Knowledge Management Specialist

Background

Organizational Context

Durable solutions are integral to the 2030 Agenda and essential for realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially the global commitment to Leave No One Behind. In Sudan, this commitment is more urgent than ever amid the ongoing conflict, which has triggered one of the largest internal displacement crises globally. As of May 2025, an estimated 11.3 million people are internally displaced, up from 3.8 million before April 2023—representing over 13% of the world’s IDPs. Sudan also currently hosts over 841,000 refugees, primarily from neighbouring countries.

Hostilities that began in Khartoum in April 2023 have since expanded across all regions, deeply impacting urban centres and resulting in widespread displacement. A majority of the displaced are being hosted within communities, placing significant strain on already vulnerable households. Many IDPs reside outside formal sites, limiting their visibility to response mechanisms. Sudan also continues to host refugees, many of whom have experienced secondary displacement, further increasing vulnerabilities and pressures on host communities.

The compounding effects of prolonged conflict, rising food and fuel prices, disrupted markets, and non-payment of public sector salaries have significantly eroded community resilience. According to the June 2024 IPC Snapshot, 25.6 million people in Sudan are projected to experience high levels of acute food insecurity between June and September 2024. Reports of gender-based violence, especially affecting displaced women and girls, continue to rise.

While humanitarian assistance remains vital, it is not sufficient to meet the scale of needs. A sustainable pathway forward requires a long-term investment in recovery and resilience. Durable solutions—focused on voluntary, safe, and dignified return, local integration, or resettlement—are critical to restoring lives, stabilizing communities, and supporting national recovery efforts.

To that end, Sudan adopted a Five-Year National Strategy on Durable Solutions in 2023 for IDPs, returnees, refugees, and host communities. The strategy offers a framework for coordinated action by government, humanitarian, development, peace, and stabilization actors, and aligns with the UN Common Approach and Priorities 2024 Furthermore, the National Plan for the Protection of Civilians (NPPOC) remains a key reference for advancing solutions, protection, and longer-term recovery, depending on evolving conditions on the ground.

The Durable Solutions Working Group (DSWG), co-chaired by UNHCR, UNDP, and DRC under the leadership of the RC/HC and HCT/UNCT, plays a central role in guiding coordination, technical dialogue, and area-based planning. State-level DSWGs have been reactivated to localize coordination, support joint return monitoring, and align programming around peacebuilding and resilience.

To further strengthen the collective response, a Durable Solutions Unit (DSU) has been established under the RC/HC’s strategic guidance. The DSU will enhance advisory and coordination functions and serve as a shared resource across national and sub-national levels. It will support stakeholders—including the Government, DSWG, UNCT, HCT, civil society, and international partners—on policy alignment, joint planning, and durable solutions programming. The unit will also work closely with the Peace and Development Advisor in the RCO to ensure synergy with broader peacebuilding and development efforts.

The UNDP administered Knowledge Management Specialist position aims at enhancing the evidence-based Data Ecosystem for solutions designing, planning, implementation, and onitoring. The  Specialist  is expected to work with UN/I/NGOs agencies at humanitarian, development and peace actors and facilitate in converging the data for decision support system development. 
 

Job Purpose

The Knowledge Management Specialist position is established within the Durable Solutions Unit (DSU) under the strategic guidance of the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) to strengthen evidence-based planning and coordination on internal displacement in Sudan. The role is central to supporting collective efforts under the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus by ensuring systematic knowledge management, data harmonization, and information dissemination that inform sustainable and context-sensitive solutions for internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, refugees, and host communities. 

Given the scale and complexity of Sudan’s displacement crisis—now the largest in the world with over 11.3 million IDPs—the Knowledge Management Specialist will ensure that high-quality, timely, and accessible data and knowledge products are available to support joint planning, policy dialogue, and programming by the UN Country Team (UNCT), Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), Durable Solutions Working Group (DSWG), government actors, and partners. The Knowledge Management Specialist will play a critical role in translating technical data into actionable insights and ensuring that the perspectives and priorities of displacement-affected populations are reflected in durable solutions strategies at both national and sub-national levels.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

