Knowledge Management, Learning and Systemic Capacity Development Specialist

Organizational Context

The Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) at FAO addresses global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. OCB coordinates responses, acts as a focal point for major environmental agreements, and helps members access climate financing. It also hosts key programmes and leads initiatives on climate change and bioeconomy. FAO is seeking specialists to enhance knowledge management, learning, and capacity development, transforming them into strategic assets to strengthen institutional effectiveness and achieve large-scale impact across its environmental and agrifood programmes.

Job Purpose

The Knowledge Management, Learning and Systemic Capacity Development Specialist will play a crucial role in supporting the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) by strengthening its capabilities in knowledge generation, learning, and experience capitalization. This position aims to enhance systemic capacity development across OCB's diverse thematic units and extensive portfolio of projects and programmes. The specialist will contribute to fostering a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing, ensuring that lessons learned and best practices are systematically captured, disseminated, and utilized to improve program effectiveness and drive sustainable development outcomes within FAO's mandate.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement an OCB-customized methodology for systematic experience capitalization, capturing best practices and lessons learned to foster continuous learning and create global public goods. Conduct knowledge management and learning audits, needs assessments, and stakeholder consultations to identify gaps and opportunities, translating findings into actionable KML strategies. Assess and strengthen existing knowledge-sharing platforms and Communities of Practice to promote South-South, North-South, and gender-sensitive learning and innovation. Support the establishment of KML working groups to facilitate experience exchange and coordinated KML output delivery. Develop project and programme-level KML strategies, workplans, and monitoring frameworks to track the effectiveness of learning and capacity development activities. Provide quality assurance for training materials and capacity development products, ensuring effective knowledge transfer. Integrate systemic capacity development approaches focusing on organizations, institutions, networks, and policy environments. Design frameworks for validating and disseminating good practices and innovations. Support the development and improvement of knowledge portals and digital platforms. Collaborate with communications specialists to ensure KML products are accessible and aligned with institutional standards. Support the design and dissemination of various knowledge and communication products. Contribute to OCB-wide KML initiatives and institutional learning processes to enhance overall impact.

Work Experience

A minimum of one year of progressively responsible professional experience in knowledge management, learning, systemic capacity development, or organizational development is required for Consultant/PSA Cat C. For Consultant/PSA Cat B, a minimum of five years of relevant experience is needed. Experience within the context of environment, climate change, biodiversity, natural resources management, agrifood systems, or sustainable development programmes is preferred. Working knowledge of English is essential.

Skills

Key skills include Results Focus, Teamwork, Communication, Building Effective Relationships, and Knowledge Sharing. Proven experience in designing and quality-assuring learning materials and knowledge products is essential. Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and establish constructive working relationships with stakeholders is required. Strong communication, writing, and facilitation skills are necessary to translate complex technical content. Familiarity with digital knowledge-sharing platforms and participatory approaches is advantageous. Working knowledge of English is mandatory, with proficiency in another FAO official language being an asset.

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