Job
Title: Water Resources Knowledge Management Specialist
(KMS)
Reference: KMS
Job
Type:
Full-time
Job
Status: Sourcing
Location: Entebbe, Uganda
Duration: This is a regional
position. Contract duration will initially be for one (1) year with a 6-month
probation period.
Position: Regional
Reports
to:
Head, Water Resources Management
Introduction
The Nile Basin
Initiative (NBI) is an inter-governmental organization initiated and led by the
Nile riparian countries to promote joint development, protection and management
of the common Nile Basin water resources.
NBI has a Shared
Vision, namely: 'to promote sustainable socioeconomic development through the
equitable utilization of, and benefit from, the common Nile Basin water
resources'.
A wide range of
programs and projects are currently under varying stages of identification,
preparation and implementation under NBI designed to contribute towards the
realization of the NBI Shared Vision.
The NBI provides a
unique forum for the countries of the Nile Basin to move toward a cooperative
process to realize tangible benefits in the basin and build a solid foundation
of trust and confidence.
The Nile Council of
Ministers [Nile-COM] serves as the highest decision-making body of the
NBI.
The Nile-COM is
supported by the NBI Technical Advisory Committee [Nile-TAC], which is composed
of two senior officials from each member country.
NBI is managed from
three Centers.
The first Centre at
Entebbe, Uganda, forms the NBI Secretariat (Nile-SEC) and was launched in
September 1999.
It has a coordinating
role across the Basin, supports the platform for Basin-wide dialogue, and
provides and manages an interactive, intelligent, basin knowledge base.
Another Centre at
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (ENTRO) and a third Centre at Kigali, Rwanda (NELSAP-CU)
both manage the facilitation of cooperative water resources development in
their respective sub-regions.
A series of
confidence and capacity building projects under an initial Shared Vision
Program (SVP) were initiated along with the Subsidiary Action Programs (SAPs).
Most SVP projects
were concluded in December 2009 except two which have second phase and will
terminate successively by December 2012. The SVP was followed by an
Institutional Strengthening Project (ISP) covering a wide range of
institutional, technical and management capacity building.
NBI
Core Functions: the NBI performs three core functions:
Building Cooperation. The NBI convenes the Nile Council of Ministers and provides a platform upon which the member countries can negotiate issues of water management and development.
Water Resource Management. The NBI provides member countries with analytic tools and a shared information system that will enable monitoring and the sustainable management of the basin.
Water Resource Development. The NBI assists member countries to identify development opportunities and prepare projects and seek investments. Development programs are focused on power trade and generation, agriculture and watershed management.
NBI Secretariat (Nile-Sec):The Nile Secretariat is responsible for the overall corporate direction of the NBI as defined by the Nile Council of Ministers.
Building Cooperation. The NBI convenes the Nile Council of Ministers and provides a platform upon which the member countries can negotiate issues of water management and development.
Water Resource Management. The NBI provides member countries with analytic tools and a shared information system that will enable monitoring and the sustainable management of the basin.
Water Resource Development. The NBI assists member countries to identify development opportunities and prepare projects and seek investments. Development programs are focused on power trade and generation, agriculture and watershed management.
NBI Secretariat (Nile-Sec):The Nile Secretariat is responsible for the overall corporate direction of the NBI as defined by the Nile Council of Ministers.
Its operations are
divided into two main programs: the Basin Cooperation Program and the Water
Resources Management Program.
The Executive
Director position is chosen every two years on a rotating basis by the member
countries.
The Nile Secretariat
is located in Entebbe and has a staff complement of approximately 30 persons.
Water Resources
Management Department (WRMD): the Nile-Sec has established the Water Resources
Management Departmentto advance the implementation of its water resources
management functions.
These functions
include development of basin wide policies, expanding the knowledge base,
provision of expert analytical services using the Nile Basin Decision Support
System (NB DSS), and monitoring the state of the basin. In this regard, the
WRMD shall be the technical unit at the Nile-Sec for all aspects of basin-wide
water resources management.
Knowledge Management: in the context of NBI, knowledge management constitutes all activities geared towards systematic capturing, archiving, and effective utilization of knowledge resources generated through NBI\'s programs.
In this regard, KM
activities transform NBI as a learning organization thereby greatly leveraging
the use of the wealth of knowledge it has accumulated on cooperative management
and development of the shared Nile Basin water resources.
Effective Knowledge Management, thus, leads to enhanced shared understanding of the water resources of the Nile Basin thereby supporting informed riparian dialogue for a sustainable management of the shared Nile Basin water resources, on one hand, and efficient design, and implementation NBI's activities and avoiding duplication of efforts and wastage of resources.
NCORE project: Nile Cooperation for Results (NCoRe) Project is the first project of the second NBI Strategic Action Program (2012/13 - 2016/17).
