Senior Officer, Knowledge Management and Advocacy

Job Description

Title: Senior Officer, Knowledge Management and Advocacy

Company Name: Swisscontact Bangladesh

Vacancy: 1

Job Location: Dhaka

Employment Status: Contractual

Educational Requirements:
∎ Minimum graduation in any discipline is required, post-graduation will be preferable.
∎ Academic training in Agribusiness, Public Administration, International Development, Public Policy, Rural Market Development or Agricultural Science will be an advantage.

Job Context:
∎ Swisscontact is inviting applications from development professionals willing to be part of the team of one of Swisscontact`s flagship projects, Making Markets Work for the Chars (M4C) Project, as the Senior Officer- Knowledge Management and Advocacy. The M4C Project mandated by the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh and the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Government of Bangladesh. M4C`s aim is to reduce poverty and vulnerability of char households by facilitating market systems that enhance opportunities for income generation. Also, anchoring and institutionalisation is one of M4C`s key mandates, which in practice, envisions the capacity building of its anchoring partner(s), expanding networks by engaging civil society organisations, public departments and institutions and relevant stakeholders to strengthen its advocacy stream of activities. Also, anchoring and institutionalisation is one of M4C`s mandates, which in practice, envisions the capacity building of its anchoring partner(s), expanding networks by engaging civil society organisations, public departments and institutions and relevant stakeholders to strengthen its advocacy stream of activities. In this phase, Swisscontact, in collaboration with Rural Development Academy (RDA), Bogura, is implementing M4C in Gaibandha, Kurigram, Rangpur Jamalpur, Lalmonirhaat, and Shariatpur districts.
∎ Employment Starts (tentatively): November 2023
∎ Place of Work: Dhaka, Bangladesh with regular visits to the field locations.
∎ Purpose of the Job:
∎ This is a key position within the Public Sector Engagement team, reporting to the Senior Manager, Innovation, Knowledge Management and MRM. The incumbent, based in Dhaka with frequent travel to the field (minimum 50%), will broadly be responsible for:
∎ Supporting the Manager, Public Sector Engagement in managing public partners and ensuring all the activities related to the project`s anchoring and institutionalization.
∎ Designing, implementing, and managing of the project`s relationship with the public sector agencies, development and dissemination of knowledge products and communication materials and organise events, and to assist in overall knowledge management with the assistance of the Senior Manager, Innovation, Knowledge Management and MRM; Cluster Managers; Cluster Officers; Consultants and Implementing Partners team.
∎ Under the guidance of the Senior Manager, Innovation, Knowledge Management and MRM s/he will work closely with the Public Engagement team to accomplish the given duties and responsibilities which are mentioned below.
∎ Extent of Public Contact and Marketing:
∎ The position, as part of the job description, requires extensive contact with stakeholders. However, any agreement proposal/decisions having programmatic and/or budgetary implications must be done in consultation with the Line Manager.
∎ Physical Demands:
∎ Field visits play a large part in the incumbent`s activities; as such, it is expected that the incumbent is willing and able to take part in such activities as and when needed and sometimes within short notice.
∎ Working Conditions and Environment:
∎ This will be applicable according to the Swisscontact Finance and Operations Manual.

Job Responsibilities:
∎ Develop the M4C's public sector engagement plan with the assistance of the Adviser, Government Relations and the Manager, Public Sector Engagement, incorporating effective and measurable public sector performance indicators.
∎ Identify opportunities to engage the public sector in new initiatives focusing on char development, in collaboration with the Char Development Research Centre (CDRC).
∎ Support the involvement of the Char Development Research Centre (CDRC) in market development activities, training, workshops, and relevant local network building.
∎ Ensure the proper quality of public-sector led activities and the success of knowledge dissemination campaigns and events carried out on a regular basis.
∎ Manage M4C's communication with relevant public sector stakeholders e.g., Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Department of Livestock Service (DLS) and/or Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) etc. with support from the Manager, Public Sector Engagement and the Manager, Partnership and Grants.
∎ Contribute to designated private sector partnership(s) that may involve budget preparation, partnership design and following up on activity progress to achieve the agreed targets.
∎ Maintain all public sector engagement contents through Management Information System (MIS).
∎ Develop resources relevant to the capacity development of private and public sector actors to achieve all levels of M4C's strategic objectives relevant to anchoring and institutionalisation.

Additional Requirements:
∎ The individual must possess these skills and abilities or explain and demonstrate that s/he can perform the essential functions, using some combination of skills and abilities.
∎ 4-5 years' experience (preferred) working in the development sector is required. The experience should include, but not to be limited to, partnership management, especially the public partners, organising events, preparing knowledge and communication pieces,
∎ Excellent writing skills both in English and Bengali will be added advantage.
∎ Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to initiate productive working relationships with potential partner organizations.
∎ Experience in developing innovative partnerships and engaging relevant public sector actor(s) is preferred.
∎ Proven track records to develop and design communication materials will be an added advantage.
∎ Work experience relevant to ensure environmental sustainability will be an advantage.
∎ Must be willing to travel to project areas, as and when required.
∎ Must be a team player with standard level of gender sensitivity.

Job Source: Bdjobs.com Online Job Posting.

Application Deadline: 11 Nov 2023

Company Information:
∎ 31 Oct 2023
∎ Swisscontact Bangladesh
∎ Business : Swisscontact, Swiss Foundation for Technical Cooperation, is headquartered in Zurich and was founded in 1959 by leading figures from the Swiss private sector and Swiss universities. It is exclusively involved in international co-operation and since 1961 has carried out its own and mandated projects. In Bangladesh, Swisscontact is registered as an international non-governmental organisation (INGO) under NGO Affairs Bureau, Government of the People`s Republic of Bangladesh.

Category: NGO/Development