Gender Analyst

Background

Signing of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 1997 was a major political achievement marking the end of a protracted low intensity conflict in the region. One of the key government strategies outlined in the 8th Five-Year Plans is to fully implement the provisions of the Peace Accord.  The government also aims at implementing accelerated development activities in the region. Despite these good intentions, CHT still suffers from its remote location, diverse ethnic composition, and limited infrastructure, impacting essential services such education, healthcare, and water access. Despite commitments, the CHT institutions haven't achieved their full potential due mainly to undefined roles and pending elections, hindering effective service delivery and regional governance. The unique biodiversity of the CHT, including forests, wildlife habitats, and waterbodies, is at risk due to diversion of forest land for population and settlement growth, inappropriate agricultural practices, and climate change.

To continue the momentum of successful implementation of the Promotion of Development and Confidence Building in CHT project (2003–2016) and Strengthening Inclusive Development in CHT (SID-CHT 2017-2023), MoCHTA and UNDP, with assistance from a number of Development Partners, have undertaken a new project titled Ecosystem Restoration and Resilient Development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (ERRD-CHT). The project focuses on enhancing resilient ecosystems, development and governance in the CHT by building community and ecosystem resilience through various development and conservation outputs and activities. Support for resilient livelihoods and micro-enterprises will be combined while conserving ecosystems and biodiversity and improving local governance by empowering local communities, including women and youth and marginalized sections, and institutions in partnerships with the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), counterparts, traditional leaders, and development partners.

The ERRD-CHT Project will produce results on four interlinked levels, thereby strengthening the ability of the population to enhance resilience, development and governance that impact the people’s lives and livelihoods. The main objective of ERRD-CHT project is ‘to sstrengthen gender-responsive resilience and development through improved governance and ecosystems, and adaptive livelihoods with market access.” which will be achieved through the following four Outputs:

Output 1: Improved and resilient forest ecosystems and livelihoods.

Output 2: Enhanced capacity and institutional building of the CHT institutions and strengthened democratic governance with increased people’s participation, responsive communities and more effective service delivery.

Output 3: Inclusive and gender-responsive learning and empowerment among women and girls. 

Output 4: Enabled environment for self-reliant youth development and leadership.

The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), a multi-ethnic hilly area is one of the remotest regions of Bangladesh with rich biodiversity and is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Reduced forest coverage, excessive soil erosion, erratic rainfall, flash floods, landslides, and water scarcity in the dry season are perpetuating poverty in rural areas and exhausting the traditional coping mechanisms of vulnerable communities. Freshwater scarcity is acute because natural springs are drying up. The poverty rate in CHT is much higher than the national average.

More than two decades of conflict, ending with the Peace Accord signed in 1997, has opened the regular development activities I the region. Apart from the politically unstable situation, degradation of natural resources such as forests, soils and water bodies are further exacerbating the vulnerable situation of women who are dependent on natural resources. Climate change and declining land fertility are taking their toll on women who engage in agricultural activities including managing water for the households and homestead vegetable cultivation.

In addition, the acceleration of the privatization of communal land-based resources, including forests and waters, is resulting in exclusion of the Indigenous population with particularly adverse effects on the livelihoods.

According to a World Bank study in 2018, by 2050, climate change will cause a decline in living standards by 18.4% in Bandarban, 15.8% in Rangamati, and 12.6% in Khagrachari. These rates of decline are significantly higher compared to the national decline of 6.7% by 2050.

The impacts of climate change are largely gendered, with women facing higher risks and greater burdens from the effects of climate change in situations of poverty. In addition, a recent study identified climatic events, both sudden and slow-onset, as drivers for increased conflict over resources, which will fuel long-standing social and political crises.

Considering the above-mentioned situation, the UNDP Bangladesh has signed a funding agreement with the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) “Community Resilience through Locally-led Inclusive Adaptation (CoRLIA)” with aims to increase locally-led resilience of climate-vulnerable and marginalized communities in the CHT thus contributing to poverty reduction of targeted households. The project will be implemented through the partnership with the Hill District Councils and other local stakeholders.

This Project will engage the women in leadership roles. It will promote locally led inclusive adaptation to climate change through 180 women-led climate resilience committees (WCRC) covering 540 communities in the three Hill Districts of CHT. The WCRCs will be capacitated on nature-based solutions (NbS) to climate change adaptation, climate resilient agriculture and livelihoods practices, climate change vulnerability assessments (CCVAs), local resilience plans (LRPs) and the development and implementation of prioritized actions stemming from the LRPs. The LRPs will be supported through community grants whereas the 13,500 vulnerable households (women only) will be given livelihood grants to implement climate-adaptive livelihood options (CALO). 

Local Union Parishads and local leaders will be capacitated on climate change, CCVAs, LRPs, NbS and monitoring so they can play key role in monitoring, planning and implementation. The project will strengthen collaboration and partnerships between national government institutions and civil society organizations, leading to the implementation of locally led approaches in a wider range of regions and communities. 

