USAID Host & Impacted Community Resilience Activity (HICRA)

Organization: Friends in Village Development, Bangladesh (FIVDB)
Position: Coordinator – Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) & Knowledge Management (KM)
Location: Dhaka Contract Length: Open ended/Regular
Grade: III Post Type: Regular/Contractual

INTRODUCTION:

The influx of 700,000 Rohingya refugees in 2017 in Cox's Bazar, coupled with the large increase in humanitarian assistance, has created or exacerbated social and economic challenges for host and impacted communities in a region prone to natural disasters. The situation further deteriorated due to intensifying inflation, depressing local wages, and distorting market systems. Access to jobs, finance, drinking water, and government services have all been strained due to the crisis, in addition to depletion of natural resources, groundwater and forests. This ongoing situation poses significant challenges for the communities directly responsible for hosting the refugee camps but can also be felt in the region surrounding the Rohingya camps. The resulting social tensions and growing resentment among the host community towards Rohingya amplify the complexity.

The entire Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and Cox’s Bazar region – ecologically critical in nature – have also emerged as a climate-disaster hotspot. Erratic rainfall, seasonal and flash floods, tidal surges, cyclones, landslides, and droughts, continuously resulting in loss of crops, houses, and lives. To address these issues, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Bangladesh has initiated the ‘Host and Impacted Community Resilience Activity (HICRA)’, targeting host and impacted communities in Cox’s Bazar, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts districts. The program aims to enhance well-being and resilience through interventions in economic growth, livelihoods, natural resources management, WASH (with a focus on safe drinking water), DRR and eventually achieving ultra poor graduation by the program participants.
    

ROLE PURPOSE:

Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) and Knowledge Management (KM) are integral activities that help to improve development effectiveness.  The Coordinator – CLA & KM, HICRA will be responsible for designing, managing and coordinating the CLA plan and learning agenda to enhance technical and management processes. This role involves leading the knowledge management functions to systematically generate, synthesize, share, and apply learning for effective and adaptive management support toward USAID HICRA’s outcomes related to income generation; agricultural production; ultra-poor graduation; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); natural resource management (NRM), and disaster risk reduction (DRR).

Under the oversight of the Director – MEL, the Coordinator  – CLA& KM will ensure high-quality technical support, including robust planning, resource dedication, performance reporting, special studies, collaboration with the stakeholders, and learning documentation. The Coordinator  – CLA & KM will lead learning and adaptive programming activities, facilitate CLA coordination, support program effectiveness, and ensure knowledge management policies are followed for all research and learning deliverables. The role includes co-developing, organizing and facilitating learning workshops with MEL and technical leads, engaging partners in identifying evidence-based ways to adapt and scale interventions. S/he will ensure alignment of CLA plan and learning agenda in the MEL plan. The Coordinator  – CLA & KM will also provide supplemental analysis and data visualization of qualitative and quantitative research and MEL data, and track adaptive management processes and outcomes. S/he will be responsible to provide technical support, ensure effective dissemination of research findings, track adaptive management processes, travel to project areas, and ensure adherence to USAID’s KM & CLA policies.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Director – MEL
Dimensions: Dhaka-based, with field visits as required 25-30% travel
Staff directly reporting to this post: Direct: Research Associate
Doted: MEL Coordinator
Budget Responsibilities: No
Key contacts:
Senior Manager - MEL, Manager - MIS & GIS, MIS Specialist, District MEL Coordinators, Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP), Technical Leads & Advisors, Technical Coordinators, Donors, Program Managers of consortium technical and implementing partners, FIVDB Team.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Knowledge Management:

  • Develop a KM strategy that includes a framework, system, and tools for generating and sharing knowledge across USAID HICRA, engaging all partners, ensuring inclusion of all implementation regions, and with key stakeholders
  • Lead learning, knowledge management, and adaptive programming for USAID HICRA
  • Provide guidance on KM-related policies, award requirements, and best practices
  • Regular coordination and updating of KM strategy and action plan
  • Regular liaison with team members to ensure milestones are achieved within set timelines
  • Lead the design, facilitation and implementation of internal and external knowledge exchange and learning events, including preparation of materials and activities to improve peer-to-peer learning, knowledge sharing and application
  • Ensure that a learning culture is fostered within HICRA and that learning is an integral part of routine programming and staff engagement/development
  • Ensure KM functions to generate, synthesize, share, and apply learning for effective management
  • Support and provide supplemental analysis and data visualization of qualitative and quantitative research and MEL data, prepare reports and presentations for learning events
  • Prepare and disseminate research and learning findings in interactive formats, facilitating reflection and planning activities.
  • Design and implement internal and external knowledge exchange and learning events

Collaboration, Learning and Adaptation:

