Knowledge Communication Officer

Duties

• Support knowledge management activities under SWIOP, including coordination with key regional partners such as WIOMSA, the Nairobi Convention, IOTC, SIOFA and other scientific institutions
• Ensure regular interaction with regional stakeholders, including WIOMSA, GIZ and the Nairobi Convention, to facilitate information flow, coordination and visibility of project activities
• Coordinate with the SWIOP Secretariat, led by GIZ, regarding knowledge management aspects and the production of knowledge products
• Contribute to programme-wide knowledge products in coordination with the SWIOP Secretariat and other implementing partners
• Contribute to the follow-up and valorisation of research and science-related products and grants, particularly those implemented through WIOMSA
• Collect, organise and document key results, knowledge assets and lessons learned from project activities and supported initiatives
• Ensure coordination and information exchange with other regional and international scientific programmes, including the BRIDGES programme, in order to maximise synergies, avoid duplication and enhance the visibility of project-supported research activities
• Where applicable, identify additional knowledge management expertise required and coordinate expert deployment
• Maintain and continuously update a structured repository of technical studies, scientific publications, reference documents and other knowledge resources relevant to the programme
• Transform the outputs of studies, consultancies and project activities into practical knowledge products that support programme implementation and decision-making
• Develop high-quality technical briefs, knowledge notes and thematic summaries on priority topics
• Produce policy briefs translating scientific and technical evidence into actionable recommendations for policymakers and practitioners
• Prepare synthesis papers that consolidate findings
• Contribute to the development and animation of a regional community of practitioners around marine and coastal ecosystem resilience and Nature-based Solutions
• Support the structuring, facilitation and dissemination of knowledge within existing regional platforms and networks
• Promote exchanges between practitioners, researchers and institutions to enhance uptake of project results
• Facilitate cross-learning between SWIOP partners, implementing agencies and external stakeholders
• Connect the knowledge and data produced by SWIOP 1.2 and SWIOP 3 with the other SWIOP pillars
• Produce accessible and high-quality knowledge and communication products, including briefs, factsheets and summaries, aimed at translating scientific and technical outputs into formats usable by practitioners and decision-makers
• Ensure the visibility and valorisation of results from grant-funded activities, particularly those implemented through WIOMSA
• Support the implementation of the programme’s communication and outreach strategy in coordination with the SWIOP Secretariat and implementing partners
• Ensure compliance of knowledge and communication products with Expertise France and European Union communication and visibility requirements
• Coordinate communication planning across project components, aligning it with strategic milestones and the reporting cycle
• Important: The Knowledge & Learning Officer is responsible for knowledge generation, technical capitalisation and dissemination of evidence produced by the programme. Monitoring, evaluation, indicator tracking and donor reporting remain under the responsibility of the Monitoring & Evaluation Officer

Requisites

• Postgraduate university degree (Bachelor’s or Master’s) in: Marine Science, Marine Ecology, Environmental Science, Ocean Governance, Fisheries, Coastal Management, Climate Change, Natural Resource Management, or another relevant discipline
• Additional training in knowledge management, science communication or international development would be considered an asset
• At least 5 years of professional experience in knowledge management, scientific coordination, research, technical advisory, or learning and capitalisation within international development or environmental programmes
• Demonstrated experience in marine conservation, ocean governance, blue economy, coastal ecosystem management, Nature-based Solutions, fisheries or related fields
• Experience in synthesising scientific and technical information into policy briefs, technical notes, knowledge products or decision-support materials
• Demonstrated experience coordinating or supporting technical studies, consultancies, research programmes or scientific partnerships
• Demonstrated experience in organizing and facilitating technical workshops, capacity-building activities and events
• Experience working with regional organizations, research institutions, universities or international scientific networks
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing communication strategies, preferably aligned with EU visibility guidelines
• Experience working with regional institutions in the WIO region is an advantage
• Strong writing, editing and content creation skills
• Strong skills in outreach and dissemination of scientific content
• Ability to translate scientific and technical evidence into practical knowledge products for different audiences
• Strong understanding of marine and coastal ecosystems and current international policy frameworks related to ocean governance and biodiversity conservation
• Ability to critically review technical reports, consultancy deliverables and scientific publications
• Strong facilitation and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with scientists, policymakers, practitioners and development partners
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple knowledge products, studies and partnerships simultaneously
• Ability to engage with regional partners and facilitate knowledge exchange across institutions
• Proficiency in social media management, web content management and basic design tools, such as Canva, Illustrator and Adobe Suite
• English: Fluency in both spoken and written English is mandatory
• French: Proficiency is highly desirable
• Portuguese: Knowledge of Portuguese would be considered a strong asset

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted