Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps Nepal as the prime organization has been implementing a five-year program - “Promoting Agriculture, Health and Alternative Livelihood” (PAHAL) funded by USAID. PAHAL seeks to strengthen livelihoods, improve nutritional status and increase the capacity of vulnerable households to mitigate, adapt to and recover from shocks and stresses in communities with deep poverty and high rates of malnutrition in critical zones of the Mid-Western and Far-Western Regions of Nepal. The goal of the PAHAL program is: Vulnerable populations in the middle and high hills of Far Western and Mid-Western Nepal are food secure. The target area of the program covers 14 districts in the Mid-West and Far- West regions of Nepal. The Mid-West region comprises of 7 districts; Surkhet, Dailekh, Pyuthan, Rolpa, Rukum, Salyan and Jajarkot while the Far-West region comprises of Dadeldhura, Doti, Accham, Baitadi, Bajhang, Bajura and Darchula districts.

General Position Summary

The Knowledge Management and Learning Manager will be part of the Senior Management Team on a 5-year USAID/Food for Peace funded program, the “Promoting Agriculture, Health and Alternative Livelihoods” (PAHAL Program, actively working in 14 districts across the Far- and Mid-West development regions of Nepal. He/she will lead knowledge and learning management activities. This will require close cooperation and coordination with the program’s Chief of Party (COP), Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), Resilience Program Director, MEL Manager and the program’s sector specific Component Managers.

He/she will work with the CoP, DCoP, and Resilience Program Director to implement PAHAL’s learning strategy. This includes writing scope of works, managing the implementation of a learning strategy and managing internal and external consultants hired to deliver the products of the learning strategy. This position also requires a high quality writing skills which can be used to write/review to finalize consistent high quality reports and manuals that are developed as learning products. He/she will work alongside the Communications Specialist in the production of best practices, case studies, lessons learned, success stories and other envisioned documentation. The individual filling this position will have responsibility for monitoring and evaluating the direct implementation of program activities and therefore, will work closely with PAHAL’s consortia members to ensure a unified results management system.

As gender and social inclusion (GESI), governance and MEL are cross-cutting and core components of the PAHAL program, the Knowledge Management and Learning Manager is required to own these components and ensure GESI sensitivity and integration, governance practices and MEL systems are integrated into his/her work area. mercycorps.org

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Resilience Program Director

Works Directly with: Resilience Program Director, Deputy Chief of Party, MC Nepal Director of Programs, Communications Specialist and entire PAHAL implementation team, as well as local and international sub-grant recipients, Mercy Corps Nepal Support Departments and Mercy Corps Global Technical Support Unit (TSU) team

Knowledge and Experience

• Master’s degree in journalism, social sciences, international development or related field is required or demonstrated equivalent work experience in the field
  
• At least five years’ relevant field or management experience of complex, multi-dimensional programming
  
• Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues. Relevant knowledge management experience as follows:
  
• At least three to five years of work experience in designing and implementing knowledge and learning management activities
  
• Demonstrated experience in survey and research design, both quantitative and qualitative
  
• Demonstrated skill in training and knowledge management capacity development of field staff
  
• Demonstrated skill in coordinating information needs across technical sectors
  
• Proven experience in designing and implementing knowledge management related activities, as well as analyzing quantitative and qualitative data collected
  

• Demonstrated experience and ability to professionally and appropriately represent the organization and negotiate with a diverse range of government officials, local organizations, donors and other groups for outcomes in the best interest of program implementation
  
• Effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational, and prioritization skills are necessary
  
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Nepali required
  
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members is required
  
• Effective writing and organizational skills for report development, complete analyses and make presentations
  
• Previous experience working on USAID funded programs strongly preferred
  

Success Factors

The successful Knowledge Management and Learning Manager will be conscientious, with an ability to make excellent judgment. S/he will display an entrepreneurial spirit that is both creative and flexible. S/he will combine strong communication skills, creativity, initiative, participatory leadership and tactful decisiveness to assist in the development and implementation of PAHAL knowledge management strategy.

The Manager will have proven experience and confidence, and humility, to work effectively with a large variety of people who will be diverse culturally, economically and in social status. S/he must be sensitive to political and cultural nuance and able to consistently apply excellent judgment to a variety of demanding and fast-changing situations. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail as well as strategic vision are essential. The Manager will have the ability to foster solid working relationships with USAID, host Government, beneficiary communities, and partner organizations. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.