Consultancy (home based) Knowledge Management (KM) Specialist, Polio Eradication Team, New York

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfil their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Hope

Polio eradication remains one of UNICEF’s highest organizational priorities, declared a Level 3-like emergency by the Executive Director in 2014. UNICEF with its Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners have produced a considerable amount of knowledge and tools that need to be made available and actively shared with internal and external audiences, through its knowledge storage platforms. Furthermore, colleagues working in Communication for Development (C4D) for polio in countries responding to outbreaks and in endemic settings need to capture and share lessons learned and best practices around new approaches and successful responses to common challenges in order to improve program effectiveness.

The HQ Polio C4D Knowledge Management Strategy was developed in 2020 to build an enabling environment where colleagues at country offices, regional offices and HQ level learn from and support each other in resolving complex social barriers with the aim to reach more children with polio vaccine.

The Polio C4D team is seeking an experienced Knowledge Management (KM) Specialist to continue to implement its Knowledge Management Strategy. The KM Specialist will be responsible for a variety of activities related to identifying, managing, capturing and sharing key information to advance technical C4D practice and provide colleagues with the tools they need. The KM Specialist will be responsible for strengthening the KM Strategy to ensure 1) its activities meet the knowledge generation and sharing needs of the Polio C4D colleagues in HQ, regional and country level, 2) the strategy is aligned with UNICEF’s Global Knowledge Management Strategy and 3) activities leverage any new approaches or tools available at UNICEF, which involves staying up to date with new approaches in KM, at UNICEF as well as connecting with other KM colleagues and polio C4D colleagues across UNICEF.

How can you make a difference?

The incumbent will execute a knowledge sharing series through bimonthly webinars and newsletters and facilitate engagement. The incumbent will maintain and improve knowledge storage sites that the HQ Polio C4D uses to collaborate within the HQ team and to share resources with global colleagues supporting Polio C4D work. These sites include an external knowledge storage website as well as SharePoint Collaboration and Communication Sites available within UNICEF. The external knowledge website, Rhizome (https://poliok.it/), is in the process of being redeveloped into a new platform. The incumbent will be responsible for the launch of this platform and overseeing the final stage of the site migration as well as raising awareness and capacity among users.

The consultant will also support the activity of assessing the developing and changing needs of the Polio Eradication Section throughout the contract duration period. In addition, the Knowledge Management consultant will explore the broader knowledge management needs of the HQ, RO, & CO to provide support and to identify and recommend further actions for the implementation of a robust knowledge management strategy.

Scope of Work:

Knowledge Generation

1. Produce three knowledge products (e.g. best practices, case study or lessons learned) from an actively supported country or regional programme.

Knowledge Sharing

2. Plan and execute three webinar sessions for global colleagues supporting C4D work for polio to discuss/share various country’s approaches to common global challenges, to share new global approaches and tools, or to share updates impacting the Polio C4D program. Share recording and materials with mailing list.

3. Write and send three issues of the Polio C4D global newsletter to share country, regional and global updates. Request updated tools and forms from CO/RO/HQ on a quarterly basis; store new items on storage platforms and circulate in newsletter.

4. Coordinate annual update of global mailing lists in Outlook and Mailchimp for all personnel working on Polio programme.

5. Support digital delivery of training events by serving as event host/producer, providing administrative support, managing trainee engagement and sharing resources.

Knowledge Storage

6. Manage the redevelopment of the Rhizome website to a new external knowledge sharing platform, including project management of the last stage of site migration. Support the launch of the new platform, including uploading and tagging all resources to the new resource library location and raising awareness and capacity of users about the new site.

7. Maintain learning and knowledge platforms. Curate and add resources and content to the external knowledge and learning platform.

Cross-Cutting

Provide quarterly monitoring and evaluation updates on the impact and reach of Knowledge Management Strategy implementation. Stay informed of KM activities and offerings across UNICEF, including the recent UNICEF Global KM Strategy. Recommend new tools/approaches for KM to improve knowledge generation and sharing

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• A first university degree in Knowledge management, organizational learning, international development, public health, international affairs, or other relevant discipline.
• Demonstrated understanding of knowledge management principles and capacity to deliver knowledge management and/or organizational learning activities
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing SharePoint sites and websites for development-specific subjects and assets.
• Demonstrated experience in knowledge management, organizational learning and web-based products
• Ability to link content development and engagement strategies that facilitate timely, useful delivery of information through knowledge platforms and activities
• Excellent facilitation, program/activity management, and written and oral communication skills
• Understanding of UNICEF systems
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The consultancy is home based.