Position: Learning and Knowledge Management Lead
Location: UK or Nairobi
Introduction:
Manufacturing Africa (MA) is a seven-year flagship FCDO-funded programme operating in Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal and Tanzania that seeks to increase investment into the manufacturing sector in Africa, leading to £1.2billion FDI and creating 90,000 jobs in production facilities and across supply chains. With two years remaining, the programme is focused on ensuring that evidence, lessons and impact insights are systematically captured, shared and applied to inform future programming, policy and investment strategies.
To achieve this, the programme is seeking a Learning and Knowledge Management Lead to drive a structured approach to evidence generation, dissemination and adaptive learning, ensuring that insights from MA contribute meaningfully to both internal decision-making and broader FCDO knowledge-sharing objectives.
The role:
The Knowledge and Learning Management Lead will be a core member of the central programme management unit (PMU), working closely with MEL and Communication teams. This role will be responsible for developing and implementing a strategic learning framework, ensuring that programme evidence informs real-time decision-making, future investment strategies, and the wider FCDO portfolio.
The role will also facilitate cross-programme knowledge exchange, ensuring that lessons from MA are effectively shared with stakeholders across the UK Government, private sector actors, and other development initiatives.
Key responsibilities
- Learning Strategy and Evidence Utilisation
- In collaboration with relevant colleagues, develop and implement a structured learning strategy to ensure that knowledge generation supports decision making, and programme adaptation.
- Ensure alignment with FCDO learning objectives, contributing to the broader UK government portfolio on economic growth, investment and industrial development. Keep abreast of evolving FCDO priorities and strategic thinking to feed into programme strategy.
- Work closely with the M&E team to design key impact learning questions, integrating data and research findings into programmatic decision making.
- Lead the design and delivery of the programme exit strategy
- Knowledge Generation and Analysis
- Establish a strategy and processes to systematically collect, analyse, and document programme knowledge products with a focus on programme impact beyond jobs and FDI (e.g. impact on local economies, GESI etc.)
- Identify, capture and synthesise key programme lessons, ensuring that learning insights drive improvements in programme implementation and future intervention strategies.
- Identify and capture learnings from external sources including other programmes, as well as relevant academic and industry papers
- Collaborate with external partners where necessary to deepen analysis on programme impact.
- Provide guidance on impact mainstreaming across programme activities with a focus on gender, economic, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), as well as climate and ESG ensuring principles are integrated across all project activities.
- Knowledge Sharing and Stakeholder Engagement
- Develop relevant tailored knowledge products (learning briefs, case studies, success stories) to inform internal programme decisions and external stakeholders.
- Work closely with the communications team to ensure effective dissemination of knowledge products to diverse audiences (e.g., donors, partner governments, local partners, private sector actors, etc).
- Facilitate cross-programme learning exchanges, ensuring MA contributes to FCDO’s broader work on private sector development and investment promotion.
- Engage with external stakeholders (FCDO, HMG, partner governments, investors, development agencies) to share lessons, insights and best practices.
- Synthesise and tailor knowledge and lessons to relevant audience and in a manner that ensures MA’s complex impact is understood by stakeholders of various technical backgrounds.
- Adaptive Learning and Programme Impact
- Ensure that learning directly informs programme adaptation, supporting the PMU and FCDO in refining strategies, priorities, and resource allocation.
- Facilitate learning sessions with internal teams and external stakeholders to reflect on evidence and refine approaches.
- Support capacity building within the programme team, promoting a culture of reflection, continuous learning, and evidence-based decision-making.
Person specification
Required:
- At least 10 years’ experience in knowledge management, learning, MEL within international development
- Proven ability to design and implement knowledge-sharing strategies and develop high-quality learning products for donors (eg case studies, research briefs ,etc).
- Experience in synthesising complex programme data into actionable insights for both internal and external audiences.
- Experience in or strong understanding of private sector development, investment promotion, and economic growth programmes.
- Experience working on FCDO programmes.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate learning and knowledge exchange across multiple stakeholders, including government agencies, donors and private sector actors.
- Strong facilitation skills, with experience leading learning workshops, communities of practice, and cross-programme knowledge-sharing initiatives.
- Strong relationship building qualities and a team player.
- Excellent communication, reporting and presentation skills and ability to interface with senior stakeholders with ability to disseminate key insights effectively.
Preferable:
- Understanding of investment in unlocking long term impact in developing markets
- Ability to work with limited historical data to help develop insight and shape discussions through use of innovative approaches,
- Understanding of GESI, C&E, and impact mainstreaming on donor programmes with track record and networks within FCDO and relevant academic bodies.
- Understanding of FCDO programme design, track record of shaping theories of change and log frame design.
- Relevant regional experience in East and/or West Africa/emerging markets.
Studies show that women and underrepresented groups often only apply when they meet all the criteria. If this role interests you and you have relevant experience, we encourage you to apply—even if you don’t meet every requirement.
To apply, send your CV to recruitment@manufacturingafrica.org by 31st May 2025. Applications will however be considered on a rolling basis.
