Project Assistant

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

Bangladesh often considered as one of the country’s most vulnerable to climate variability and change. To address adverse effects of climate change, adaptation is included in the key national development plans and the 8th Five Year Plan (2021-2025). The adaptation program prioritized in the National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA), the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) and the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) is now under implementation. Bangladesh is pioneer in bringing internal attention on supporting climate change adaptation (CCA), setting-up climate change trust funds and community-based adaptation approaches. In many regards, Bangladesh has also been a pioneer in CCA and provides an interesting model for sharing lessons learned with other LDCs. However, challenge remains in Bangladesh, with regard to institutional coordination and integration of CCA into program, budgets and performance frameworks, especially across various sectors. Several prioritized CCA options are still to be financed and implemented. Strategy for risk informed decision-making process on mid- and long-term CCA investment are yet to be fully in place.

The objective of this readiness project is to formulate the Bangladesh National Adaptation Plan (NAP) with a focus on medium- and long-term adaptation investment and enhancing national capacity for integration of climate change adaptation in planning, budgeting and finance tracking processes.

Prioritized NAP components include (i) establishing an inter-institutional NAP coordination mechanism, (ii) enhancing climate data and use those in investment planning, (iii) carrying out sectoral, regional and ecosystem-level vulnerability assessments and drafting a NAP based on consultations with all relevant stakeholders, (iv) developing sectoral action plans (v) undertaking appraisals and costing of adaptation interventions and (vi) establishing a monitoring framework for the NAP implementation process.

This GCF NAP readiness support project will achieve this objective through four inter-related outcomes: • Outcome 1: Strengthened institutional coordination and climate change information and knowledge management for medium- to long-term planning • Outcome 2: Adaptation options appraised and prioritized and National Adaptation Plan formulated • Outcome 3: Climate risk informed decision-making tools developed and piloted by planning and budget departments at national and sectoral levels • Outcome 4: Nationally appropriate adaptation investments tracking mechanism set up and financial plan for mid- and long-term CCA implementation prepared.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning and key personnel working on climate change adaptation relevant project formulation and implementation in water resources, agricultural sector and food security, drought/haor/coastal/hill zones, and urban habitation (the “priority sectors”) will be the primary beneficiaries of this project.

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the National UN Volunteer will undertake the following but not limited to tasks:

• Collect and collate learning information and knowledge products including communications materials from partners and the project management unit (PMU) and maintain softcopy library (archive the docs) and hard copy as well. • Undertake all logistical, administrative and financial arrangements for organization for meetings, workshops, events, and missions; • Make travel arrangements for the PMU, including travel requisitions and claims; • Draft minutes in meetings, workshop proceedings as delegated; • Assemble briefing materials and prepare power-point and other presentations, in collaboration with the PMU; • Organize and coordinate filing of documents; maintain mailing lists and communicate with the stakeholders. • Identify sources and gather and compile data and information for the preparation of documents, guidelines, speeches and position papers, in collaboration with the technical teams and PMU NAP. • Assist in editing of relevant situation/activities donor/project reports, updates, info sheets, publications, press-releases, presentations and other information materials, analysis of statistical information for the purposes of the project etc. • Translate daily correspondences and project related documents, reports if requested by the team members. • Support and work with national/international consultants, technical working group, technical advisory committee, project steering committee to fulfil the assignment. • Coordinate and liaison with partner organizations, consulting firms, service provider and respective government counterpart and sharing of knowledge and information. • Support UNDP PMU at national level/regional and sector-based consultations and preparation of proceedings along with summaries of the consultations outcome. • Review existing research and policy document of climate change and adaptation • issues and support PMU accordingly in line with NAP formulation and advancement. • Communication and outreach of NAP to the wider audience for better understanding and resilience to CC. • Support NAP outreach to GoB and relevant stakeholders and able to present NAP during workshops and meetings. • Perform other related duties as assigned.

Results/Expected Outputs:

• Timely and accurate administrative, technical and logistical support to events, meeting, workshops, seminar; • Full compliance of administrative activities with UNDP rules, regulations, policies and procedures; • Quality maintenance of internal systems and files; • Quality and timely support to the project team.

• Accountability • Adaptability and Flexibility • Commitment and Motivation • Commitment to Continuous Learning • Communication • Creativity • Integrity • Judgement and Decision-making • Planning and Organizing • Professionalism • Respect for Diversity • Self-Management • Working in Teams

Administrative or programme management/support. • Experience in working in a computer environment using multiple office software packages; • Experience in the use of ATLAS is an asset; • Experience in supporting a team is an asset. • Knowledge of programme management; • Ability to create, edit and present information in clear and presentable formats; • Ability to manage data, documents, correspondence and reports information and workflow; • Good financial and budgeting skills; • Good IT skills Female candidates are encouraged to apply for the position.

Dhaka 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).

Historically, Bangladesh has been a safe country for internationals so far. While Dhaka is not categorized as a hardship station, the volunteer should be prepared for limitations in freedom of movement on foot, by public transport, and to certain locations.