International Consultancy: Development of a Knowledge Management Strategy (2026 – 2028) and associated Implementation Plan for UNICEF Malawi (Open to Non Malawian Nationals Only)

Consultant Programme & Policy Information Management

Overview

Strengthen Knowledge Management in UNICEF Malawi Country Office.

You have:

• Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Business or a related technical field is required.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in designing and implementing knowledge management and knowledge sharing systems, strategies, and tools within international development or humanitarian settings is required.
• Experience conducting KM assessments, learning needs analyses, and facilitating knowledge-sharing and learning events is required.
• Proven experience in developing KM strategies and implementation plans, preferably in UN agencies, INGOs, or multilateral organizations is desirable.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English is required.
• Strong understanding of knowledge management frameworks, tools, and platforms (e.g., SharePoint, MS Teams, Insight, Visions, knowledge repositories, data visualization dashboards) is required.
• Ability to design practical, user-friendly KM systems aligned with organizational culture and digital infrastructure is required.
• Experience in complex environments, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa or similar development/humanitarian contexts is desirable.

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

UNICEF, guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, works together with partners in 190 countries and territories to promote and advocate for the protection of the rights of every child.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, Safety...

The UNCEF Malawi 2024 – 2028 Country Programme envisions the progressive realization of the rights of all children, including adolescents, with a deliberate emphasis on the most vulnerable—such as children living in poverty, with disabilities or albinism, and those affected by climate shocks. UNICEF Malawi works in close partnership with the Government, civil society, donors, and young people to deliver an integrated package of services from early childhood to adolescence, guided by disaggregated evidence and equity-driven approaches. The delivery of efficient and effective programmes will be supported by rigorous strategic planning, monitoring, research, evidence generation, knowledge management, innovation and evaluation to inform programming.

As UNICEF Malawi Country Office (MCO) implements its 2024 – 2028 Country Programme it seeks to strengthen its Knowledge Management (KM) as part of its Research, Evaluation, and Knowledge Management (REKM) function. KM is critical to ensure that evidence and learning generated through research, evaluations, and programmatic experiences effectively inform decision-making, policy development, and programme implementation. A robust Knowledge Management Strategy and Implementation Plan is required to ensure that knowledge is effectively generated, curated, shared, and applied to inform programming, strengthen partnerships, and drive impact for children.

How can you make a difference?

The consultant will undertake the following key tasks:

3.1 Knowledge Management systems strengthening and development of a comprehensive KM strategy and implementation plan

• • • Assess existing KM practices, tools, and platforms such as ECM/ Country Office Portal, Insight and Vision- tools, Evaluation and research database (EISI), Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (IMERP), Results Assessment Module (RAM), E-tools and identify the overlaps, gaps usefulness and the optimal utilization. Based on the results from the assessment the consultant should develop a training schedule that groups users based on their proficiency level and deliver a training to all staff.
  • Develop a KM strategy aligned with UNICEF’s global and regional knowledge management frameworks embedding innovation principles such as adaptability, user-centricity, and real-time learning.
• • • Establish an accessible repository for evidence, best practices, lessons learned to ensure systematic capture, storage.
  • Liaise with the communications team to ensure content linkages with UNICEF’s external-facing website.
  • Encourage the use of existing organizational tools (i.e. communities of practice such as Yammer/Teams) and explore the option to use ECM to create other digital learning and information/ knowledge sharing spaces between programme sections and across states. Integrating human-centered participatory design elements to co-create these spaces with end users.

