KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND PROGRAM SUSTAINABILITY IN HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS IN SOUTH SUDAN

Abstract

Knowledge is increasingly recognized as a vital asset for organizations growth as well as for effective organisation performance. There is growing recognition amongst humanitarian organisations that knowledge sharing and exchange are essential components of organizational efficiency and effectiveness. However, knowledge management practices in many humanitarian organizations are still inadequate. An organisation that has effectively adapted knowledge management practices draws a wide range of benefits including the tactical benefit of faster access to relevant information and documents at any time resulting in accelerated organizational processes, creation of the knowledge map that will provide explicit representation of staff competencies and interest that will promote proper job matching and the strategic benefit which include competitive advantage that can result to proper and systematic management of the organization’s knowledge. Through knowledge management, the organization can turn knowledge into a strategic asset and create an ever-learning organization. To ensure sustainability of the implemented humanitarian projects, both tacit and explicit knowledge should be effectively managed. The main purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge Management Practices and program sustainability in humanitarian organizations in South Sudan. The study will adopt cognitive theory of knowledge acquisition, theory of knowledge creation, community of practice theory and resource dependency theory in accessing the knowledge management practices in humanitarian organisation. The program sustainability was measured by the rate human capacity development, strategic partnerships attained and the increased resource mobilization. The study adopted descriptive research design with qualitative approach. The population of a study comprised 70 humanitarian organizations in South Sudan. The unit of analysis was knowledge management practices in humanitarian organizations and unit of observation was knowledge managers and program managers in charge of programs. The study collected both primary and secondary data during the study. Primary data was collected using questionnaires which contained structured questions. The researcher used the most common internal consistency measure known as Cronbach’s to test the reliability of the study. A pilot study was conducted with the response rate of 82.1% sufficient to explore Knowledge Management Practices for enhancing program sustainability in humanitarian organizations in South Sudan. In conclusion, the study showed that knowledge management practices enhanced program sustainability in humanitarian organizations in South Sudan. As a recommendation the study encouraged the humanitarian organisations to enhance knowledge acquisition through consulting and collaboration; create knowledge by encouraging job shadowing by scheduling days; knowledge sharing in order to enhance quick decision-making, problem-solving technique and sustain the development of organizations and knowledge retention through creating awards for mentorship or requirements for promotion and high pay for knowledge holders.