Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
The signing of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 1997 was a significant political achievement, marking the end of a protracted low-intensity conflict in the region. One of the vital government strategies outlined in the 8th Five-Year Plan is to implement the Peace Accord’s provisions fully. The Government of Bangladesh (GOB) aims to implement accelerated development activities in the region. The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) still suffer from its remote location, povertry, and limited infrastructure, impacting essential services, including education, healthcare, and water access. The CHT institutions have not achieved their full potential due mainly to ambiguous roles and pending elections, hindering effective service delivery and regional governance. The unique biodiversity of the CHT, including forests, wildlife habitats, and waterbodies, is at risk due to forest degradation and the loss of forest land for population and settlement growth, inappropriate agricultural practices, and climate change.
To continue the momentum of successful implementation of the Promotion of Development and Confidence Building in CHT project (2003–2016) and Strengthening Inclusive Development in CHT (SID-CHT 2017-2023) project, MoCHTA and UNDP, with assistance from a number of Development Partners, have undertaken a new project titled “Ecosystem Restoration and Resilient Development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (ERRD-CHT)”. The project focuses on enhancing resilient ecosystems, development and governance in the CHT by building community and ecosystem resilience through various development and conservation outputs and activities. Support for resilient livelihoods and micro-enterprises will be combined while conserving ecosystems and biodiversity and improving local governance by empowering local communities, including women and youth and marginalized sections, and institutions in partnerships with the GoB, counterparts, traditional leaders, and development partners.
The ERRD-CHT Project will produce results on four interlinked levels, strengthening the population’s ability to enhance resilience, development, and governance, impacting people’s lives and livelihoods. The main objective of ERRD-CHT project is “to strengthen gender-responsive resilience and development through improved governance and ecosystems, and adaptive livelihoods with market access.” which will be achieved through the following four Outputs:
Output 1: Improved and resilient forest ecosystems and livelihoods.
Output 2: Enhanced capacity and institutional building of the CHT institutions and strengthened democratic governance with increased people’s participation, responsive communities and more effective service delivery.
Output 3: Inclusive and gender-responsive learning and empowerment among women and girls.
Output 4: Enabled environment for self-reliant youth development and leadership.
The project will be implemented in all 121 Unions of 26 Upazilas in the three Hill Districts of Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban. In the CHT, nearly 100,000 rural- and urban households will directly benefit from the project. It will include the extreme urban and rural poor and vulnerable groups, including women and youth.
Chittagong Hill Tracts Watershed Co-Management Activity II (CHTWCA II), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is part of Ecosystems Restoration and Resilient Development in Chittagong Hill Tracts (ERRD-CHT) – a project of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (MOCHTA). Chittagong Hill Tracts Watershed Co-Management Activity, within ERRD-CHT project, is being implemented with the goal: Strengthened gender-responsive local resilience through an integrated ecosystem management approach of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). CHTWCA II Outcome is to strengthen local resilience through an integrated ecosystem management approach that improves wildlife conservation and the governance of natural resources in the CHT.
ERRD-CHT is looking for a Social Cohesion and Gender Analyst to plan, implement and coordinate the CHTWCA II’s efforts in local conflict resolution and mitigation and improvement of community cohesion leading towards improved biodiversity conservation.
Duties and Responsibilities
The incumbent will directly report to the Chief Technical Specialist/Advisor and closely work with ERRD-CHT programme clusters, the CHTWCA II team, other UNDP and ERRD-CHT projects, local government, communities, non-government, and civil society organizations.
The incumbent will facilitate input from implementing partners for drafting annual and quarterly work plans, collect, review, and compile progress reports from the district team and implementing partners, and submit them to the cluster. S/he will coordinate capacity development activities for the stakeholders. This includes coordination of the district team, relevant ERRD-CHT clusters and implementing partners regarding the planning, budgeting, responsible party agreement (RPA) preparation, monitoring, reporting, implementation and back-stopping; S/he will contribute to developing the training plans for the project staff members, beneficiaries and other stakeholders, and oversee implementation of annual work plans (AWPs), and monitoring and evaluation plans by the district team and implementing partners.
Ensure effective planning, budgeting, reporting and implementation of the project
- Develop and implement Annual and Quarterly Work plans with budget, in consultation with the partner NGOs and UNDP team members.
- Coordinate timely and quality field implementation of the AWP and other plans of the project by guiding the partner NGOs on conflict mitigation, social cohesion and gender efforts.
- Prepare and implement plans for special activities and budget relevant to social cohesion, gender-based violence, conflict mitigation, etc.
