Travel: Some in-country travel is expected during the consultancy (10%).
How to Apply
If you possess the skills and qualifications as contained in the respective position descriptions, please send
(1) a cover letter
(2) CV and
(3) references from three professional referees, one referee should be previous or current supervisor
to hr@ahadi-devolution.org
Closing date: September 15, 2017.
Please note only short listed candidates will be contacted.
Please indicate the position you are applying for in the email subject line.
Applications without the subject line will not be evaluated.
SUNY-AHADI is an equal opportunities employer.
