The Save the Children Fund, commonly known as Save the Children, was established in the United Kingdom in 1919 to improve the lives of children through better education, health care, and economic opportunities, as well as providing emergency aid in natural disasters, war, and other conflicts. After passing a century, which it celebrated in 2019, it is now a global movement made up of 29 national member organizations which work in 120 countries.

ROLE PURPOSE: 

Serves as the primary point of contact for knowledge and data management within the USAID/LEGO Foundation Childhood Development Activity. He/she works with internal and external stakeholders to identify, collect, organize, and disseminate information and resources. Develops and implements processes and systems for managing organizational knowledge. He/ She assists the project team by developing methodology and guidance documents in information management, facilitating training and information exchange internally within SCI and externally. The Knowledge and Data Management Specialist prepares and processes information and data and supports the design of data collection tools. S/he plays a key role in acquiring, validating and analyzing data received from a range of sources and creating various communication material. The specialist provides leadership in the use of traditional and digital learning approaches to develop and implement innovative, creative, and effective strategies to capture, interpret, and share technical knowledge.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to:  Research and MEAL Lead

Staff directly reporting to this Post:  None

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

• Creates and maintains a master database, with gender and disability segregation and as per the requirements for donor reporting, graphically tracking with dashboards all the information necessary on time.
• Supports strategic and operational decision making by processing and analyzing data and information and presenting it in the format most useful for analysis (e.g. reports, maps, infographics, and interactive graphics).
• Organizes design, plan and carries out the collection, verification, evaluation, analysis, compilation and dissemination of statistical data including monthly beneficiaries’ data.
• Undertakes field missions to support data visualization and mapping activities in field operations.
• Ensures proper storage of program/project documents (including assessments, proposals, agreements, reports, surveys, and evaluation) so as to use this knowledge base to promote learning.
• Coordinates with and trains staff in developing and sharing the information management system.
• Ensures staff within the Country Office (CO) and field offices have access to needed information on a regular basis.
• Supports the CO with data collection to reflect the project work, validation, and write-up of progress reports as requested.
• Prepares information as requested by Save U.S, USAID, CO, etc.  in collaboration with senior advisors and Research and MEAL Lead, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
• In coordination with the Research & MEAL Advisor, regularly collects case studies, success stories, and human interest stories that tell an interactive story of the development impact of Gateway project interventions.
• Facilitates dissemination of evaluation and study findings in various forums such as quarterly/annual reviews and learning sessions.
• Designs, coordinates and/or implements effective knowledge sharing events.
• In coordination with the Communication Advisor, writes and compiles public awareness products such as, brochures, newsletters, posters, etc.
• As required, provides trainings to raise awareness on the importance of learning.
• Captures and disseminates lessons learnt from monitoring & evaluations and follows up on action planning, maintains a lessons learned database.
• Carry out other information management-related tasks according to the needs and as directed.
• Contributes to the development of a dashboard to visualize monitoring and evaluation findings.
• Leads development and presentation of relevant information for evidence-based learning and decision-making.
• Provides periodical reflections and recommendations to the Chief of Party and Research and MEAL Lead and other stakeholders to uptake evidence utilization.
• Participates in the design/implementation of monitoring and evaluation of knowledge management interventions.
• Supports the preparation of monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual reporting.

Data analysis and creation of knowledge products:

• Supports and trains others on the visualization of data, including GIS data, using relevant software such as QGIS, Adobe Illustrator, Excel, Affinity
• Leads the quantitative analysis of data using relevant software applications such as Excel, STATA, R and/or Python in support to the Research agenda;
• Develops dashboards presenting data for internal and external use;
• Proposes analytical themes based on data trends;
• Leads on the drafting of snapshots and other quantitative analytical products;
• Leads on the review and finalization of all quantitative research products

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency
• Commitment to Save the Children Values

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• At least a Bachelor’s degree in statistics, data and information management; Advanced degree in journalism, communications, organizational learning, knowledge management, social science, economics, or other discipline relevant to M&E.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, Amharic (knowledge of additional Ethiopian languages such as Afan Oromo, Tigrigna, Somali will be an added advantage) including an ability to communicate very technical findings to both technical and non-technical audiences, including project managers and senior management.
• Excellent interpersonal, analytical, and training skills.
• Computer literacy of Microsoft Office Suite especially in using Word and Excel
• Experience of both qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques, including conducting focus group discussions and other methodologies.
• Excellent experience of data entry involving large data sets
• Knowledge of data modeling and data management tools and methodologies
• Knowledge with at least one scripting language such as Python.
• Demonstrated experience working with IT and backend web design/building support teams.
• Expertise in working with a variety of stakeholders, including host country government personnel, NGO partners, international donor agencies and other stakeholders.
• Prior experience in developing and/or coordinating communities of practice.
• Prior experience working on a USAID-funded project.
• At least 7 years’ experience working with knowledge management frameworks in the context of development assistance programs/projects, preferably in the education sector.
• At least 5 years’ experience working in international development and/or humanitarian work, and experience of working on information management.
• Demonstrated experience creating user-focused knowledge management products.
• Proven track record coordinating and contributing to successful knowledge products in global health.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the application of information technology to knowledge management.
• Prior experience with USAID activities, including strong conceptual and practical knowledge of USAID’s CLA framework.
• Demonstrated skill and experience in facilitating groups, meetings, and events (both online and in-person), resulting in collaborative decision-making, agreed-upon action items/priorities, and strong outcomes.
• Experience of effectively communicating findings to internal/external stakeholders.
• Experience of working with children, ideally using child-friendly data collection methodologies
• Commitment to the user-experience, including understanding needs, delivering user- focused experience and building stakeholder buy-in.
• Good organizational skills, attention to detail and reporting in a timely manner.
• Excellent team player/building and relationship building skills.
• Ability to interact well with people (including children) and proven experience of building strong relationships with community members
• A confident, flexible and initiative-taking attitude with the ability to work independently, to be proactive in working with others, a willingness and commitment to work long hours and/or over weekends and to spend considerable amount of time in remote field sites.
• Commitment to and understanding of SCI’s aims, values and principles.
• Knowledge of project management cycle.

Desirable

• Experience of working on beneficiary participation, information sharing and setting up or running complaints mechanisms
• Ability to perform duties that require very close attention to detail and synthesize large amounts of information effectively.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• A demonstrable ability to work in a pro-actively diverse organization.