3.2 Capacity Strengthening on KM

• • • Design and deliver training sessions for UNICEF staff on KM principles, tools and best practices. This will help them to:
  1. build knowledge management activities into programme and operations work plans.
  2. ensure that KM is embedded into all stages of the programme cycle, from planning to evaluation.
  3. support the systematic use of knowledge products to inform decision-making and programme design.
  4. conduct after-action reviews and learning events to capture key takeaways from programme implementation.
  5. ensure there is a common level of understanding and skills across the office.
  • Develop user-friendly KM guidance notes and templates to facilitate knowledge documentation and dissemination.
  • Establish a community of practice and develop ToRs for KM focal points, champions and steering committee within MCO to sustain learning and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
  • Ensure coordination mechanisms on KM are developed and well understood to be properly applied by all programme and operations staff. Leveraging the existing Innovation and T4D Governance Group as a coordination platform to enhance knowledge exchange for innovation, including through human- centered and participatory approaches.
  • Develop incentives system for staff including recognition of knowledge champions and creation of opportunities for KM skills development.
  • Conduct an in-depth review of existing thematic networks aimed at providing space for dialogue, seminars, lectures etc. for knowledge exchange of best practices and innovations with external partners.
  • Enhance the utilization of digital tools to support effective KM and knowledge exchange with external entities and partners.
  • Strengthen external collaborative partnerships to ensure the production and dissemination of new knowledge including leading a strategic review and gap analysis of existing academic and research institution partnerships for the office.
  • Strengthen MCO’s capacity to choose and deliver effective knowledge exchange approaches with partners to easily access UNICEF knowledge and engage around it.
  • Develop an approach for packaging and disseminate key findings from evaluations and research for different audiences, including policymakers, programme staff, and donors.
  • Identify external partners who can support best practice documentation in line with agreed quality standards
  • Update and review available guidelines and templates on internal programme effectiveness including those capturing programme excellence and innovation best practices, to ensure relevance, usability, and alignment with emerging approaches.

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

Academic qualification:

• • Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Business or a related technical field is required.

Work experience:

• • Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in designing and implementing knowledge management and knowledge sharing systems, strategies, and tools within international development or humanitarian settings is required.
  • Experience conducting KM assessments, learning needs analyses, and facilitating knowledge-sharing and learning events is required. Proven experience in developing KM strategies and implementation plans, preferably in UN agencies, INGOs, or multilateral organizations is desirable.
  • Relevant experience working in or with UNICEF country or regional offices is considered a strong asset.
  • Experience in complex environments, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa or similar development/humanitarian contexts is desirable.

Technical skills, knowledge and strength areas:

• • Ability to design practical, user-friendly KM systems aligned with organizational culture and digital infrastructure is required
  • Strong understanding of knowledge management frameworks, tools, and platforms (e.g., SharePoint, MS Teams, Insight, Visions, knowledge repositories, data visualization dashboards) is required.
  • Demonstrated ability to integrate KM into programme cycles and planning, monitoring, and evaluation functions is required.
  • Knowledge of third-party software training will also be added such as Mural, Miró, Mentimeter, Slido and others deemed relevant is required.
  • Excellent facilitation, communication, and writing skills is required.
  • Creating, packaging and disseminating knowledge through diverse packaging. This will include basic animated/video production, creation of infographics to highlight key content and messages utilizing tools and platforms such as Sway, Datastudio, Canvas or others to disseminate key information and knowledge is desirable.
  • Familiarity with research, evaluation, and learning processes, including linking KM with evidence- informed programming and adaptive management is desirable.
  • Strong conceptual and analytical skills with the ability to think strategically and rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources into conclusions and recommendations is required.

Languages: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English is required.

Please refer to the attached full Terms of Reference Terms of Reference_Knowledge Management Consultancy.pdf for more details on the consultancy and requirements.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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

UNICEF is also proud of a diverse workforce who are profoundly committed to supporting the full realization of children’s rights, and in uplifting a rights-based approach in all that we do.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

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

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

HOW TO APPLY...

Interested consultants should provide the following:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Brief technical proposal (no longer than five pages) demonstrating the consultant’s understanding of the assignment and approach/methodology to the assignment
3. Financial proposal including a breakdown of their all-inclusive fees (including professional fees, travel, living cost, visa and other costs). ANNEX I - Financial Proposal.xlsx Complete the attached form.
4. References details

Remarks:

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 selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 11 months ago - Source: unicef.org