  • Lead the development of a comprehensive CLA plan that includes key learning questions and roles and responsibilities of stakeholders
  • Lead all internal and external CLA activities
  • Support the design of and manage the MEL framework and plan that incorporates CLA principles and components
  • Provide high-quality KM and CLA technical assistance and support to consortium members throughout the Activity life of award, upholding technical integrity
  • Coordinate, collaborate, and oversee best practice consolidation with all intermediate results, ensure that the knowledgebase is configured appropriately for optimum accessibility and widely used in adaptive programming
  • Lead the identification and responses to key learning questions, coordinate efforts among HICRA partners, and facilitate dialogue and learning around emerging issues during Activity implementation
  • Develop and/or maintain strategic relationships with relevant stakeholders to promote effective coordination, collaboration, and dissemination of program learning
  • Ensure evidence and knowledge are used for management decision-making and continuous performance improvement and adaptive programming

Reporting and Research:

  • Contribute to annual work planning and quarterly and annual reporting
  • Follow KM and CLA policies and ensure all data and reports are disseminated and processed accordingly
  • Review, edit, design, finalize and publish knowledge products
  • Support assessments, baseline, and all other surveys to assess HICRA’s impact on livelihoods and resilience
  • Support strategic communications in line with HICRA and USAID’s requirements including producing strategic information products (technical reports, best practices, case studies, success stories, lessons learned, publications, CLA applications, etc.)
  • Ensure that programmatic learning and results are fully documented, shared, and used to drive adaptive management processes
  • Lead the collection, analysis, documentation, dissemination, and use of best practices and lessons learned
  • Provide support for research and collaborate with communications team to identify interesting stories, to capture and share
  • Support public events, and internal or external workshops and CLA events to facilitate information and experience sharing and help develop plans for program adaptation
  • Participate in a community of practice or network of key stakeholders and convene periodic learning events

General:

  • Adherence to HICRA’s policies, guidance and procedures
  • Identify and respond to key learning issues and coordinate efforts among implementing partners
  • Work with multiple stakeholders and synthesize information from various sources
  • Provide capacity strengthening support on KM & CLA to all HICRA staff
  • Ensure that data and experiential learning are consistently applied throughout the project life cycle
  • Lead the design and facilitation of learning events (i.e., reflection sessions, presentations, pause and reflect sessions), including the preparation of event materials
  • Ensure robust partner engagement and consultative processes with communities, local government, civil society, other USG projects, and stakeholders as part of the HICRA’s overall approach
  • Oversee KM and CLA product compliance, deliverables, and related management
  • Complete routine coordination with HICRA staff and consultants on-site and in the field
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
ESSENTIAL

Working experience:

  • At least 5 years of progressive experience in designing, developing, implementing and managing KM & CLA for complex programs, preferably in the areas of income generation, agriculture, natural resources management, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and disaster risk reduction.
  • Prior experience working in large scale or multi-sectoral, donor funded programs such as USAID, FCDO or EU
  • Strong working familiarity with USAID requirements, regulations, and policies.
  • Experience in facilitating and supporting programmatic decision making, adaptive management, and learning.

Knowledge:

  • Strong knowledge of the Bangladesh context and understanding of development programming related to income generation, agriculture, natural resources management, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), climate change, disaster risk reduction, market systems development, resilience and/or ultra poor graduation
  • Demonstrated knowledge and skills in applying USAID policies, standards, and best practices, such as the ADS 201, the Program Cycle, and the CLA framework.
  • Contextual knowledge of CHT region and Cox’s Bazar following the Rohingya crisis will be a value addition

Skills:

  • Good organizational skills, the ability to pay close attention to detail and capable of reporting in a timely manner.
  • Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines accurately and on time.
  • Excellent report writing and presentation skills, and ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner, and to use innovative forms of communication.
  • Excellent proficiency in Microsoft Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel); experience in Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premier, InDesign) and infographics applications (CANVA) will be advantageous.
  • Willingness and ability to travel frequently to the program areas in Cox’s Bazar and the CHT districts, and other locations as required.
  • Capacity and willingness to be flexible and accommodating in difficult working circumstances.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Bangla and English; knowledge of local dialect would be advantageous.
  • Highly diplomatic and emotionally intelligent with strong oral and written communication skills to influence others.
  • Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience.

Networking:

  • Demonstrated capacity to advocate and represent HICRA at all levels
    • Leading and inspiring others
    • Delivering results
    • Developing self and others
    • Problem solving and decision making
    • Innovating and adapting
DESIRABLE

Academic:

  • Master’s Degree, preferably in Social Science, Business Administration, or relevant discipline.

Expertise:

  • Experience in collaborating and coordinating with USAID and other external stakeholders on MEL, KM & CLA related matters.
  • Experience of working with international and national NGOs within a consortium arrangement.
  • Experience in developing and implementing effective accountability mechanisms that enable the program to receive, respond, and act upon feedback from the program’s participants, partners, and other stakeholders.
  • Understanding of MEL activities - preferably USAID’s MEL indicators and reporting systems is highly desirable.
  • Experience working in Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong Hill Districts.

Attitudes:

  • Ability to work independently and as a member of the team, ability to thrive in a matrix organization,
  • Ability to be detail-oriented, and ability to manage stress effectively in a fast-paced environment.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality on work-related matters.
  • Non-discriminatory and gender sensitive
  • Willing to work in remote, rural locations
Additional job responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Health and Safety:
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with HICRA Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Application Deadline : November 4, 2024