Knowledge Officer - Food Trade East & Southern Africa - Kenya, Nairobi

Knowledge Officer - Food Trade East & Southern Africa - Kenya, Nairobi

Project duration: Fixed term position (until April 2018)

A. Background and Justification

FoodTrade ESA is a 5 year programme aimed at improving national and regional markets efficiency in the trade of staples. FoodTrade ESA is based in Nairobi, and covers 9 countries; Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda (East Africa) and Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe (Southern Africa). FoodTrade ESA systemically improves the functioning of national and regional staple food market systems; impacting directly on over 400,000 households and consumers through stable markets for staple food products.

FoodTrade East and Southern Africa (ESA) recognises the transformative potential of agriculture and trade to improve the lives and incomes of thousands of small scale farmers, as well as strengthen food security in the region. To harness this potential and bridge the gaps that exist in the trade of staple foods in East and Southern Africa, FoodTrade ESA is investing in innovative systems to allow small-scale farmers to improve their inputs and gain access regional markets. We support the private sector, governments, and other development actors to bring small scale farmers closer to the heart of agricultural systems in East and Southern Africa. In addition to this, we recognise the specific challenges that prevent both men and women from equally participating in, and benefiting from, regional agricultural value chains.

Our work generates significant knowledge and provides tremendous opportunities for shared learning. The knowledge generated can be scaled up and disseminated to relevant stakeholders through tailored communications and knowledge products in order to influence the growth of sustainable regional staple food value chains. To support this process, FoodTrade East & Southern Africa has developed a Knowledge Management Strategy.

The FoodTrade East & Southern Africa Knowledge Management Strategy aims to deliver key messages to a broad range of stakeholders in a manner that will integrate, sequence, and lead to the development of strategic information networks that will help unlock staple food trade across borders. Identified actions for implementation are expected to:

• Raise awareness about the FoodTrade ESA Investment Funds (the Challenge Fund and the Development Fund);
• Disseminate results and best practices from FoodTrade ESA Investments;
• Collect evidence to influence policy reform;
• Build the capacity of key partners and beneficiaries including: DFID country offices.

B. Scope of work, duties and responsibilities

The Knowledge Officer’s main responsibility is to ensure the effective implementation of programmes and activities outlined in FoodTrade’s KM strategy.

The Knowledge Officer will work closely with the FoodTrade Communications & Knowledge Management Expert, in liaison with the Regional Coordinator, Regional Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ReNAPRI), FoodTrade ESA partner.

Roles will include:

• Promoting the adoption and use of knowledge management via the development and support of communities of practice, including consulting and training/capacity building;
• Conducting outreach programs and overseeing training for staff and clients in use of KM products;
• Ensuring effectiveness of KM programs and activities by analyzing KM activities, monitoring their use, and measuring their impact;
• Serves as key contact for data requests by responding to queries and by assisting clients in accessing KM tools and resources;
• Creation of a knowledge asset data base: collating and indexing an inventory of FTESA knowledge assets;
• Research and content development: conducting primary and secondary research to collect data for the creation of knowledge products; contributes to KM resources by preparing best practices and capturing KM practices through written stories and video debriefings;
• Events: Provide support in the planning, execution, documentation, and participation in knowledge events;
• Knowledge networks: support in the communication and stakeholder engagement around thematic knowledge networks created;
• Support the various technical teams with various requests for data/ evidence/ documentation;
• Support in the management of IT knowledge platforms: share and moderate information collated on the FTESA IT knowledge platforms;
• Reporting: support M& E with reporting on knowledge activities.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

• Functional/substantive staff and managers within FoodTrade ESA;
• External stakeholders;
• KM staff and managers in other DfID units, including Mission staff, and information management and information technology staff throughout the FoodTrade knowledge network.

C. Required Key Skills & Qualifications

The Knowledge Officer should have a first degree from a recognized University, as well as experience working in knowledge management. Additional qualifications/ experience in basic computer skills and research/ analysis are desirable.

• A good working knowledge of written and oral English. A second language is desirable;
• Ability to analyse sets of data and produce well-written reports;
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of ICT;
• A good, top-line understanding of the agricultural sector and key issues affecting it;
• Innovative and forward thinking - extremely motivated to make knowledge management practicable to improve corporate performance;
• Understanding of the principles for creating and maintaining communities of practice
• Working knowledge of knowledge/change management;
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively in networks and communities of practice, and with senior staff and managers;
• Proven ability to assess client groups’ information needs and be innovative in the design and delivery of appropriate targeted solutions;
• Highly developed conceptual, analytical, and innovative problem-solving ability; demonstrated ability to handle complex knowledge management issues.

D. Project location

To be based in Nairobi, Kenya.

E. Reporting

To FoodTrade East & Southern Africa Communication and Knowledge Management Expert

F. Application instructions

Interested and suitably qualified candidates can send their CV and cover letter by email only throughfoodtrade_recruitment@dai.com. Applications should include three work-related referees and day-time telephone numbers.

Application deadline is 14 days from the date advertised. Only candidates who meet qualifications will be shortlisted and contacted.

We are committed to minimizing the environmental impacts of operations related to the programme, and to ensuring our work supports social protection for everyone without bias. We encourage gender equity and diversity in our programme.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, or national origin. We are an equal opportunity employer. Only Kenyan nationals or persons with Kenyan residence/work permits will be considered.

HOW TO APPLY:

F. Application instructions

Interested and suitably qualified candidates can send their CV and cover letter by email only throughfoodtrade_recruitment@dai.com. Applications should include three work-related referees and day-time telephone numbers.

Application deadline is 14 days from the date advertised. Only candidates who meet qualifications will be shortlisted and contacted.

We are committed to minimizing the environmental impacts of operations related to the programme, and to ensuring our work supports social protection for everyone without bias. We encourage gender equity and diversity in our programme.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, or national origin. We are an equal opportunity employer. Only Kenyan nationals or persons with Kenyan residence/work permits will be considered.