Research Officer

Mission and objectivesUNDP's mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has partnered with Bangladesh ever since its birth and through its remarkable journey from a war-ravaged economy to a middle-income country. It remains a catalyst in Bangladesh’s journey from Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. UNDP assists in building institutions and helps strengthen institutional capacities through people-centric, pro-poor, inclusive and sustainable policy making and development governance.

ContextUNDP Bangladesh has been a strong companion of the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) since 1972 in a journey of growth and resilience of the country. UNDP continues to work with relevant institutions and strengthen the space for dialogues, inclusive participation and accountability towards a greener, more resilient, and tolerant society and economy. Through its Strengthening Institutions, Policies and Services (SIPS) initiative, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bangladesh aims to develop effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels to promote peaceful, just and inclusive societies for the country’s sustainable development. SIPS aims to support the country in achieving SDG 16 by: • Strengthening public institutions that can contribute to fulfilling national and international commitments and provide better service delivery. • Creating a more enabling policy environment that embeds the SDGs’ core principle of “leave no one behind”. • Promoting new capabilities and leveraging technology and innovation for more effective, inclu-sive governance and public service delivery. The project is designed around three (3) outputs: • Output 1: Capacities of public institutions are strengthened to deliver on SDG 16 and SDG 5. • Output 2: Institutions of public oversight are more people-centric and effectively fulfil their mandates. • Output 3: Enabling environment is strengthened to sustain SDG results and integrate SDGs into routine GoB operations and partnerships. UNDP will deliver results with the following partners: Governance Innovation Unit (GIU) and the Office of the Principal Coordinator (SDG Affairs) under Chief Advisor’s Office, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat (BPS), Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Scope of Work: In the given context, UNDP Bangladesh is looking for a talent with passion to contribute to areas of peace, justice, strong institutions, and gender equality. The incumbent will have the opportunity to contribute to research and knowledge creation, support the planning and implementation of project activities, and assist in reporting and documentation of evidence-based interventions focused on SDG 16 and SDG 5.

Task DescriptionThe incumbent position will work under the supervision of the Project Manager, Strengthening Institutions, Policies and Services (SIPS) project of UNDP Bangladesh, and perform the following activities: A. Research and Evaluation Support: • Support the expert team in conducting the evaluation of public sector training insti-tutes, including data collection, literature review, synthesis, and documentation. • Assist in preparing analytical summaries, research briefs, and background notes on public administration reform, capacity development, and digital transformation. • Contribute to drafting the training institute evaluation report by compiling data, for-matting inputs, and ensuring consistency and quality control. • Provide research assistance to BPSC-led studies on the competency frame-work, syllabus and organizational structure, job analysis, and cross-country comparative assessments. B. Event Management and Coordination: • Assist in planning and coordinating consultation meetings, validation workshops, and inter-ministerial dialogues with GIU, BPSC, and other stakeholders. • Support the preparation of meeting agendas, concept notes, and participant lists. • Take detailed minutes and meeting notes, ensuring timely submission and circula-tion. • Maintain organized records of project deliverables, correspondence, and progress tracking. • Liaise with relevant stakeholders including raining institutes to facilitate data sharing and logistical coordination. • Support the operations team, as needed, in arranging events and consultations. C. Communication and Knowledge Management: • Support drafting of progress updates, summary reports, and knowledge products re-lated to public administration reform activities. • Assist in content preparation for presentations, briefing notes, and communication materials. • Contribute to the preparation of case studies and documentation of good practices emerging from the reform work. In addition to the specified tasks, the incumbent position would perform other need-based tasks assigned by the supervisor.

Competencies and values• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

Living conditions and remarksDhaka is located in central Bangladesh along the Buriganga River. Not only is it the capital city, but it is also the largest in the country. It is the centre of political, cultural, and economic life in Bangladesh. The official language is Bengali, while English is the working language of UN Agencies. In recent decades, Dhaka has seen the modernization of services, communications, and public works. The city is attracting large foreign investments and greater volumes of commerce and trade. It is also experiencing an increasing influx of people from across the nation; this has reportedly made Dhaka one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. Good English-speaking medical, dental services, and educational centres are available for internationals. Dhaka is connected to other cities by rail, road, and by air and internationals can move easily from one city to another. Dhaka has venerable green spaces, including many gardens and parks, historical places, and nice restaurants. The weather is tropical - hot and very humid during the summer monsoon season (April-September) and drier and cooler in the winter (October-March). You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.”