National Consultancy to Support Drafting of the National Smooth Transition Strategy (STS) for Bangladesh

Result of Service Draft of the National Smooth Transition Strategy (STS) for Bangladesh

Work Location Home-based

Expected duration 1 May to 30 Sep 2023

Duties and Responsibilities This assignment or national consultancy will fully utilise and engage the national inclusive consultative mechanism for effective graduation and smooth transition – mainly the NCG and the seven subcommittees and key stakeholders ensuring country-led and owned process and a ‘whole of society’ and systematic approach.

The national consultant will work directly with the international consultant and report to the LDC Focal Point for the Government of Bangladesh based in the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the Ministry of Finance and liaising closely with the UN Inter-Agency Task Force through the country co-leads – the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in-country and UNDESA on behalf of IATF members based in New York, Geneva, Bangkok, etc.

Specifically, the national consultant will: a) Supplement the international guidance and best practice provided by the international consultant in drafting the national STS as part of the policy and technical support to the subcommittee on STS and NCG. b) Undertake a review of existing national and relevant sector plans as guided by the international consultant and LDC Focal Point that would help the subcommittee on STS identify measures to mitigate the negative implications of graduation that are already reflected in the respective plans and additional measures needed. c) Support the international consultant and ERD to sensitize the key stakeholders about the roadmap for graduation and smooth transition, impact of graduation and the vulnerabilities that will linger beyond graduation and the strategic focus and process of identifying what specific measures will be required. d) Based on advice of the STS subcommittee, LDC Focal Point, and the international consultant draft the STS. e) Contribute to innovative thinking and approaches to help Bangladesh take forward COVID-19 recovery measures contained in its 8th Five-Year Plan and food and energy insecurity due to ongoing geopolitical tension that are considered in smooth transition measures to be prioritized in the STS or in the country’s 9th Five-Year Plan if it will integrate the STS as an integral part. f) Offer new thinking on how the country as a graduated country can navigate the post-graduation landscape in pursuit of achieving its national sustainable development priorities and the 2030 development agenda and SDGs. g) Assist ERD in organizing a technical-level STS prioritization workshop for the seven subcommittees including producing a number of thematic policy and technical analytical documents as background documents for the workshop. h) Support the subcommittee on STS in designing and facilitating a country-led dialogue with the main bilateral and multilateral development and trading partners for Bangladesh, on the outcomes of the prioritization workshop of the seven subcommittees of the NCG in (j) above and to get their views and agreement in terms of (i) to (v), especially where some of the prioritized smooth transition measures require extended access or transitionary periods. i) Provide advice on country context and local knowledge to the international consultant with design of a high-level STS prioritization dialogue that presents the agreed outcomes from (j) and helps the NCG finalize the set of prioritized smooth transition measures, specific actions, implementation modalities and timelines, responsible agencies, roles and responsibilities for each smooth transition measure and specific action, and supporting agencies, development and trading partners for each smooth transition measure and specific action. j) Finalize the draft STS for Bangladesh and ensure the draft STS for Bangladesh is submitted to the Chair of the subcommittee on STS by 15 September 2023. k) Revise the draft STS for Bangladesh based on feedback from the Chair of the subcommittee on STS and resubmit by 27 September 2023. l) With the international consultant, the national consultant will prepare a Time-bound Action Plan based on the prioritized actions. m) With the international consultant, conduct training on any aspect of the STS including process and tailored, if needed, to specific groups - government officials, private sector, CSOs and community leaders.

Qualifications/special skills Master’s degree or equivalent in the field of International and development Economics, Business/Commerce, International Relations, trade and development, sustainable development or other relevant fields. - A minimum of 5-8 years of extensive professional experience in development economics, trade and development, sustainable and inclusive development, development planning, development cooperation/financing in developing countries in Asia and the Pacific especially in LDCs on preparation for graduating out of the LDC category. - Demonstrated understanding of the challenges of LDCs and the implications of graduation with the loss of LDC-specific ISMs, and preferably in Bangladesh. - Knowledge and experience in identifying key elements of and/or developing Smooth Transition Strategies. - Ability to design/develop and conduct technical research, new approaches, techniques or policies and/or design guidelines and advise governments in developing policy solutions. - Excellent written and verbal communications and inter-personal skills. - Ability to work and communicate effectively under pressure. - Prior experience with UN agencies and other international organizations is desirable.

Languages - Proficiency in spoken and written English and Bangla.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.