Research Officer

Volunteering

Overview

Support research activities for the Social Protection Policy Support Programme.

You have:

• Demonstrated experience in developing Social Protection Frameworks using the Life-Cycle Approach, incorporating consultations with non-state actors, and formulating Theories of Change (ToC) to guide programme design and action plans.
• Strong ability to organize, analyze, and present research findings through graphs, charts, infographics, and comprehensive reports, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods with tools such as STATA and other relevant software.
• Proficient in drafting project proposals, action plans, and policy briefs with a focus on inclusive, equity-driven social protection strategies.
• Experienced in conducting literature reviews, identifying research gaps, and supporting the development of research hypotheses and designs.
• Skilled in writing and publishing articles, op-eds, policy notes, and academic journal contributions on social protection, development, and related policy themes.
• A minimum of 1 year of experience working with UN organizations and collaborating closely with government ministries/divisions.

Contract

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

The Social Protection Policy Support (SPPS) Programme responds to a need to reconfigure the existing social protection system. The programme will provide technical assistance, bring global expertise and meet major investment requirements to enable the GoB to roll out a fully functional system in line with the National Social Security Strategy (NSSS) and its Action Plan. It will draw on the NSSS, which provides a functional entry point for effecting changes in the wider social protection system via better governance and oversight of the system.

The first component of the Programme is the improvement of governance of social protection by helping to build coordination, governance and reporting functions. It will also strengthen research and analysis capacities in order to build a more effective evidence base for effective policy development. The second component of the programme is to strengthen Social Protection System, with the purpose of developing a modern social protection infrastructure capable of supporting a nationally integrated delivery system for reliable, transparent and developmental GoB social transfers and promote linkages to ensure effective coordination. The two SPPS components will function alongside a piloting delivery component that will enable testing and learning and inform social protection strategy and policy through field-based evidence.

The Government of Bangladesh, through the National Social Security Strategy (NSSS), aims to reduce poverty and vulnerability by investing in human resource development, with particular emphasis on the life-cycle approach to social protection.

To support this mission, the SPPS Programme is seeking a National UN Volunteer (NUNV) Research Officer who will play a vital role in advancing the programme research, coordination, and implementation activities. The NUNV Research Officer will be responsible for conducting data collection, organization, and analysis to support the SPPS research team and the Cabinet Division (CD) and General Economic Division (GED). The NUNV Research Officer will contribute to research for strengthening the governance of social protection by supporting evidence generation, field monitoring, inclusive research (particularly on persons with disabilities and gender dynamics), and the development of action plans and communication materials aligned with the NSSS priorities.

Under the direct supervision of National Project Manager, SPPS Programme, UNDP, the NUNV Research Officer will undertake the following tasks:

• Conduct research on social protection programmes, exploring innovative approaches to enhance governance within the social protection landscape in Bangladesh.

• Undertake fieldwork to gather stories and insights from local-level implementation of social protection programmes.

• Carry out frequent field visits to monitor social protection governance and identify inclusion and exclusion errors in the beneficiary selection process.

• Conduct in-depth analysis of national datasets such as HIES, BDHS, SVRS, MICS, LFS, and others to support evidence-based decision-making.

• Study the gender dynamics of social protection through both desk-based research and field studies.

• Lead research initiatives aligned with the Leave No One Behind (LNOB) principle, with a particular focus on disability-inclusive social protection.

• Support the preparation of category-specific action plans for persons with disabilities.

• Analyse local contexts and contribute to the development of localized action plans incorporating community-specific adaptations and innovations based on national priori-ties for SDG localization.

• Map formal and informal institutional settings at national, sub-national, and local levels, and engage key stakeholders to strengthen coordination in SDG localization.

• Support the activation of Upazila SDG Implementation and Coordination Committees (USICCs) through research and policy dialogue initiatives and their engagement in Voluntary Local Review (VLR) processes.

• Enhance understanding and application of the Core Diagnostic Instrument (CODI) in assessing social protection programmes.

• Assist in developing, packaging, and disseminating knowledge products such as policy briefs, op-eds, and one-pagers.

• Develop infographics to visualize social protection research findings and communication materials.

• Support the management of social media content related to the SPPS programme and its events.

• Prepare meeting minutes, running commentary, and support the preparation of project reports.

• Provide need-based administrative support including event preparation, logistical co-ordination, and communication with vendors and participants.

• Perform any other tasks assigned by the Project Manager.

• Accountability • Adaptability and Flexibility • Commitment and Motivation • Communication • Creativity • Ethics and Values • Integrity • Planning and Organizing • Professionalism • Respect for Diversity • Working in Teams

• Demonstrated experience in developing Social Protection Frameworks using the Life-Cycle Approach, incorporating consultations with non-state actors, and formulating Theories of Change (ToC) to guide programme design and action plans.

• Strong ability to organize, analyze, and present research findings through graphs, charts, infographics, and comprehensive reports, utilizing both quantitative and qualita-tive methods with tools such as STATA and other relevant software.

• Proficient in drafting project proposals, action plans, and policy briefs with a focus on inclusive, equity-driven social protection strategies.

• Experienced in conducting literature reviews, identifying research gaps, and support-ing the development of research hypotheses and designs.

• Skilled in writing and publishing articles, op-eds, policy notes, and academic journal contributions on social protection, development, and related policy themes.

• Excellent team collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively with national and local stakeholders, including field-level staff; self-motivated with strong time manage-ment and the ability to deliver under tight deadlines.

• A minimum of 1 year of experience working with UN organizations and collaborating closely with government ministries/divisions.

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.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org