Regional Knowledge Management Specialist, Dakar

Job Title : Regional Knowledge Management Specialist *Call for interest* - Short term opportunity for 6 months for Temporary Professional Officer

ID : 28349

Location : DAKAR

Date of issue : 05/08/2025

Close Date : (Midnight, Rome Time) 05/27/2025

Organizational Unit : West & Central Africa Div.

Full/Part Time : Full-Time

Regular/Temporary : Temporary

Assignment Duration : 6 months

Grade : P-3

Organizational Setting

This call for interest is advertised as a temporary assignment with a duration of 6 months.

Organizational setting

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution, and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is one of the largest sources of development financing for agriculture and rural development in many developing countries. IFAD acknowledges climate-related risks as some of the factors affecting rural poverty and among the challenges it needs to address. While climate change is a global phenomenon, its negative impacts are more severely felt by poor rural people in developing countries who rely heavily on the natural resource base for their livelihoods.-

The Department of Country Operations (DCO), under the leadership of an Associate Vice-President, is responsible for the overall programme of loans and grants of the Fund and is composed of five (5) regional divisions and the Private Sector Operations Division (PSD). The West and Central Africa Division (WCA), under the leadership of the Regional Director, oversees all IFAD operations and activities in the region including, but not limited, to the 24 country programmes: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d

• Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.-

The GCF Sahel Portfolio-

The GCF portfolio in West and Central Africa Division includes the regional Programme

• Integrated Climate Risk Management Programme in the seven Sahelian Countries (in Burkina, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, The Gambia) of the Great Green Wall (AICRM).- This programme was approved during the 28th meeting of the GCF Board US$ 143 million, of which US$ 82.8 million are grant resources from the GCF. The African Development Bank, Africa Risk Capacity and IFAD co-finance the program. AICRM is one element of IFAD's One Sahel Initiative which ensures complementarity amongst all IFAD programmes in the regions and provides parallel co-financing to the IFAD
• Joint Programme for the Sahel in Response to the Challenges of COVID-19, Conflict and Climate Change (SD3C) covering G5 Sahel Countries and Senegal- approved by IFAD board in December 2020. The AICRM Sahel Regional programme's main overall objective is to increase resilience and enhance the livelihoods and food and water security of smallholder farmers and rural communities through integrated climate risk management of natural resources (water, soil, ecosystems) in seven countries of the Green Great Wall (GGW). It also seeks to enable these countries to adopt low emission, climate resilient pathways for agricultural development by promoting, upgrading and scaling up risk management measures in agriculture while delivering various adaptation and mitigation co-benefits, including the avoidance of 21.5 million tCO2q GHG emissions. To achieve the expected outcome, the programme is divided into three mutually reinforcing and interlinked components that contribute to the following three outcomes: component 1 (risk preparedness); component 2 (risk reduction); component 3 (risk transfer). The programme will directly benefit 800,000 households and indirectly over 5.3 million beneficiaries of which 50 percent will be women.

Additionally, there is a second regional programme approved by the GCF called Inclusive Green Finance Initiative (IGREENFIN)

• banks) to improve access to concessional blended
• finance (green loans at 0 percent with longer tenors) and technical assistance to smallholder farmers particularly women (50%) and youth (50%) organized into MSMEs, Cooperatives, Farmers Organizations. The USD 216 million investment cofinance by AfDB and IsDB will coordinate and synthesize impacts of individual GCF funded projects and programmes through enhanced knowledge management and exchanges, innovation and digital transformation technologies. IGREENFIN I intends to directly build the resilience and adaptive capacity of 380,000 smallholder farmers organized around 1,500 MSMEs and 2,500 FOs or cooperatives, and approximately 2.5 million indirect beneficiaries in the five selected countries (Burkina Faso, Côte d
• Ivoire, Ghana, Mali and Senegal). The programme is expected to reduce 225,000 tCO2e annually (5,6 million tCO2e over a 25year lifespan of investments) from AFOLU, energy use and power generation.

