Knowledge Management and Learning Coordinator

Job Description

Position Title: Knowledge Management and Learning Coordinator

Location: Mogadishu

Position Status: Full-time, Regular

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have a long-term impact.

The Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been operating in Somalia since 2005. With a staff of over 100 people and programs operating throughout the country, Mercy Corps’ overall country goal is building a peaceful and prosperous Somalia where all people feel secure, are economically empowered, and are meaningfully engaged. Mercy Corps’ current portfolio in Somalia focuses on humanitarian response and resilience; inclusive economic growth; enhancing trust and accountability between communities and their government; and improving youth livelihood opportunities.

General Position Summary

The Knowledge Management and Learning Coordinator will coordinate knowledge management and learning activities of the Country programs. S/he will work directly under the Director of Programs and work in close coordination with the Chief of Parties, Program Managers, GEDSI Coordinator, and Communication and Reporting Specialist. S/he will support the Country’s programs to implement learning strategies. The position requires high-quality writing skill which can be used to write/review to finalize consistent high-quality reports and manuals that are developed as learning products. He/she will work with program teams in the development of best practices, case studies, lessons learned, success stories, and other documentation. As gender and social inclusion (GESI), safeguarding, governance, and environmental sensitivity are cross-cutting and core components of all MC programs, the Knowledge Management & Learning Coordinator is required to own these components and ensure these components are integrated into his/her work area.

Essential Job Responsibilities

The specific duties and responsibilities of the Knowledge Management and Learning Coordinator include, but are not limited to, the following

Strategic Leadership

· Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.

· Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to program strategy development.

Program Management

· Coordinate the implementation of Knowledge management and Learning activities.

· Work closely with Country Senior Management Team and Program Leads to identify learning agenda and ensure follow up

· Document technologies and methodologies applied through different components like participatory vulnerability assessments, resilience pathways, multi-use water system and other risk reducing measures.

· Identify and document learning opportunities and innovative approaches utilized within the programs.

· Support the MEAL Manager to lead knowledge management and learning workshops at all levels to ensure team members’ buy-in into the program’s “systems approach” and their compliance. Capture lessons learned from collaborative learning and adaptive sessions at different levels.

· Build the capacity of all relevant team members to develop, review, and maintain an excellent KML system, including regular reflection and analysis of program monitoring data and production of evidence-based recommendations and reports.

· Create a knowledge management portal for the Country portfolio.

Communication and Documentation

· Support in the finalization of programs’ Branding and Marking strategy following donors’ guidelines and ensure follow-up.

· Support the development and dissemination of communication and learning products to showcase project successes and results.

· Support in developing and disseminating multiple new visibility and learning products (such as success stories, case stories, photo story/exposure blogs, videos, thematic one-pagers, infographics, key results learning pieces, and marketing pieces.

· Contribute to the compilation of different reports such as quarterly and annual results reports ensuring high quality.

· Provide support in the development of manuals, guidelines, and training packages

Knowledge Management

· Assist in maintaining a proper and standardized filing system for storing program documents according to Mercy Corps Program Management Minimum Standard.

· Share learning from other programs for adaptive management.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

· Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

· Team members are expected to conduct themselves professionally and respect local laws, customs, and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Finance and Compliance

· Ensure adherence to program management minimum standards in carrying out his/her duties, advising and supporting other staff in the same as required

· Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards

· Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.

Security

· Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.

· Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Others

· Ensure proper integration of safeguarding and GEDSI aspects into KML strategy planning and implementation.

· Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

· Other duties as assigned by the Supervisor and our Country Director.

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Reports Directly to: Director of Programs

Works Directly with Chief of Parties, Country MEAL/TRaQ Manager, Program Managers/Leads, Communication, and Reporting Specialist, Program Teams, MEAL team, GEDSI Coordinator, Operations team, HR and Finance team.

Skills and Qualifications
Knowledge and Experience

· Minimum bachelor’s degree in business administration, Mass Communication, Social Sciences, International Development, or a related field is required

· At least four (4) years of relevant field or management experience of complex, multi-dimensional programming

· Relevant knowledge management experience as follows:
a. At least three years of work experience in designing and implementing knowledge management and learning activities
b. Experience in survey and research design, both quantitative & qualitative
c. Demonstrated skill in training and knowledge management capacity development of field staff
d. Demonstrated skill in coordinating information needs across technical sectors
e. Experience of translating evidence into action.

· Demonstrated experience and ability to represent the organization and negotiate with a diverse range of government officials, local organizations, donors, and other groups for outcomes in the best interest of program implementation professionally and appropriately

· Effective verbal & written communication, multi-tasking, and prioritization skills. Fluency in written and spoken English and Somali required

· Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required

· Effective writing and organizational skills for report development, complete analyses and making presentations.

· Previous experience working on programs funded by USAID, FCDO, SIDA, EU, etc. strongly preferred

Success Factors

The successful Knowledge Management and Learning Coordinator will be conscientious, with the ability to make excellent judgments. S/he will display an entrepreneurial spirit that is both creative and flexible. S/he will combine strong communication skills, creativity, initiative, participatory leadership, and tactful decisiveness to assist in the development and implementation of Mercy Corps Somalia’s knowledge management strategy. S/he will have proven experience and confidence, and humility, to work effectively with a large variety of people who will be diverse culturally, economically, and in social status. S/he must be sensitive to political and cultural nuance and able to consistently apply excellent judgment to a variety of demanding and fast-changing situations. The coordinator will have the ability to foster solid working relationships with program teams, host Government, beneficiary communities, and partner organizations. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination based on race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants, or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves professionally, respect local laws and customs, and always adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all the times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

How to apply
All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for this position and submit their applications (cover letter, updated CV, and contacts of 3 professional referees) through https://www.mercycorps.org/careers/national only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Deadline for Applications: August 26, 2024 at 4PM