Knowledge Management and Communications Specialist

Project Background

The USAID Uganda Feed the Future Water and Food Systems (WSF) Activity is a five year activity (2023-2028) that aims to inclusively and equitably improve food and water security in the Kyoga Basin in northeastern Uganda, specifically three watersheds – Lokok, Awoja, and Lokere, by empowering individuals and communities to mitigate and adapt to shocks and stressors in order to improve livelihoods, maintain nutrition and health wellbeing, address drivers of conflict, and reduce reliance on humanitarian assistance. This area is home to pastoralists whose livelihoods are at risk due to violent cattle raiding and the effects of climate change (drought and flooding). This part of Uganda also suffers from fragmented markets, chronic underinvestment in public services, and a lack of private sector investment. This Activity is aligned with the Water and Development II (WADI II) scope to access critical technical services in support of the U.S. Government’s Global Water Strategy, Global Food Security and Strategy Refresh, Agency Climate Strategy, and the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience; and is a cornerstone of the USAID Uganda (2022) Country Development Cooperation Strategy Development Objective (DO) 2, Resilient Growth Enhanced. The activity aims therefore aims to achieve results under the following development objectives:

• Improve water supply and integrated water resource management.
• Increase equitable access to sanitation and hygiene services for households and schools.
• Improved agriculture-based livelihoods.
• Increased consumption of nutritious foods among women and children.
• Expanded access to financial resources for women, men, youth, indigenous people, and marginalized groups.
• Improve local capacity to manage shocks and stressors.

FtF WFSA will enhance market systems, strengthen relevant institutions, expand access to climate-resilient services, and—in two of the most vulnerable of the 21 districts covered by the activity—employ “graduation” approaches to assist the ultra-poor. These initiatives will incorporate conflict sensitivity, local leadership, climate change adaptation, and approaches inclusive of women, youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and indigenous groups.

Role’s Purpose

The Knowledge Management & Communications (KMC) Specialist will spearhead WFSA knowledge management (KM) and communications activities. The KMC Specialist will collaborate with the WFSA team to synthesize and communicate the project’s results, enhance communication and outreach, and strengthen the project’s capacity for knowledge-driven integrated programming. S/he will also support the sharing and promotion of knowledge products about project activities through key communication channels and will engage critical partners and communities of practice through strategic outreach and innovative multicultural communication practices. The KMC Specialist will be instrumental in maintaining a strong and positive project image and effectively capturing and disseminating the project’s achievements and lessons to support ongoing learning and improvement. The KMC Specialist will be based in Moroto, Uganda, with travel as required to report on key project activities.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Knowledge Management

• In collaboration with the MEL team, technical teams, and senior leadership, design and execute a knowledge management strategy to capture, organize, and disseminate WFSA results and lessons learned for both internal and external audiences.
• Create, organize, and maintain a knowledge management system that easily facilitates access to WFSA communication materials, reports, and other technical documents.
• Work with technical teams to support drafting of technical reports, policy briefs, abstracts, manuscripts, etc.
• Create, identify and/or facilitate opportunities for information and knowledge sharing, such as through Communities of Practices, workshops, conferences, online forums and discussion groups, etc.
• Track and refine the usage of KM tools and resources, gather feedback, in order to continuously improve KM practices.
• Support building of relationships and collaboration efforts with local, national multi-sectoral stakeholders in order to exchange knowledge on key results and innovative approaches
• Support FtF WFSA’s Collaboration, Learning and Adaptation (CLA) agenda to provide and promote necessary knowledge management products and services.

Communications

• Develop and execute the project’s overall communications strategy, catering for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Identify key audiences for project communications; design and carry out rapid assessment of communication channels most utilized by key audiences to inform communications strategy, including audience segmentation and communication approaches for reaching target audiences.
• Lead FtF WFSA’s reporting to USAID, including Biweekly Updates, Quarterly Progress Reports, Annual Reports and the Final Report. Working closely with FtF WFSA technical staff and subcontractors to identify and craft stories that showcase impact, lessons learned, and good practices.
• Work with technical and security team to ensure communications are nuanced for the local context, ensuring the promotion of local ownership and managing the identification of USAID in a way that does not overshadow the role of local government or negatively impact the perception of the activity.
• Work with technical and senior leadership to oversee project publicity events including launches, high level site visits among others.
• Deliver high-quality writing and communications support, with only limited supervision. Develop communications materials including talking points and presentations, website content, fact sheets, presentations, reports, photo-reporting and other collateral materials that effectively showcase the project’s impact, lessons learned, and good practices.
• Determine appropriate branding and marking approaches for each activity in each region, identifying opportunities where it is appropriate to identify and promote USAID support, and those where the identification of USAID would be detrimental to the success of the activity and an exception to USAID branding should be requested.
• Represent WFSA with USAID/Uganda’s Communications team to ensure Activity is aligned with USAID communication priorities and the Branding Implementation and Marking Plan is current and up to date with any required changes.
• Lead trainings on branding requirements, reporting and other communications related topics with WFSA staff, grantees, and other internal or external stakeholders, as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications or a relevant field; Advanced degree preferred.
• At least 9 years of experience in knowledge management, communications, including writing success stories, social media, report writing, and producing visual presentations.
• Experience in multi-media communications approaches including conducting interviews and writing success stories, photography and videography, social media that showcase project milestones.
• Experience in creating and implementing knowledge sharing platforms.
• Demonstrated knowledge of USAID Branding, Implementation and Marking requirements and reporting protocols preferred.
• Experience in development and implementation of communication plans and Branding Implementation and Marking Plans, preferred.
• Prior work experience in Uganda, required.
• Professional proficiency in English is required, and proficiency in local languages is preferred.

Skills

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Attention to detail, able to manage one’s work, take initiative, set schedules and meet deadlines without close supervision.
• Team player, who can coordinate across several teams within FtF WFSA.
• Ability to communicate project activities and impact to a range of external and internal stakeholders.

Reporting

The Knowledge Management & Communications Specialist will report to the MEL Director.