The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) believe that economic inclusion – the opening-up of economic opportunities to previously under-served social groups – is integral to development. Rapid digital transformations, changing demographics, and emerging sectors requiring specific skills, such as the digital and greening economies are challenging traditional education and training systems. Under such circumstances, inclusion of disadvantaged groups of people and equipping them with the skills that match the evolving needs of the labour market is more crucial than ever to transit towards resilient and sustainable economy.

To this end, EBRD and UNDP have agreed to establish a global multi-stakeholder advisory and partnership network; ‘Skills for an Inclusive Future (S4IF)’. The overall objective of this network is fostering skills development to enhance inclusiveness, productivity, and competitiveness of businesses. The network will promote greater private sector engagement in skills development and employment, with a view to creating a more inclusive economy in which disadvantaged groups such as women, youth and people in disadvantaged regions have the necessary skills to compete in the labour market and to take part in high value-added areas of the economy.

The network’s relevance has particularly increased in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. With a view to enabling faster and effective assistance to affected businesses and individuals under the crisis, EBRD and UNDP have agreed to initiate the activities through an online launch, with a plan to gradually expand the functions in the course of the improvement of situations. Knowledge Management Coordinator will be responsible for the strategic planning and leading formulation of materials for the Knowledge and Advisory (K&A) function of the network that will enable successful progression of the network.

The K&A function will be established to contribute for the achievement of strategic goals and objectives of the S4IF, UNDP and EBRD, and for the realization of the SDGs. As such, all activities under K&A function will have clear alignment with the overall vision, mission, and intended outcome of S4IF. By doing so, K&A function will be able to fill in the strategic and knowledge gaps within the S4IF ecosystem in their pursuit to advance inclusive skills development. The K&A function will prioritize the delivery of knowledge products for COVID-19 recovery in the short term, while producing the knowledge products and services in line with the strategic objectives of the network.

Under the guidance of S4IF co-leads and under the direct supervision and reporting directly to the UNDP co-lead, ICPSD Technical Specialist, the Knowledge Management Coordinator will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following key functions:

Ensure the implementation of the Knowledge and Advisory Function:

• Proactively lead the Knowledge & Advisory function across the network and deliver prioritized knowledge products and services, including targeted training, toolkits and publications.
• Design an annual work plan on knowledge production for the S4IF network and contribute to the realization of the plan according to the S4IF K&A Roadmap study.
• Oversee the development of knowledge products with respect to UNDP ICPSD quality assurance standard: relevance, evidence-based, timely, authoritative, compelling, consistent.
• Collect, collate and disseminate best practices and case studies to increase knowledge and learning on inclusive skills and employment themes.
• Design, deliver and facilitate regular specialized technical skills development, training and information services.
• Engage with policy-oriented research networks that provide data, analysis, advice and peer review.
• Participate and conduct local and/or regional knowledge exchange workshops on relevant topics/practices, including virtually through webinars, videoconferencing, and other innovative methods.

 Monitor, manage and enhance the Knowledge and Advisory Function:

• Design, manage and continually refine the organization’s MEL framework and manage reporting expectations on the network’s members.
• Manage the impact measurement of the network and its contribution to the selected SDGs and the intended outcomes, as detailed within the Network’s MEL framework.
• Report on Knowledge & Advisory performance, progress and activities and analyse learning as to how the number of learnings, materials, toolkits and knowledge products and services can increase, providing timely updates to the wider Secretariat.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Knowledge Management Coordinator will be working under the guidance of and reporting directly to the ICPSD Technical Specialist.