The main purpose of the post is to capture experience, knowledge, and evidence from WAE’s work, organize this knowledge through effective management systems, promote uptake of the information through sharing, dissemination, and outreach mechanisms. The incumbent will oversee and lead development of a WaterAid Ethiopia (WAE) Knowledge Management (KM) Strategy aligned with priorities identified in the Country Strategic Plan (CSP), and implement the Strategy. Through the KM Strategy, WAE will improve its internal learning processes, increase WAE’s level of contribution to global WaterAid (WA) learning processes, and strengthen its support for achieving the Government’s Universal Access targets for WASH. The post-holder also will provide strategic leadership to position knowledge management as a central pillar of WAE operations.

Strategic Leadership

• Provides strategic direction for the WAE Knowledge Management (KM) function in line with WAE’s overall strategic direction and CSP.
• Establishes a WAE Knowledge Management Strategy, in cooperation with the Research & Evaluation Specialist and the Head of Programme Quality, and other members of the Technical Services department.
• Leads WAE’s implementation of the KM Strategy, including design and delivery of internal capacity building and support mechanisms.
• Supports efforts to be well-positioned within the WASH sector so as to help ensure WAE’s contribution to sector knowledge is maximally effective.
• Develops and supports mechanisms to promote effective communication and knowledge sharing between WAE offices and among professional staff.

 Learning and Communications

• Leads WAE’s KM work in line with priorities identified in the CSP.
• Provides technical support to documentation, learning and dissemination efforts.
• Provides advice to ensure WAE adherence to WA’s Learning and Communications policies. 
• Leads efforts to document lessons from WAE projects, including research studies, preparation of case studies, and other means.
• With the Head of Programme Quality, disseminates learning and information to WAE staff and external target groups through publications, web posts, webinars, training workshops, and other relevant and innovative means. 
• Raises WAE’s profile among sector stakeholders and donors and contribute to fundraising efforts.
• Ensures publications and other knowledge products disseminated by WAE meet WA standards and review procedures. 
• Plans, organises and records WASH sector workshops and events in Ethiopia, and leads in disseminating results and findings. 
• Successful arranges visits to WAE-managed projects by supporters, donors, the media, and other interested groups and individuals. Provides relevant and up-to-date information about WAE’s work and the sector.
• Establishes and manages a photo library for WAE to support programme learning and knowledge dissemination.
• Ensures WAE research and knowledge products are effectively disseminated, including through the media and other means in Ethiopia, to maximise impact.

Partnerships

• Develops and strengthens partnerships between WAE and sector stakeholders, including Government, NGOs, IOs, and the private sector for effective sharing, capture, and dissemination of programme knowledge. 
• Works with Government partners to help develop their documentation, learning and communication systems. 
• Liaises with stakeholders and represents WAE in knowledge-related forums and networks nationally and, if requested, internationally.

Systems and Procedures

• Develops and implements WAE’s KM Strategy in line with the CSP, annual work plans, and project requirements.  
• Regularly updates and uses WA’s global Learning and Communications Strategy, and follows WA’s Dissemination Guide.  Familiarises WAE staff with these strategies and guides.

Learning and Development

• Identifies training needs of Technical Services staff and ensures those needs are addressed.  
• Supports strengthening of partner capacity in knowledge and learning.
• Keeps current with developments in the knowledge sector, including best practices for country-level and international KM; incorporates these new developments into WAE’s KM efforts.

Team Work and Cooperation

• Works closely with Technical Service department colleagues, as well as with the IT Manager, Research and Evaluation Specialist, and the Head of WASH.
• Engages in teams established to facilitate learning within WAE, and works to integrate good KM practices throughout the entire WAE organisation.

Planning and Reporting

• Takes part in organisational, departmental, team and personal work planning, implementation & review processes to maximise effectiveness of WAE initiatives.  
• Writes technical and narrative reports on KM activities to internal and external audiences as required. 
• Prepares accurate and timely periodic progress reports to WAE management on Programme Knowledge activities.
• Participates in preparation of any other relevant organisational reports.

As a cross cutting function for all the posts, WAE expects the job holder to contribute to ensuring equity and inclusion is mainstreamed in all activities; fundraising and project management responsibilities.

Required

• Minimum of 9 years of work experience for BA.

Desired:

• 7 years of relevant and proven experience for MA

C) Technical Skills

Required:

• Broad understanding and experience, preferably NGO experience, in communications, research, etc.
• Demonstrated technical ability, sound judgment, and ability to work effectively with others at all levels.
• Excellent knowledge management, communication and presentation skill, ability to synthesize information from different sources and present information – orally and in writing – to users.
• Knowledge of the WASH sector in Ethiopia and experience in engaging high level policy makers
• Fluent Amharic (written and spoken); excellent to fluent written and spoken English; abilities in other Ethiopian languages an asset
• Relevant computer skills.

D) Competencies (Personal Qualities and Behavioral Traits)

• Firm belief in team work, gender equality, sensitivity to HIV/AIDS, participatory approach and sustainable development.
• Willingness to continuously update personal IT skills and knowledge management fluency.
• Commitment to values and principles of WAE.