Vacancy: Mid-Level Knowledge Management/Communication Specialist

Job Description

Strengthening the Capacity of African Parliamentarians, Policy Makers, and Organizations/Institutions to Use Evidence in Policies and Legislation (SCAPE) Project

Implementing Partners

United States Department of Agriculture and Foreign Agriculture Services (USDA/FAS); University Of Rhode Island (URI) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana

Coordinating Center

Bureau of Integrated Rural Development (BIRD), College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, KNUST, Ghana

Introduction

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, the University of Rhode Island, USA, and the ASSESS project are seeking highly qualified candidates for immediate engagement to implement the SCAPE activity. The Analytical Support Services and Evaluations for Sustainable Systems in Agriculture, Environment and Trade (ASSESS) project is implemented by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in partnership with The University of Rhode Island (URI) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

SCAPE Activity Description

The purpose of SCAPE is to strengthen the capacity of select West African parliamentarians, parliamentarian networks/associations, policy makers, and policy-focused organizations/institutions in evidence-based and data-driven legislation and policy making. The expected outcome of the activity is that selected parliamentarians, policy makers, and organizations supported by this activity will be able to effectively perform their functions of oversight, policymaking, advocacy, and national decision-making by ensuring appreciation, demand, and utilization of evaluative evidence and other data from various sources in their daily work. This activity also helps to address the important question of government transparency, accountability, and effectiveness. The overall goal is to promote economic growth and sustainable development in Africa through increased evidence-based and data-driven legislation and policy making. SCAPE will focus on four primary objectives and its associated illustrative activities:

1. Increased evidence-based decision-making skills of parliamentarians, policy makers, and regional and national organizations/institutions engaged in policy advocacy.
   
   
   
   
   • Assessment of current state of use of evidence in legislative and policymaking processes.
   
   
   • Identification of “evidence champions”
   
   
   • Virtual regional trainings, including training of trainers, and training for parliamentarians
   
   
   • and policy makers, regional organizations, and media/journalists.
   
   
   • A “How To” Guide on Strengthening Evidence-based Legislation and Policies.
   
   
   • In-country/face-to-face clinics/workshops for parliamentarians and policy makers, regional organizations, and media/journalists.
   
   
   
   


2. Improved strategic planning, monitoring, and oversight of legislative and policy actions.
   
   
   
   • Supporting parliamentarian M&E Plans/systems
   
   
   • Supporting Oversight and Evaluations of Legislation and Policies
   
   
   • Supporting National Evaluation Policies and M&E Systems
   
   
   
   


3. Increased access to and use of evidence through strengthened platforms for knowledge sharing and peer learning.
   
   
   
   • Strengthening existing platforms
   
   
   • Developing and disseminating videos, brochures, policy briefs, evaluation syntheses, and
   
   
   • other sensitization and communication materials
   
   
   • Webinars and virtual study tours to facilitate experience sharing and networking
   
   
   
   


4. Development of resources and tools that will enable USAID Missions in Sub Saharan Africa to work more effectively with Parliamentarians to strengthen evidence used in decision making.

Mid-Level Knowledge Management/Communication Specialist

• Type of position: Local hire (engaged by Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana)


• Expected duration of assignment: August 2021 to September 15, 2022


• Hours: Full time


• Location: Virtual, with travel within Ghana and West Africa when required


• Salary: To be determined by Experience and Education

Roles and Responsibilities

The mid-level Knowledge Management/Communication Specialist will work hand in hand and under the direction from the Senior Knowledge Management Specialist to implement tasks designed to increase access to and utilization of evidence/data information.  Such tasks include facilitating information sharing and peer-to-peer learning, strengthening knowledge management/communication platforms, as well as webinars and virtual study tours.

Required Skills or Experience

• Minimum of a master’s degree in Knowledge Management, Communications, Development and Communication, Information Management or a related area


• 5-7 years of knowledge/data management experience


• Extensive experience producing and proof-reading/editing various communication products such as brochures, policy briefs, infographics, and reports


• Experience synthesizing and communicating M&E data to a variety of audience, including non-M&E audiences such the public


• Experience facilitating knowledge sharing, with particular focus on M&E or research data, using various communication platforms


• Proficiency in English and French (writing/reading/speaking) preferred


• Ability to travel frequently to and within the West Africa region when required.