UNDP Jobs - 25335- Knowledge Management and Innovation Expert

Knowledge Management and Innovation Expert

Location :

Cairo, EGYPT

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

02-Sep-11 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

12 months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Arab states Regional Center in Cairo (RCC) supports 18 Country Offices and their national partners by sharing knowledge, building capacity and forging partnerships in key priority areas of inclusive growth, MDGs and Poverty Reduction, Democratic Governance, Crisis Prevention and Recovery and Environment and Sustainable Development while adopting Gender, Capacity Development and Knowledge management as key drivers mainstreamed in the work of its programmes and policy work. The RCC provides policy advice, technical support and knowledge management to its main clients being UNDP country offices in the region and through them to their national counterparts and partners. The overriding goal of the center is to support Sustainable Human Development and the realization of the Millennium Development Goals in the region.

The long-term goal of Knowledge Management (KM) in UNDP is to position UNDP as a development thought-leader in its priority areas and a hub for development discussions and innovation transforming the organization into a professional, knowledge-based service one that can translate its wealth of experience and knowledge into a competitive advantage in the development marketplace.

The Knowledge Management Team at the RCC, while serving the region and its country offices, also has a global mandate to deliver on key strategic objectives such as enhancing the creation and support of knowledge societies, advocate with governments mainstreaming knowledge management into their national development plans to facilitate development based on best available, trusted and evidenced based knowledge as well as promote the creation of industries and services that use knowledge as a top notch commodity that has started emerging as a vibrant market, especially with technology based organizations using knowledge and social media tools.

The Regional Center in Cairo is building a team which can deliver its services in a high quality and responsive manner based on demands coming from countries. In addition, the region has been one of the first adopters of the corporate social media based knowledge management platform "Teamworks". The potential of Teamworks to generate and disseminate knowledge among country offices, but also linking with other thought for, think tanks, universities and Community Based Organizations working in the areas of priorities of the region is immense. Although knowledge by nature is a voluntary act by individuals, organizational innovation should be importantly strategized and positioned to enable the culmination of the organizational talent and innovative approaches to sharing knowledge and capturing the successes and failures of our work.

UNDP in the Arab States region will be taking some innovative approaches to mobilizing the comparative advantage and the knowledge wealth of its projects, programmes and people to enhance its efforts and effectiveness in a coherent manner that would allow a comprehensive approach to development. The role of the knowledge management and innovation expert will be generate, capture, design and put to implementation (working with the entire team of the RCC, especially the KMG) a set innovative approaches for sustainable engagement of staff, bringing practical tools to enhance holistic approach to development by mobilizing the entire RCC policy advisory service providers, and solicit interaction with think tanks for effective outreach using all possible sources of social media. The expert will work with the team members (KM associate, content manager and web designer) to keep up interactive mechanisms, through Teamworks and others, to foster the talent of country offices and transform them into creative applications useful for the region and beyond.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Knowledge Management Team Leader, the Expert will perform as part of the KMG and the larger Arab States Center team, The Knowledge Management and Innovation is responsible for supporting the Team Leader in conducting necessary training in the region, establish contacts with internal and external partners, setting the strategic direction of the knowledge management pillar of unit in accordance with the corporate policy, for facilitating and making accessible knowledge on experiences and best practices that encourages sustainable human development contributed by the different practice areas, design and establish a "An Arab Human Development View Point" to capture innovative analytical thinking in the region bu its programme, policy advisors and knowledge managers, and for stimulating inter-and intra- regional horizontal networking. The Knowledge Management Expert works closely with UNDP’s Knowledge Services Team to ensure coherence and coordination in this area.

Duties and Responsibilities

While working on supporting the adoption of a culture of horizontal, non-hierarchical knowledge sharing and organizational learning throughout the Arab states region, foster innovative approaches to engage internal and external clients, paying attention to project managers and their stakeholders as well as centres of excellence in and beyond the region. Promote innovation for knowledge sharing, policy advisory services, project implementation and management practices using web 2.0 technological advancements in cooperation with the web designer and the content manager.
Supervise the content manager and the KM associate and coordinate with other practices associates to up keep vibrant communities of practice by adopting creative and incentive-based engagement plan;
Establish and maintain substantive and operational linkages to relevant knowledge management colleagues in RBAS, RCC, BDP/KMG to ensure connections from project-based activities/stories through regional synthesis to global policy services contextualized to the region specific priorities;
Work with the KMTL in establishing a knowledge management service line in the region that is tailored towards government and other stakeholders and counterparts on issues related to knowledge societies, knowledge economies and knowledge-based economies through direct interventions with country offices or contributions to strategic planning exercises including the UNDAFs and CPDs.
Enhance the understanding and adoption of Teamworks and other corporate collaboration tools and adopt innovative approaches simulating intelligent systems to facilitate provision of high value knowledge with minimum efforts of knowledge seekers and contributors;
Develop systems to measure, analyze and assess the utility of knowledge resources, regional and project spaces with a view to provide the best knowledge services at all levels; using qualitative and quantitative indicators;
Assist in the training and knowledge component of the Africa Adaptation Programme in the countries where it is adopted coordinating with other AAP assigned knowledge managers and facilitators under the supervision of the KMTL;
Provide expert knowledge on knowledge management concepts, systems and tools including but not limited to After Action Reflection, Communities of Practice, Exit Interviews, Storytelling, Systematizations, etc to the KM community of practice and other practice areas as requested

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity, representing the UN values and ethical standards
Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of the UN
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Acts with fairness in all cases

Functional Competencies:

Promotes knowledge management and a learning environment within the team and with external partners
Builds strong relationships with stakeholders, focusing on impact and result for the stakeholders.
Fosters innovations, creativity, actively seeks out and promotes new and alternative approaches.
Has demonstrated knowledge and extensive experience on the fostering of networks.
Has demonstrated capability and experience on the use of Web 2.0 in areas of development.
Has demonstrated capability to manage small teams.
Promoting results based management.
Strong communication skills information and ideas/knowledge sharing, willing to take the extra mile to achieve results and perform in a high quality manner under all work circumstances.
Performance management
Fostering innovation and empowerment amongst his/her co-workers.
Works effectively in teams, delivers through and with others
Self-management/emotional intelligence and conflict management/negotiating and resolving disagreements.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced degree in social sciences, development studies, management, information science or communications.

Experience:

Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience at the national and international level on knowledge sharing and knowledge management, networking and coordination.
Knowledge of development issues is essential.
Worked with international organizations with multi-cultural backgrounds.
Knowledge of computer programming and languages such as html is an asset

Language:

Fluency in English and French a requirement.
Knowledge of Arabic is an added value.
Excellent analytical skills and written and oral communication skills.

Application:

Kindly attach a financial offer (lumpsum or daily/monthly rate), along with a curriculum vitae.