International Consultant to Review of Knowledge Management Approach

To improve child protection knowledge management approach, it is timely to review the current system from the perspective of the regional UNICEF child protection and regional UNFPA gender staff as well as the relevant UNICEF and UNFPA country staff, to understand how the KM resources are used, how they are not being used and what needs to change.

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1. Rationale:

In order to strengthen the UNICEF ROSA Child Protection Section (CP Section) role as a knowledge broker, a strategy for knowledge management was developed in 2017. The strategy benefited from focus groups, staff survey, as well as key informant interviews. It covered 3 areas – child protection, disability, and child marriage, with the latter area also being cross agency with UNFPA. An ambitious strategy for a small team, the implementation of the strategy was scaled down to a manageable level with a focus primarily on child marriage and child protection.

Since mid-2017 the UNICEF ROSA Child Protection Section knowledge management approach has focussed primarily on knowledge dissemination, distributing knowledge generated by ROSA, UNICEF offices or by others. For the Child Protection area, there is access for all UNICEF staff with the target of all UNICEF Child Protection staff in South Asia to:

• Monthly ebulletin capturing activities in the country offices, directing to training opportunities, providing access new articles and publications and sharing staff news
• A SharePoint site with access to over 200 publications relevant to child protection in South Asia
• A law library with all national legislation from countries in South Asia relevant to child protection
• Webinar series or single webinars
• Maximum of one face-to-face meeting per year with reports and relevant resources accessible on the SharePoint site
• Listserv

For the child marriage area, there is access for all UNICEF staff with the target of all UNICEF Staff who work on ending child marriage in South Asia, and all UNFPA staff who are working on ending child marriage in South Asia to:

• Monthly evidence review covering recent article or publication on child marriage
• A SharePoint site with access to over 200 publications relevant to child marriage in South Asia
• Single webinars
• At least one face-to-face meeting per year with reports and relevant resources accessible on the SharePoint site
• Listserv

Knowledge management is integrated into all of UNICEF ROSA’s CP work, with a keen focus on dissemination of knowledge generated by ROSA or by others, and the encouragement for offices to share with others what they are doing. The CP Section’s knowledge management is aligned with the 2019 knowledge management framework of UNICEF ROSA as a whole. The RO aims to formalize KM roles and responsibilities, establish structures for coordination and sharing including the use of digital platforms, and strengthen capacity of staff on KM. Most of the programme sections in ROSA are actively producing knowledge products and using the SharePoint as one of their dissemination channels.

However, despite these efforts, for colleagues in the region, these products are not a ‘go to’ for resources on child protection and child marriage as had been expected. And while the application of the knowledge may be beyond simply these activities, the absorption of the information shared appears limited.

How can you make a difference?

2. Purpose:

To improve our knowledge management approach, it is timely to review the current system from the perspective of the regional UNICEF child protection and regional UNFPA gender staff as well as the relevant UNICEF and UNFPA country staff, to understand how the KM resources are used, how they are not being used and what needs to change. 

3. Key Assignments and Tasks:

A.  After a review the KM products produced and dissemination channels/ platforms, develop a methodology for the review of the current knowledge management approach that includes communication with regional and country staff

B. Produce a draft report on the direction of KM and what needs to be improved. This report should consider:

• The time and resources available in each office to dedicate to KM
• The actual use of each of the products in the Child Protection area and their key features as relevant (for examples (i) in monthly child protection bulletins – country updates, training opportunities, new evidence and research, (ii) on SharePoint – digital libraries, past regional meeting reports and resources, past webinar recordings and resources), including what is most/least appreciated and why
• The actual use of each the products in the child marriage area and their key features as relevant (for examples (i) monthly evidence review, (ii) on SharePoint – digital libraries, featured publications, past regional meeting reports and resources, learning opportunities), including what is most/ least appreciated and why. The effectiveness of the two-agency access should also be considered.      
• Tested suggestions of alternative approaches to KM within the resources available
• Explore and suggest how the CP KM approach can be aligned (where relevant) with the regional KM framework and the KM work happening in other ROSA programme sections. This includes the identification of key knowledge products to be featured on the regional office KM portal as well as best practices from the CP KM approach that are worth sharing with other sections in the RO and other offices in the region as part of the ROSA KM toolkit.

C. Final report which takes into account the comments from the reference group.

D. Webinar and PowerPoint presentation to share the findings.

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

1. Education:

Master or Advanced university degree in Knowledge/Information management, or child protection related disciplines with an information management background, or other related fields.

2. Work Experience:

Five years of progressively responsible relevant work experience at the national and international level in knowledge management or information management.  Similar assignment(s) in South Asia region and/or other parts of the world; experience working in the UN and other international development organisations an advantage; work experience in the child protection sector an advantage

3. Competencies:

Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks; ability to work with minimal supervision

4. Language Proficiency:

Excellent written and spoken English; advanced working knowledge of Microsoft, web-based platforms and other products that can be used for knowledge management an advantage

The consultant will be paid upon satisfactory completion of assigned tasks and receipt of key deliverables and as certified by the Supervisor/Manager.

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.

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