Putting knowledge to work for Children: UNICEF launches Global Knowledge Management Strategy
How can UNICEF put knowledge to work to achieve results for children? This question guided the development of UNICEF’s first ever Global Knowledge Management (KM) Strategy.In a world that is ever more complex and interconnected, where data and information are all around, UNICEF has recognised the need to ensure that everyone has easy access to and is using the knowledge that is needed to inform its work in achieving results for children. In a world where COVID-19 has challenged everyone to learn quickly from experience and forced UNICEF to find ways to work remotely while keeping social networks alive and the flow of knowledge intact, Knowledge Management is needed more than ever.
As DED for Programmes Omar Abdi stated in his message announcing the Strategy: “While UNICEF has a long tradition in knowledge management work, until now we have not had an organization-wide Knowledge Management Strategy. This gap is now addressed with the Global Knowledge Management Medium Term Strategy (2021-2022). The release of this Strategy comes at a critical time as the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance for easy access to knowledge and effective documentation and sharing of lessons from our interventions. As we move forward towards the new Strategic Plan (2022-2025), we need to ensure that we create an environment in which our staff and partners are empowered to put knowledge to work to achieve results for children. This Medium-Term Strategy helps build the foundation for UNICEF to do that.”
The Strategy defines KM and the vision and long-term goals for KM at UNICEF. The Strategy also identifies nine strategic priorities for implementation over 2021 and 2022. These priorities were identified through an extensive consultative and collaborative process that involved dozens of staff from HQ, ROs, and COs ensuring the strategy addresses the diverse needs and perspectives of the organization.
The strategy contains a recommendation of the Joint Inspection Unit of the UN: The executive heads of the United Nations system organizations, if they have not already done so, should establish norms and procedures for the retention and transfer of knowledge from retiring, moving, or departing staff, as part of the organizations’ succession planning processes.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting how this strategy, when implemented, will tap into the knowledge of former UNICEF staff. Meanwhile, let us share the knowledge that we have, in the place where we live