Senior Knowledge Management, Communications and Events Officer at African Development Bank - AfDB

Reference: ADB/17/349
Location: Côte d’Ivoire
Grade: LP5
Position N°: 50090784

The Complex

• The Board of Directors (BDIR) provides oversight and strategic direction to the African Development Bank Group. It is composed of Executive Directors who are representatives of the AfDB member countries.
• Specifically the Board is responsible for the conduct of the general operations of the Bank, and carries out the following functions:
  • Determine the general structure of the Bank’s services;
  • Approve the financing policy and take decisions concerning loans, guarantees, equity investments and fund loans by the Bank;
  • Determine the interest rates of loans and guarantee commissions;
  • Approve the Bank’s operations programme and administrative budget;
  • Prepare the work of the Board of Governors ; and
  • Submit accounts and annual reports, as well as the administrative budgets for the approval of the Board of Governors.
• The Board does its work through a series of permanent Committees that review and discuss policy and program documents and make appropriate recommendations to the whole Board.
• Independent Development Evaluation (BDEV); Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (BCRM); Secretariat to the Sanctions Appeals Board (BSAB); Administrative Tribunal (BATR) report to the Board.

The Hiring Department

• The overarching mission of the African Development Bank’s Independent Development Evaluation (BDEV) is to enhance the development effectiveness of the Bank in its regional member countries through independent and influential evaluations, oversight over self-evaluation processes and products, and proactive engagement in evaluation partnerships and knowledge-sharing activities.
• The core mandate of BDEV is to conduct independent evaluation studies, provide relevant lessons, develop and harmonize standards and practices, support evaluation capacity development together with partner agencies and attest to the validity of both processes and the results of African Development Bank’s self-evaluation activities.
• BDEV also collaborates and exchanges information with bilateral and multilateral development agencies’ evaluation departments, and undertakes joint evaluation of co-financed projects and programs.
• BDEV has three divisions; BDEV1, BDEV2 and BDEV3. BDEV1 and BDEV2 divisions focus on undertaking evaluations. BDEV3, the Knowledge Management, Outreach, and Capacity Development Division, is responsible for knowledge management, dissemination and outreach activities around IDEV evaluations, and for supporting the development of evaluation capacities both in the Bank and in its Regional Member Countries.

The Position

• The objective of the senior knowledge management, communications and events officer is to contribute to the delivery of the division work program by preparing various communication and knowledge management materials pertaining to IDEV evaluations; disseminating IDEV knowledge and communication products; and organizing knowledge sharing events led by IDEV.3.
• The incumbent provides guidance to junior consultants and the division team assistant as necessary.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the supervision and guidance of the Division Manager BDEV 3, the Senior Knowledge Management, Communications and Events Officer will:

• Support the implementation of the IDEV knowledge management and communication strategies by undertaking outreach, broadly disseminating findings and knowledge from IDEV evaluations, and responding to questions about evaluation.
• Prepare a range of knowledge and communication products summarizing and presenting the findings from IDEV evaluations, including evaluation reports, briefs and highlights, factsheets, info-graphics, audio-visual productions, lessons learned, (web) texts and articles, etc.
• Ensure that the products meet high quality standards and that their content responds to the knowledge needs of various audiences: Bank operations staff and management, authorities and beneficiaries in Regional Member Countries, other development partners, researchers/academia, the media, etc.
• Contribute to IDEV’s quarterly magazine Evaluation Matters and other publications.
• Disseminate IDEV knowledge and communication products through various channels, including print and electronic publication and distribution, direct mailings, displays at events, the IDEV website, social media, etc. Ensure that evaluation results are communicated across the Bank, including by undertaking presentations to stakeholders and staff.
• Review, analyse, and make comments on documents prepared by units of the Bank, as appropriate, to ensure that IDEV recommendations are followed up and that lessons of experience are duly incorporated in new Bank Group policies, strategies, processes and operations.
• Take responsibility for the logistical, administrative and technical preparation and organization of various knowledge sharing events (meetings, seminars, conferences, etc.), including events at the Bank’s Headquarters, regional evaluation dissemination events, and meetings of the Bank’s Evaluation Community of Practice.
• Prepare event documentation, briefing notes, talking points, announcements, materials for the website, and other materials as required; handle correspondence with speakers, invitees and other participants.
• Document the events for record-keeping and for reporting to Bank Management, staff and shareholders, partners, other stakeholders and the general public.
• Develop relationships and collaborate with other Bank departments, external stakeholders and clients to ensure the widest possible dissemination of IDEV knowledge and communication products and the successful organization of events.
• Develop relationships with evaluation departments of other organizations to exchange best practices.
• Manage the IDEV Helpdesk, providing responses to questions about evaluation and IDEV’s activities.
• Propose new activities to be included in the IDEV three-year work program.
• Report on achieved activities during the year to be taken into account in the IDEV Annual Report.

Selection Criteria
Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Hold at least a Master's degree or its equivalent in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Social Sciences, or related field.
• Have a minimum of five (5) years’ professional experience in international development.
• Knowledge of the Bank’s and IDEV’s mandate, strategic priorities, policies and operations.
• Ability to plan and manage projects, to guide project teams and to provide expert advice to project teams.
• Knowledge of methodologies, implementation, developments and trends in knowledge management and communication.
• Having private sector experience will be an added advantage.
• Ability to capture and communicate key messages succinctly.
• Ability to package and present information according to the needs of the audience.
• Excellent research, writing and reporting skills.
• Desktop publishing skills
• Experience using different communication channels, including social media.
• Skills and experience in organizing events or coordinating activities.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French, preferably with a working knowledge of the other.
• Ability to maintain overview with strong attention to detail.
• Flexibility and ability to work under pressure.
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office Suite applications (Word, Excel, Access and Power Point); knowledge of desktop publishing software like Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and/or Photoshop is an added advantage.