Knowledge Management & Research Specialist

The Knowledge Management and Research Specialist will provide a lead role for the development and implementation of knowledge management activities and facilitate research and evidence generation practices aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of delivering results through UNFPA programmes in the ESA region.

The UNFPA Knowledge Management Strategy is currently being revamped to support the new Strategic Plan Cycle 2022-2025 and beyond, which will be adopted by the ESA Region to respond to needs in the region. The incumbent will lead the knowledge management practices and support the evidence and knowledge generation activities by UNFPA and its partners in the region. Working closely with other members of the Research and Publication Committee, Regional Advisers and Specialists, he/she/they will work across the organization to support the knowledge management, evidence and research function in support of achieving the UNFPA transformative results and advancing the ICPD Programme of Action in the region.

He/She will also support the culture of knowledge sharing and organizational learning and the uptake of organizational standards for knowledge sharing, including the capture and dissemination of operational knowledge and evidence that respond to needs across the region and beyond, as well as facilitate a systematic approach to knowledge tools, approaches. He/She/they will also ensure lessons learned are widely disseminated through internal and external platforms and used for course correct actions for current and successor programmes.

You would be responsible for:

• Lead the roll out of the ESARO Knowledge Management strategy and support the efficient generation, storage, retrieval and sharing of knowledge, evidence and information within the region and beyond.
• Work with the Regional Technical Advisors, Specialists and Country offices in ESAR  to identify knowledge management initiatives that enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of programme implementation, including leveraging use of innovation and modern technology to improve practices, processes and approaches;
• Work with the Evidence Knowledge and Innovation unit to facilitate generation of sound knowledge products and evidence-based briefing papers from across all units in ESARO to highlight strategic regional level and country specific issues relevant for the ICPD Agenda;
• Facilitate the maintenance of accessible database(s) of best/good practices, lessons learned, researches/studies, to mention a few; and ensure linkages to relevant UN-wide knowledge management hubs and platforms at regional and global level.
• Liaise with the RO Technical Advisors to manage the in-depth analysis and research findings, and exchange of good practices in order to build knowledge related to UNFPA strategic plan and regional programme and thematic areas including integrated sexual and reproductive health, adolescent and youth development, gender and GBV and population dynamics in support of sustainable and inclusive development;
• Support and assist the assigned Country Offices to identify opportunities or lessons learnt/best practices in countries;
• Liaise with the Technical Division and Programme Division to ensure that state-of-the-art, global technical and programming knowledge and lessons learnt/best practices are available for use in countries to improve the effectiveness of UNFPA programmes;

• Serve as an active member of the Research and Publication Committee in support of actions to ensure quality Regional and Country level publications through oversight and review of concepts and scope of studies, research and knowledge generation initiatives to ensure relevance to UNFPA mandate.
• Ensure the creation and documentation of research and evidence about current and emerging population and development trends, including SRHR and gender issues;
• Conduct or provide quality assurance to secondary data analyses for regional  and sub-regional advocacy and policy dialogues to accelerate progress towards the Transformative results and ICPD Programme of Action;
• In collaboration with regional and country offices, identify areas for research in line with UNFPA mandate, facilitate the research activities from design, through implementation to quality assurance, and synthesis of results.
• Undertake analysis of substantive reports on population and development issues, specifically around the Transformative results, Demographic Dividend, impact of climate change, migration, global trends on SRHR. In addition support the formulation of follow-up actions from the analysis required to inform policies, programmes and corporate business processes as may be applicable;
• Prepare materials for publication and dissemination through internal and external South-South and Triangular Cooperation such as new knowledge, best practices and practical lessons learnt;
• Guide documentation (collection, review and analysis) of good/best practices and lessons learned in accordance with UNFPA guidelines to demonstrate impact towards achieving the transformative results and fostering learning to guide realigning of interventions, scale up innovation and programme implementation.

Capacity development

• Support the Regional office in managing and delivering on technical assistance for Country Offices, national and regional institutions in the area of knowledge management and research
• Facilitate establishment of communities of practice for knowledge management, including skills acquisition for production and dissemination of policy and programme relevant knowledge and research, communication products tailored to target groups to respond to regional and national needs.

Technical representation, partnerships and collaboration

• Facilitate collaborations across national and regional knowledge management and research initiatives and activities, including towards ensuring improved access and use of quality evidence and knowledge for programming
• Foster technical collaborations with research and academic institutions and other relevant knowledge management related networks and entities including those within the UN system, including in the context of the UN Reform knowledge management workstreams

Programme Management Support

• Analyse existing knowledge management and research practices with a view to strengthening internal practices in ESARO to ensure tailored solutions, tools and approaches improve efficiency of programme and business practices;
• Serve as the ESARO lead for knowledge management and be accountable for liaising with Knowledge Management staff in the HQ; other regions and country offices

• A minimum of seven (7) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in management and development relevant to sexual and reproductive health, gender and population and development of which three at the international level;
• Experience with achieving demonstrable results in the majority of the following areas: innovative use of technology for development, mobile based data collection, training and capacity building and human centered design experience.
• Experience in conducting research and generating evidence products, Results-Based Programme Development and Management to improve programme efficiency
• Experience in initiating and catalyzing transformation change and ability to champion new ways of working.
• Previous exposure and experience in creating spaces and environments that are conducive to team participation and effective coordination.
• Substantive knowledge and practical experience in knowledge management and strategic information management;
• Experience in programme and/or technical assistance with the UN System and other international development organizations will be desirable;
• Ability to explain complex ideas and findings in a way that can be easily understood and to work creatively within a budget and use innovation to find ways of more effectively managing resources;

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of French and/or Portuguese is desirable.