Finally, a third programme in the region, funded by the GCF and GEF, the GGW Regional Support Programme (RSP) will increase the collective impacts of the individual GCF, GEF and AF projects and programmes through two outputs: i) Enhanced knowledge management and exchanges to accelerate the uptake of good practices, increase learning and inform policy and investments across GCF and other projects, and ii) Innovation and digital transformation technologies are mapped and a digital and innovation ecosystem built.

The Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) will be in charge of the overall coordination performance and monitoring of the programmes, reporting of results and impacts, knowledge management with the GGW, and south-south exchanges between countries.-

Key Responsibilities and duties

The Regional Knowledge management specialist has a coordinating role for knowledge management and communication activities for the programmes, in support of the main national stakeholders involved in the programmes (GCF NDAs, GEF OFPs, GGW national agencies/coalitions in the country,..).

The Regional Knowledge management specialist supports all knowledge activities, under the supervision of the Programme Manager (SD3C & 1 Sahel Coordinator) with close engagement of the Senior Programme Coordinator IGREENFIN component 3, and with close collaboration with the WCA regional KM officer.

In this context, the Regional Knowledge management specialist's core duties/responsibilities will include the following: 1 - CONTRIBUTION TO MANAGEMENT OF PROGRAMMES: Elaborate the knowledge management, learning and communication operational plan, its baseline and ensure its smooth implementation, with clear definition of responsibilities for each task, clear deliverable outcomes, indicators, processes, tools and budget, including detailed resource needs (human and financial) and timeline.

Identify and find innovative ways for knowledge products sharing, based on existing platforms and networks and technologies;

Coordinate with the team members (AICRM and IGREENFIN-1 programmes, IFAD One Sahel) and national Knowledge specialists and coordinators to jointly identify the main milestones and knowledge products to be developed and include them in the KM operational plan.

Elaborate guidelines for knowledge management at project level and organize technical aspects of virtual trainings on knowledge management to strengthen project capacities.

Provide Technical Assistance and accompany the funded projects in the design and development of knowledge products, by strengthening their knowledge management capacities (toolbox, trainings, etc.);

Propose different modalities for peer-to-peer learning within the sector (webinar series, newsletter, communities of practice, collaboration tools, etc.), knowledge dissemination and follow-up activities; and elaborate formats for knowledge management products for e.g., the documentation of best practices and lessons learned in close coordination with the team of the sector and the PSU, considering the products and formats that other sectors might be developing;

Guarantee the management, classification, organization and availability of the knowledge products in the platforms indicated by the contracting authority;

Enhance the regional coordination & programming among GCF NDAs, AEs and GEF, AF, and GGW national focal points and other representatives of GGW national coalitions (Ministries, Technical and financials- partners

• .)

Participate to periodical reporting to the GGW instances (GGWSSI, PAGGW, GGW accelerator) on knowledge management aspects;

Provide technical specifications for ToRs for externals consultants who shall deliver services and products related to knowledge management;

Liaise with relevant KM networks within (e.g., KMCG) and beyond IFAD (e.g., UN KM Network, MDLP) to source ideas and solutions to programmes- KM challenges;

Develop and maintain an GGW events calendar with GGW national agencies at national level ensuring that they are Identified at early stage and supports senior management and relevant programme teams to develop and manage messages and information material to ensure the success of major events;

Develop and maintain contacts with key print and electronic regional and international media (including radio, TV, news websites and blogs) to supply them with newsworthy material about the GGW work in the region.

Perform any other duty as required.

• AGENT OF CHANGE:

The incumbent understands and applies the principles of change management and proactively serves as a role model for transformation and capacity for acceptance of change.

S/He uses a seasoned knowledge of results based management and budgeting, enterprise resource planning (ERP) and other information technology to develop, analyze and promote acceptance of new methods of work and automated work flows.

The incumbent manages change through consultations with finance colleagues and outreach to internal and external stakeholders to build understanding of and to ensure open and regular communications pertaining to current and planned changes in the Fund's financial standards, regulations and rules.

• MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS:

The Finance and Accounting Specialist is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of IFAD resources

Work Relationships

The Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) will be in charge of the overall coordination performance and monitoring of the programmes, reporting of results and impacts, knowledge management with the GGW, and south-south exchanges between countries. The selected candidate will be engaged in a 6-year programme based in Dakar, operating within the Regional Coordination Unit. The successful candidate will report to the Programme Manager of the IFAD one Sahel initiative and will work in close coordination with the AICRM and IGREENFIN-1 coordinators.

Qualification Requirements

Education:

Education includes Advanced university degree from an accredited institution listed on https://whed.net/home.php in project management, Knowledge management, international development, climate finance, etc. with sound knowledge of in project management and issues facing rural economies of developing countries or related field is required. Note: For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in IFAD's Human Resources Implementing Procedures.

Experiences:

At least five (5) years' of progressively relevant sound international professional experience in knowledge management and communication within the field of international development, preferably within the context of climate resilience and agricultural development.

Track-record producing a wide range of communication tools and supports, and with a good knowledge of media technology, web-based management systems, social media for public information/advocacy, strong ability to translate technical information into a wide variety of target groups.

Proven experience with designing a large spectrum of instructional materials (e.g., e-learning modules, blended learning, case-based, collaborative learning, Capitalization of experience, etc.).

Strong verbal and written communication skills to convey knowledge effectively and engage stakeholders

Experience with multilateral climate funded (e.g. GEF, AF, GCF) projects is an advantage.

Perfect mastery of KM procedures and product typologies, frameworks, and approaches

Familiarity with metrics related to knowledge usage and effectiveness, including engagement levels with KM tools and platforms.

Knowledge of adult learning principles and the ability to design and deliver training programmes that enhance staff knowledge and skills.

Ability to lead workshops, training sessions, and discussions to foster knowledge sharing and collaboration among team members and partners.

In-depth Stakeholder Engagement knowledge and practical ability to work collaboratively with diverse constituencies, including government officials and agencies, NGOs, community organizations and donors, ensuring that their perspectives and contributions are fully incorporated into KM processes, and products

Knowledge of IFAD procedures will be an asset.

Experience conducting learning needs analysis to determine gaps in knowledge and refine institutional goals.

Experience evaluating the most appropriate instructional methods for different audiences learning styles (e.g., lectures, hands-on activities, blended learning), including developing engaging and interactive learning experiences.

Sound knowledge of M&E issues in project management and issues facing rural economies of developing countries

Languages and other skills

Excellent English and French is required.

IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD's Human Resources Policy, the President can decide to assign them to any of the activities of the Fund. All International Professional staff members are required to be geographically mobile and positions in the professional category are subject to changes in location at any time in line with strategic priorities and reform initiatives in IFAD.

IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic, social or political background, colour, nationality, religion, age, gender, disability, marital status, family size or sexual orientation in line with its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and the Policy to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

Please be aware of fraudulent job offers. IFAD does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Official communication from IFAD will always come from e-mails ending in @ifad.org

In accordance with IFAD's provisions, all new staff members will normally be placed at the first step in the grade level for which they have been selected. For information on IFAD's remuneration package, please visit IFAD's compensation and benefits page on our website. Applicants are invited to use the ICSC compensation calculator to estimate the salary and benefit entitlements.

Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.

In the interest of making most cost effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful.

https://www.ifad.org/en/careers/compensation-and-benefits https://commonsystem.org/cp/calc.asp https://webapps.ifad.org/members/eb/134/docs/EB-2021-134-R-9.pdf https://www.ifad.org/documents/38711624/42415556/SEA_e_web.pdf/85275c4d-8e3f-4df0-9ed8-cebaacfab128?t=1611326846000

This call is advertised as a short-term assignment with a duration of initially 6 months and expected to start shortly after selection. Should an external candidate (including consultants and staff members not meeting IFAD HR Implementing Procedures' definition of 'internal') be selected, the contract type would be that of a short-term professional (TPO). In the event an IFAD staff member, holding a Fixed Term contract be selected, the movement would be implemented as a Temporary Assignment through the applicable provisions. Applicants should verify and obtain their supervisors' support to be released in the event they are selected.