Cowater
International is an Ottawa-based Canadian management consulting firm
specializing in international development. We work primarily on projects
funded by donors. You can learn more about us at www.cowater.com.
We are currently seeking to recruit a Knowledge Management Specialist (Part time) to
help implement the CIDA-funded project, Better Approaches to Service
Provision through Increased Capacities in Sulawesi (BASICS). The
project purpose is to improve planning, budgeting and delivery of
health and basic education services in 10 participating districts/cities
and generate innovations and smart practices that can be replicated in
other parts of the country.
The
work of knowledge management – including the organization of the
knowledge itself, its preparation in various forms of “products”, and
the pro-active dissemination of these products – requires a certain
degree of standardization (e.g. of language), quality control,
creativity (e.g. in formats as well as distribution channels) and
technical support. The language, nuances and style used in various
documents and materials needs to be “tailored” to suit the interests,
background and priorities of various audiences.
As
of September 2013, BASICS has produced and documented a number of
innovations/smart practices products generated from experience with the
provincial, district and city partners with whom BASICS works. These
innovations/smart practices have been described in brief ‘fact sheets’
but complete documentation -- including training notes, guidelines and
related standard operating procedures – have yet to be properly
assembled, ‘standardized’ and packaged. There are a number
of “non-BASICS districts/cities” that have budgeted in 2014 to
implement these products and therefore complete, coherent packages of
information (comprising guidelines on implementation, SOPs, examples of
supporting legislation, presentations, videos, etc.) need to be
assembled, standardized and disseminated.
This
job description specifically addresses the assembly and refinement of
the KM products (innovations/smart practices) that BASICS has already
produced. Final layout and “publishing” tasks will be
handled by a layout/IT consultant but the Knowledge Management
consultant should be willing and able to provide advice and input to
support the layout process.
Expected
level of effort is about 50 working days during 2013, 100-120 working
days during 2014, with possibility of about 30 working days in early
2015. The individual selected will be supported by BASICS
full-time staff in the Jakarta and Makassar offices and by the regional
offices which will provide the inputs to the packages.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Initial responsibilities will focus on collecting, assembling, refining and standardizing a coherent, persuasive package of information for each of the KM products (innovationsssmart practices) that BASICS has already identified (in the form of fact sheets and ‘Smart Practice Packages’) in each of the districts/cities
Subsequent Responsibilities will include:
- Providing a range of input, under the general direction of the Project Director or his designate, to support all aspects of the implementation of the BASICS Knowledge Management Strategy;
- Assist BASICS Team members in identifying, designing and implementing the range of knowledge management activities supported by BASICS, including setting up knowledge sharing forums and producing knowledge products;
- Provide advice and help update the inventory of potential channels for the distribution of BASICS knowledge products;
- Continuously and pro-actively scan internet sources, knowledge networks and relevant donor programs to obtain new materials of potential use to BASICS and its partners as required.
Key Experience and Competencies Required:
- Ability to produce persuasive, professional-looking knowledge and promotional materials.
- Broad experience preparing well-written, coherent, succinct materials.
- Ability to write in Indonesian language in a clear, concise and “non-bureaucratic” fashion. A strong ability to read, write and speak English will be a valuable asset.
- Ability to tailor language and style to audiences with various degrees of sophistication and technical knowledge.
- Creative, patient and focussed on producing top-quality materials.
- Ability to work collaboratively with BASICS team members, often via internet and telephone and sometimes under tight time limits.
- Knowledge of and/or familiarity with social development challenges and issues will be a strong asset.
Interest and commitment to supporting positive changes in social services will be a strong asset.
Desired Key Qualifications
- Masters degree in public administration, management, political sciences or other relevant disciplines;
- Experience in capacity development interventions with government, particularly regional governments (district, city and provincial)
- Excellent communications and excellent writing skills.
- Particular experience with planning and budgeting, MDGs, Minimum Service Standards, local service delivery issues in the health and education sectors is considered an additional asset.
- Experience in international donor programs and their associated frameworks of results based management, reporting requirements, applying cross-cutting themes such as gender equality, anti-corruption, etc.
- Proficiency in written and oral English considered an additional asset.
- Willingness and ability to travel in Sulawesi.
Interested candidates should submit an e-mail highlighting their relevant qualifications with the subject line “Knowledge Management Specialist” and with a complete c.v. attached to info@basicsproject.or.id
This
vacancy is open to Indonesian nationals only. All applications are
appreciated, but only suitably qualified candidates will be contacted.
The closing date for applications is October 4, 2013