Ensure project coordination and liaison
- As a member of the senior district team, the incumbent will coordinate capacity development activities for the stakeholders. This includes coordination of the district teams, relevant clusters and implementing partners in regard to the planning, budgeting, responsible party agreement (RPA) preparation, monitoring, reporting, implementation and back-stopping;
- Coordination of activities with other linked ERRD and CHTWCA II components and clusters;
- Liaison with key stakeholders on capacity development (includes other organizations providing capacity development support)
- Organizing and backstopping of capacity development activities.
Establish partnerships and open channels of communication
- Develop and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with implementing and development partners, government officials, businesses, NGOs, other national stakeholders, and beneficiaries to support key objectives and ensure inclusive implementation and participation of key stakeholders in assigned Project.
- Develop and maintain stakeholder mapping and analysis to identify stakeholder needs and how best to leverage their participation and/or strengthen their engagement. Prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation and opportunities for joint initiatives. Make recommendations to the management team on activities with potential for scale-up, replicability and synergies.
- Provide technical support to the implementing partners and act as a liaison between UNDP and the partners.
- Support resource mobilization efforts and project development.
Ensure capacity building and training and facilitate knowledge sharing
- Contribute to the developing of relevant guidelines and training plans and facilitate knowledge sharing for the project staff members, beneficiaries and stakeholders;
- Contribute to the development and facilitation of the essential training and knowledge materials, with support from the Communications Analyst.
Participating in project training as a facilitator at various levels - Prepare and implement questionnaire for conducting and facilitataing gender analyses
- Design, develop, facilitate and implement gender analysis and gender strategy for CHTWCA II.
Measurable Outputs and Performance Indicators
- Gender analyses were completed by conducting field surveys, consultations and analysis
- Prepare a Gender Strategy based on the findings of gender analysis
- Implement social cohesion activities and conservation safeguards that help to address gender-based violence, child marriage and other forms of human behaviour that create conflict at the community level.
- Implement and monitor social cohesion and gender-related results and indicators per the M&E system; results are measured, and M&E outcomes are fed back into project cycle management, leading to improvements.
- Engage and empower men, women and youth in responsible decision making of how to sustainably manage and conserve their natural resources that contribute to land tenure conflict reduction and social cohesion.
- Work with women and youth empowerment to engage them in leadership roles and mediation activities that contribute to local conflict reduction.
- Smooth implementation of activities, as per the AWP and other plans and good quality reports, submitted on time.
- The implementing partners and stakeholders participate actively and are well-informed on capacity development activities on social cohesion and gender-related issues
- District teams and implementing partners have the required capacity to implement AWP activities and gender strategy.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
Core competencies:
- Achieve Results: Level 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
- Think Innovatively: Level 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
- Learn Continuously: Level 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
- Adapt with Agility: Level 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
- Act with Determination: Level 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
- Engage and Partner: Level 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Level 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-Functional and Technical competencies:
Business Direction & Strategy
- Effective Decision Making. Ability to make decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources
Business Development
- Knowledge Generation. Ability to research and turn information into valuable knowledge, relevant for content, or responsive to a stated need
- Knowledge Facilitation. Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally
Business Management
- Partnership Management. Ability to build and maintain partnerships with broad networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
Partnership Management
- Emerging partnerships. Ability to engage with emerging partners, develop and manage a strategy and develop approaches to developing and managing these new strategic partnerships
2030 Agenda: People
- Gender. Gender and Institutional Development
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master´s degree or equivalent) in Gender Studies, Environmental Science/Management, Anthropology, Psychology, Development Studies, Conflict Management or Social Sciences or any other relevant field is required, or
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional 2 of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree
Experience:
- Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience.
- Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional specific experience in gender equality and women empowerment projects, in conflict management and empowerment activities in remote areas where people are natural resource dependents.
- Demonstrated experience in working in close collaboration with staff of multicultural background.
- Experience in the usage of computers and relevant office software packages.
- Demonstrated ability to work with a multi-disciplinary team.
- Working Experience and understanding of climate change effects in Bangladesh.
- Experience in facilitating design for public services, social innovation, and translating insights into solutions in the context of climate change.
- Demonstrated ability to deliver strategic insight and analysis on communications and media strategies relevant to the development sector; and a solid record of managing complex and challenging partnerships with governments and international partners.
- Experience in strong training, facilitation & presentation skills.
- Preference will be given to candidates who have
experience within the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). - Experience with USAID-funded projects
- Experience in working with local government organizations.
- Experience in monitoring and reporting, facilitation and training;
- Excellent networking;
- Experience in working with International Development organization is desirable.
Required languages:
- Fluency in English and Bangla is required.
- Working knowledge in any CHT language or Chittagonian dialect will be an added advantage.
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: 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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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