Consultant
Communities of Practice Support

Purpose
To provide support to the facilitation and reporting processes of IDB´s Communities of Practice (CoPs).

Background and Justification
CoPs with the best chances of being relevant to their members usually emerge from the members’ initiative, but often require subject matter, facilitation and/or knowledge management support to thrive and develop effectively.

While subject matter expertise is likely be found in IDB´s own technical staff, it is unlikely that this same staff possess the knowledge and skills required to provide adequate facilitation and support to the dynamics of CoPs –including gathering data for systematic monitoring and evaluation of the CoPs.

Facilitation, in the context of communities of practice, helps to smoothly manage the flow and discussions of an activity, meeting or event, in support of achieving expected results. The facilitator guides the dialogue and attempts to maximize members’ time and energy by keeping the event and discussions on track – in terms of time and topic.

Given the above, together with the fact that demand for supporting CoPs is already surpassing our current human resources in this area and expected to continue to increase, KNL/KNM seeks to engage the services of a knowledge management consultant with experience in facilitation of CoPs.

Objectives

1. Provide support to the facilitation and follow up processes associated with the consolidation of CoPs prioritized as part of KNM’s work program for 2009-2010.
2. Produce periodic reports reflecting agreed Activity Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and Impact KPIs for the CoPs supported by KNM.
3. Promote CoPs within the Bank as a mechanism (strategy) for effective knowledge sharing.

Main products and tasks

1. Facilitate the work of CoPs throughout launch and consolidation stages according with the strategic action plans formulated by KNM for each CoP. The basic responsibilities for the consultant in his role as a facilitator are to:
• Keep the group motivated and active.
• Keep the community members focus, in line with the objectives and topics in discussion.
• Ensure that everyone has a chance to participate.
• Lead the organization and delivery of community events.
• Seed the community with content.
• Monitor and assess the health of the community, and evaluate its contribution to members and their organizations.
• Ensure code of behavior and etiquette among members.

2. Liaise with the leadership group of up to six CoPs in maintaining the dynamics of the group, focus and measuring the achievement of its goals.
3. Prepare and deliver weekly reports reflecting the status of the six CoPs under his/her supervision, including qualitative and quantitative data to measure activity and impact goals.

Qualifications of the Consultant

 Undergraduate or graduate degree in a discipline relevant to IDB’s work in the region with at least 5 years of experience.
 Excellent research, communication and interpersonal skills.
 Experience in using web 2.0 tools.
 Fluent in English and one other official IDB language, preferably Spanish.
 Familiar with diversity and value of learning styles and cultures.
 Experience with group dynamics and processes, with understanding of how process design can support achievement of goals, desirable.

Place of work: Washington, D.C.
Date: From October 1, 2009 through December 18th for a total number of 33 days (3 days per week)
Please submit your CV and Cover Letter to BIDComunidades@iadb.org not later than October 10, 2009.