Research and Innovations Officer

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.

In line with the UNDP Global Accelerator Lab network, the Bangladesh Accelerator Lab aims to promote innovative solutions to sustainable development challenges through long-standing partnerships with both public and private sectors, sensitize and involve the local community in various development initiatives, and create a learning platform in collaboration with the government, grassroots community development organizations and local and international partners. The lab explores existing and emerging local development challenges, and maps solutions through sense-making and collective intelligence, and pilot experiments. The initiatives of the lab are mostly aligned with the UNDP Strategic Plan, Country Project Document, and the Government’s development priorities.

The UN Volunteer will support the exploration, research and implementation of Youth connection, capacity & skill development initiatives, informality, Livelihoods and climate change, identifying greater possibilities to address, youth unemployment and innovation of the tourism sector in Cox’s Bazar and CHT region, Blue Economy innovation, entrepreneurship development, Climate and Health, Waste Management, LDC Graduation and coordination with different collaborative program across the country for Accelerators Lab. This position will be work under the guidance of the Head of Experimentation, UNDP Accelerator Lab, Bangladesh.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Experimentation, UNDP Accelerator Lab, Bangladesh, the UN Volunteer will contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of their studies, thus providing substantial value addition. The UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Objective within the framework of UNDP Project: The young professional under the UNV modality will provide professional expertise and assistance in the area of knowledge, research, statistics, and learning that lies under the Healthcare Waste Management Interventions along with other activities based in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). As part of UNV’s disability inclusion strategy, this position will build a talent pipeline of qualified professionals with disabilities within the UNDP Accelerator Lab who can contribute to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at national and global levels, with a focus on national capacity. The objective of the assignment will be to assist in bringing innovations for socio-economic development of the community by qualitative and quantitative exploration and documentation at grassroots level innovations; policy analysis and recommendation on the innovative area at different interventions of the lab. The main role and responsibilities will be to contribute to the execution of activities, events, publications, coordination as well as interal and external relation building. The specific objectives for the role of this position are:

a) Play instrumental role in collaborative research/training on HCWM activities and other interventions b) Facilitate and support the research team in data collection, preparation of questionnaire, data cleaning and presentation c) Identify major challenges and constraints based on research evidence associated with the different interventions and programs. d) Focus on case stories on specific on the ground opportunities, including leading the qualitative data collection as well as writing up results e) Collaborate with individual stakeholders in the CHT community and support the knowledge transfer of the organization in the specific topic of expertise related to HCWM. Under the direct supervision of the Head of Experimentation, UNDP Accelerator Lab, Bangladesh, the UN Volunteer will contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of their studies, thus providing substantial value addition. The UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

1. Determine appropriate methodologies for research, with advice and support where required • Support the Chief Research Officer in identifying the research area, and methodologies and provide support with research knowledge • Plan and supervise survey implementation, quality assurance, data cleaning, data analysis and other activities related to research study implementation. • Plan and execute program activities: identify priorities, create timelines, meet with stakeholders, and monitor project implementation.

2.       Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations
   

   • Assist in developing high-quality reports, infographics, case studies, and other tools for better knowledge sharing. • Share data and results with the wider stakeholders. • Organize findings and dissemination events. • Organize knowledge-sharing events based on the lessons learned from different research and studies

3.       Engage in reflective team discussions and independent analysis of interviews and research findings as the project evolves
   

   • Coordinate with other teams (e.g. Program team and data innovation team) to understand the nature of data and analyze the SDG’s challenges (poverty, unemployment) in line with the country context as well as global context. • Facilitate context analysis to understand the development challenges in Bangladesh towards achieving the goals of Sustainable Development. • Come up with proper research and innovation to address the challenges and obstacles identified through contextual learning as well as localize the SDGs in Bangladesh.

4.       Contribute to data collection tools selection, methods identification and collection of data
   

   • Understand the context and design survey method. • Develop questionnaire, incorporate feedback from relevant colleagues, and mock testing. • Assist in developing a questionnaire to collect data for the monitoring framework. • Support in developing online data entry tools based on the questionnaire and testing. • Develop a Database template to store and clean data. • Develop digital survey tools and testing. • Provide orientation to data enumerators.

5.       Assist in data analysis, visualization, monitoring and evaluation
   

   • Analyze the data and visualize the results • Develop needs assessment reports and incorporate feedback from relevant colleagues • Develop a monitoring framework that will track beneficiaries based on outcome and impact level indicators. • Incorporate feedback from relevant colleagues and finalize the monitoring framework

• Accountability • Adaptability and Flexibility • Building Trust • Client Orientation • Commitment and Motivation • Commitment to Continuous Learning • Communication • Ethics and Values • Integrity • Planning and Organizing • Professionalism • Respect for Diversity • Working in Teams

working with development sector/working for the empowerment of person with disabilities will be preferable. The position is reserved only for persons with disabilities.

• Significant background in conducting qualitative and quantitative studies and situation analysis • Familiarity with ethnographic research • Minimum experience on desktop research, writing reports, presentations and use of computers • Having understand on the landscape of vulnerability and livelihood support will be an advantage • Working experience at the community level • Ability to keep patience and adapt the environment within the organization • Ability to prioritize and manage own work, perform well under any situation, while ensuring attention to detail and accuracy

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.