Background
The project aims to achieve the economic empowerment of the Bangladeshi host community in Coxโs Bazar district of Bangladesh through gender-sensitive market-relevant skills development linked to employment and self-employment in growth sectors for the host communities.ย
The initiative adopts an inclusive strategy to incorporate all sectors of society, with a specific emphasis on women, youth, ethnic groups, religious minorities, individuals with disabilities, the NEET population (those not engaged in education, employment, or training), school dropouts, disadvantaged and marginalized youth facing challenges in acquiring skills for meaningful employment. The primary emphasis of the project is on women, with a commitment to enrolling a minimum of 40% of the total beneficiaries from this demographic. The project is funded by Global Affairs Canada and is implemented by UNDP, ILO, and BRAC with the support of the Department of Youth Development (DYD).
This project has four components:
Gender responsive skills development on market-driven and pre-vocational occupations for Qawmi madrasah students and host community youth. Enterprise development with special concentration on ultra-poor graduation Employment support service for the host community youth Labour Market Monitoring & Planning Platform development for real time coordination among the actors of labour market of Coxโs Bazar.The improving skills and economic opportunities in the Coxโs Bazar (ISEC) project are focused on gender sensitive market relevant skills development linked to employment and self-employment in growth sectors for the host communities in Coxโs Bazar district of Bangladesh.ย This project adopts a leaving no one behind strategy by identifying challenges all persons, particularly women, youth, ethnic and religious minorities, and persons with disabilities, are facing to access and benefit equally from the services; adopting targeted measures to tackle them; and involving beneficiaries. This project will involve multi-level stakeholders relevant to the skills development and employment generation in the target areas, hence creating a sustainable ecosystem for women to utilize their potential through the project. UNDP Bangladesh in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) is working for gender sensitive skills development and employment opportunities for the youth. The target beneficiaries of the UNDP intervention are Qawmi Madrasah Students, Host community youth and Qawmi Madrasah teachersโ skills development. There are a few areas of work given below:
Skills development of Qawmi Madrasha students on pre-vocational occupations Skills development of host community youth on emerging & market-driven occupations Skills development of Qawmi Madrasah teachers on ICT occupationย Develop Labor Market Monitoring and Planning Platform, Coxโs Bazar Employment support service for youth in Coxโs Bazar.Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of Key Functions
Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, a2i, UNDP Bangladesh and in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, the incumbent will perform the following responsibilities:
Develop and maintain local partnerships with government and private sector stakeholders Monitor the delivery of training and project activities at field level Support the organization of stakeholder consultations, workshops, events, campaigns, and employment fairs Provide mentorship and capacity building support to trainers and field staff Ensure regular and accurate data collection and reporting Document field-level success stories, challenges, and lessons learned Ensure compliance with project guidelines and standards Perform any other duties as assigned by the Programme Associate, Project Assistant, or Project Manager.ยย
S/he will have the following, but not limited to the following specific duties and responsibilities:
Develop and maintain local partnerships with government and private sector stakeholders:
Support the Programme Associate and Project Assistant in building and maintaining collaborative relationships with local government bodies, community leaders, and project partners (e.g., ILO, BRAC, Department of Youth Development). Engage with Qawmi Madrasahs, community organizations, and local businesses to facilitate project activities and promote beneficiary participation.Monitor the delivery of training and project activities at field level:
Conduct regular visits to training centers to monitor the quality and progress of skills development programs. Ensure that training delivery meets national standards and project requirements, with a focus on gender sensitivity and inclusion. Identify challenges or gaps in implementation and promptly report them to the Programme Associate and Project Assistant for resolution.Support the organization of stakeholder consultations, workshops, events, campaigns, and employment fairs:
Assist in the planning and logistical arrangements for field-level events and activities. Facilitate the participation of beneficiaries, local stakeholders, and partners in project events. Ensure that all events are inclusive and accessible to women, youth, and marginalized groups.Provide mentorship and capacity building support to trainers and field staff:
Support the capacity development of trainers and center staff to ensure effective delivery of training and project services. Share best practices and lessons learned from the field with the project teamEnsure regular and accurate data collection and reporting:
Collect and compile data on project performance, including training attendance, employment outcomes, and gender participation metrics. Ensure timely and accurate submission of field data to the Programme Associate and Project Assistant for project monitoring and reporting. Support the use of the Labour Market Monitoring and Planning Platform by providing field-level data and feedback.Document field-level success stories, challenges, and lessons learned:
Prepare brief reports and case studies highlighting project achievements and areas for improvement. Share field insights with the Programme Associate and Project Assistant to inform project planning and decision-making.Ensure compliance with project guidelines and standards:
Adhere to UNDP, donor, and government regulations in all field-level activities. Promote quality assurance and continuous improvement in project delivery.Perform any other duties as assigned by the Programme Associate, Project Assistant, or Project Manager:
Undertake additional tasks as required to support the successful implementation of the ISEC project at the field level.Institutional Arrangement
The incumbent will report directly to the Project Manager, a2i, UNDP Bangladesh and will work closely with relevant government bodies, development partners, NGOs, and private sector entities. The incumbent will be a part of the ISEC team and support its efforts to foster youth skills & employment opportunities in Coxโs Bazar.
Competencies
Core Behavioral Competencies
Achieve Results:ย ย ย ย LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively:ย ย ย ย LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvementsย
Learn Continuously:ย ย ย ย LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility:ย ย ย ย LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexibleย
Act with Determination:ย ย ย ย LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner:ย ย ย ย LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:ย ย ย ย LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discriminationย
Achieve Results:ย ย ย ย LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively:ย ย ย ย LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvementsย
Learn Continuously:ย ย ย ย LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies ย ย
Thematic Areaย ย ย ย Nameย ย ย ย Definition
Cross-Functional competencies ย ย ย ย Business Acumenย ย ย ย Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome Ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization ย
Cross-Functional competenciesย ย ย ย Effective Decision Makingย ย ย ย Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one's authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications.
Cross-Functional competenciesย ย ย ย Risk Managementย ย ย ย Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks
Technical competenciesย ย ย ย Campaign managementย ย ย ย Ability to produce and implement communications and advocacy campaigns which lead to impactful change
Technical competenciesย ย ย ย Event planning and executionย ย ย ย Ability to plan, manage and execute of public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP's overall brand and mandate.
Technical competenciesย ย ย ย Private sector engagementย ย ย ย Ability to identify, conduct outreach, and manage relationships with the private sector
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Required Skills and Experience
Minimum Education requirements:
Secondary education or Bachelorโs degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Public Administration, Education, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.Min. years of relevant work experience ย ย ย ย
Minimum 3 years of relevant experience with Secondary educationRequired skills:
โข ย ย ย ย Experience in field level project monitoring & Implementation.ย
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:
โข ย ย ย ย Experience building and maintaining partnerships with local government and private sector stakeholders.
โข ย ย ย ย Experience collecting, organizing, and reporting project data.
โข ย ย ย ย Experience supporting or facilitating training activities or workshops.
โข ย ย ย ย Experience in using Microsoft office packages.
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Required Language(s) ย ย ย ย Fluent in English and Bangla is required.
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Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.ย
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.ย
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย 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.
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