The
proposed NCoRe project focuses on results in three key areas:
(i) enhancing the
platform for cooperation in the Nile basin;
(ii) providing NBI
stakeholders with tools and knowledge resources for climate resilient water
resources management; and
(iii) advancing
climate resilient and regionally significant water resources development.
The Nile-Sec intends
to employ the services of a Water Resources Knowledge Management Specialist to
strengthen its Water Resources Management Department, in general, and realize
the results of NCoRe project, in particular.
Scope of work
The scope of work for
this position constitutes all activities geared towards systematic capturing,
further processing (value addition), archiving, and effective utilization of
knowledge resources generated through NBI\'s programs.
The specific scope of
work shall include, but not limited to, the following:
Knowledge system development and management
- Identify
strategic knowledge gaps that are needed for NBI\'s business at various
levels, such as for water resources management, policy analysis
(environmental and social management), stakeholder involvements, etc. The
knowledge gaps so identified should address the needs of decision makers,
NBI management and program/project staff, national NBI offices, and the
wider public.
- Develop
specifications of knowledge contents that are needed to fill those gaps;
periodically update the status of filling those gaps and also update the
list of knowledge gaps.
- Lead the
development, deployment and maintenance of NBI Knowledge system, including
day to day operation of the system once deployed
- Liaise with SAPs
in the identification of knowledge gaps, available knowledge resources and
preparation of knowledge products
Knowledge
generation, archiving and maintenance
- Develop an
inventory of available knowledge resources in NBI centers that can be used
to fill the gaps and those knowledge contents that need to be generated to
fill the gaps
- Based on
existing knowledge resources and additional analysis as needed, prepare
knowledge products (contents) to support basin-wide water resources
management in the Nile Basin. Such knowledge contents, for example, shall
include Water balance of the various sub-basins of the Nile; Hydropower
development opportunities; Agriculture development opportunities
(rain fed and irrigated); Climate Variability and Change
Implications on Nile Basin; Socio-economic profile of the Nile Basin.
- Contribute to
the preparation of strategic papers planned under Component 1a of NCoRe,
including supporting technical analysis and review of working papers.
- Collaborate closely
with the GIS/RS and Information Systems Specialist in the production of
knowledge products to meet needs of various NBI stakeholders.
- Assist in the
identification of indicators for river basin monitoring and evaluation of
these indicators on a periodic basis as per the guidance from Head, Water
Resources Management
- Lead the design,
development, production and dissemination of the Nile River State of the
Basin report
- Collaborate with
the NBI communication team in the production, dissemination of knowledge
and communication products
Project
Management Support
- Develop the
concept for and implement cross NBI-center coordination mechanisms on
knowledge management. This mechanism shall, among others, to enhance
knowledge sharing and ensure consistent approaches are used for knowledge
production, systematic archiving and dissemination.
- Supervise
consultants\' performance, relevant to specialty, to ensure the relevance
and quality, including reviewing of technical documents.
- Contribute to
the periodical reports prepared by the WRM Department.
- Maintain quality
assurance and facilitate effective monitoring and evaluation.
- Carry out other
related tasks as requested by the Head of the Water Resources Management
Department.
The workstation will
be Entebbe, Uganda, although work is likely to necessitate trips to the other
Nile Basin countries.
NBI offers a
competitive salary and benefits package commensurate with the qualifications
and relevant experience.
Women candidates are
encouraged to apply.
Qualifications
- A Masters level
degree in Water Resources Management with working experience on knowledge
management,
- Additional
experience in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Science,
or other technically related discipline would be of advantage;
- A minimum of six
years of working experience of which four years must be specialized, with
recognized technical expertise in designing, developing and management of
knowledge systems for river basin management
- Experience in
the field of water governance and information management would be
beneficial.
- Experience and
demonstrated skills in networking and outreach;
- Demonstrated
excellent writing skills, analytical and presentation and reporting
skills;
- Strong
interpersonal and communication skills;
- Outstanding computing
skills, including full fluency in the Microsoft Suite of Programs (Word,
Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Photoshop). Extensive familiarity with
internet browsers and search engines.
- Proven ability
to operate in a multi-cultural environment and to interact positively with
a wide range of stakeholders within an international and multi-government
context;
- Proven ability
to be a valued and contributing member of a multi-disciplinary team and to
exercise high-level inter-personal skills in all situations;
How
to Apply
Interested and
qualified candidates are advised to submit their applications electronically to
the Executive Director at: recruitment@nilebasin.org.
Application/cover
letters clearly indicating the position and accompanied by detailed curriculum
vitae should reach the Executive Director not later than 22 July 2013.
Women candidates are
encouraged to apply.
Only short listed
candidates will be contacted.