1.)    Ensure Data Management and Analysis

 •     Collect and consolidate displacement GIS, Spatial and physical data from various sources (e.g., IOM DTM, JIPS, IDMC, joint assessments) to provide a comprehensive and interactive mapping of solution needs in Sudan. This ensures stakeholders have a reliable evidence base to guide programming and policy decisions.
•     Clean, analyze, and synthesize GIS and Spatial data into actionable insights that inform area-based planning frameworks and strategic direction of the Durable Solutions Working Group (DSWG). This supports more targeted, efficient, and coordinated responses at both national and sub-national levels.
•     Identify and address data gaps and overlaps by mapping existing information flows and needs across sectors and partners. This contributes to improved data quality and eliminates duplication, ensuring stronger coordination and resource allocation.
 

2.)    Develop and Coordinate Knowledge Sharing and Stakeholder Engagement
•     Develop and maintain knowledge products including analytical briefs, dashboards, maps, and situation reports that are tailored to various stakeholders across the HDP nexus. These tools enable actors to make informed, timely decisions based on up-to-date displacement data.
•     Disseminate knowledge products and updates through coordination platforms and partner networks, using accessible and context-appropriate formats. This promotes shared understanding and alignment of efforts across humanitarian, development, and peace actors.
•     Coordinate participatory data collection and monitoring, including perception surveys and community engagement tools, to reflect the needs, views, and priorities of displacement-affected populations. This helps ensure that programs and solutions are grounded in the lived realities of the people they aim to support.
 

3.)    Provide Coordination Support and Capacity Strengthening
•     Facilitate information flow between national and state-level DSWGs, including in Kassala, Gedaref, White Nile, and future locations such as Khartoum, Sennar, and Al Jazirah. This ensures coherence between central planning and local implementation of durable solutions.
•     Support the Durable Solutions Advisor by contributing to coordination meetings, maintaining information systems, and integrating data into area-based planning tools. This strengthens operational efficiency and accountability across coordination structures.
•     Conduct training and provide technical support to national and sub-national actors, including government, UN agencies, and implementing partners, on data use and monitoring practices. This builds national ownership and enhances institutional capacity to deliver evidence-informed durable solutions.
 

4.)    Coordinate and Support Monitoring, Reporting, and Global Engagement
•     Support the development and implementation of monitoring frameworks to track progress on the Sudan Durable Solutions Strategy, including indicator development and results reporting. This provides visibility on the impact of interventions and guides programmatic adjustments where needed.
•     Generate regular analytical reports and updates highlighting progress, gaps, and strategic opportunities related to displacement and durable solutions. These reports inform decision-making and donor engagement while ensuring transparency and accountability.
•     Engage with global platforms and technical partners (e.g., JIPS, IDMC, Global Solutions Hub) to exchange knowledge and integrate best practices into Sudan’s displacement response. This promotes alignment with global standards and facilitates access to technical resources and innovations.
 

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None.
 

Competencies

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

•  Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in one of the following; Social Sciences, Humanitarian/Development Studies, Geo Information Management, or Remote Sensing or a relevant related field is required. 
OR
•  A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above,  in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience may be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

•  A minimum of 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience working in humanitarian/development field, with a focus on forced migration, specifically internal displacement issues/contexts and durable solutions is required.
• Experience in Geo information management development with the support of diverse stakeholder groups (including Government, UN agencies, (I) NGOs and CSOs) for evidence-based planning, implementation and monitoring of solutions is highly desirable. 
• Demonstrated experience in Geo Information Management and data ecosystem for coordination with UN agencies and knowledge management at national and sub-national level is an asset.
• Solid experience with statistical and social research methods and information and knowledge management for production of Geo Information Management knowledge products is desired
• Strong analysis and reporting skills and experience, including the use of data visualisation tools through Geo Information Management System is an asset.
• Solid experience in capacity building and training of a wide range of actors, including adult learning and training of trainers and organisation and facilitation of workshops and other learning events for data ecosystem including GIS is desirable.
• Practical experience in the implementation and coordination of data collection and analysis exercises with UN agencies/INGOs is an asset.
•  Good understanding and/or experience with relevant Government, UN agencies, (I)NGOs, CSOs and other networks on the local, state and national level in Sudan is desirable. 

Language:
• Fluency in English is required  
• Knowledge of Arabic is would be an asset 
 

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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