The Gender Analyst will be responsible for overseeing and ensuring gender equality outcomes in CoRLIA and similar components of ERRD Project. S/he will also be responsible for program design and implementation; providing technical support focusing on gender equality to the programme staffs and project beneficiaries; will closely work with the local implementing partners, Hilll District Councils and partner NGOs for coordination, monitoring progress, ensuring quality achievements and results of the program. S/he will be engaged in capacity building of partners and UNDP staffs on stratetizing gender equality, capture case studies and prepare different reports highlighting gender equality. S/he will represent UNDPs values and mandate and uphold it.

The Gender Analyst will be responsible for carrying out gender analysis, formulation of gender action plan, gender equality strategies for CoRLIA and similar components under the close guidance of Gender and Community Cohesion Analyst. S/he will be strongly engaged in coordinating, liaising, planning, budgeting, monitoring, and reporting in an efficient manner. The incumbent is expected to perform the following tasks.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Gender Analyst will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Project Manager of “ERRD-CHT” Project.

Planning & management of gender equality

• Assist to ensure the girls and women, particularly those from ethnic minorities, climate-vulnerable and marginalized communities in the CHT, are equally benefited from this project initiatives.
• Assist in preparing the Project Implementation Plan (PIP) by providing technical inputs on gender equality sections.
• Maintain liaison and work closely with Hill District Councils, district administration, relevant actors in the resolution of problems related to the development and implementation of program on gender equality by providing the necessary guidance and direction as per the PIP.
• Provide technical and conceptual support to strategic partners for gender equality and transformative role of women in climate change resilience and biodiversity programs. 
• Assist in preparation and maintenance of the gender responsive program database.
• Provides support to Hill district Councils for planning and implementation of gender responsive programs by providing the relevant guidance and direction.
• Assist PMR in developing a gender responsive monitoring system for the CoRLIA, biodiversity and similar components.

Coordinate and collaborate with key stakeholders: 

• Coordinate with key stakeholders i.e. Hill District Councils, local administration, elected leaders, traditional leaders, civil society etc. in three hill districts for smooth implementation of program activities. 
• Facilitate field activities in the three hill districts as per provided guideline; 
• Ensure regular coordination meetings at district levels;
• Ensure active participation of GOB representatives and departments, elected leaders and traditional leaders in the program implementation to ensure necessary support to project schools and colleges.

Organize and facilitate Training, Meeting, Workshop, seminar etc.: 

• Organize/facilitate/ capacity building training of staffs of UNDP and partner organiztions on transformative leadership of women in climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation and restoration. Also on gender analysis, gender action planning for ensuring gender equality in program activities;
• Participate in trainings, meetings, workshops, seminars, conferences, etc. to be held at district level to meet the objectives of the project;
• Coordinate with relevant stakeholder and Partners organizations for ensuring proper selection & participation (gender, ethnicity, age, etc) of participants.
• Ensure proper documentations (both programme and finance) of various events.

Monitoring and evaluation of project activities implemented by Partners (LGI/GO/NGO):

• Carry out frequent monitoring visit (50%) at different programme activities in three hill districts to ensure achievements and quality results in line with gender action plan and project targets;
• Share monitoring reports with partners and supervisors for compliance; 
• Facilitate/support different committees (Union,Upazila and District) in monitoring field activities and take guidance and accommodate accordingly;
• Produce monthly, quarterly reports on programme activities and progress of the projects and submit to the supervisor with a copy to Cluster M&E focal person.
• Contribute in carrying out the baseline, mid-term and final evaluation of the program focusing on gender equality goals.

Data bank of information:

• Develop and maintain central data base with relevant information of gender action plans;
• Keep shadow budget for fund management of gender equality based program;
• Capture periodic case studies or success stories on gender equality and share;
• Take part in different result assessments/studies for the project as necessary.

Partnership and Liaison:

• Liaise and maintain excellent relationships with government officials, NGOs and all other relevant stakeholders at Upazila level
• Participate in ERRD and UNDP various meetings.
• Support high level visit, advocacy events, donor visits, program formulation missions and other official visiting programs.

Synergies at field level with other components of the project: 

• Collaborate with all components of the projects at field level implementation & coordination.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline 
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements  
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback 
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible  
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident 
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships 
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination  

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Development

• Human-centered Design: Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process.  Knowledge and understanding of human centred design principles and practices.

Business Management

• Communication: Communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience; Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels

Partnership management

• Relationship management: Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding 

General (across the functions)

• Event planning and execution: Ability to plan, manage and execute of public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP's overall brand and mandate.

2030 Agenda: People

• Gender: Gender and Crisis

2030 Agenda: Peace

• Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights: Inclusive Political Participation

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Gender Studies, Development Studies, or any other related discipline is required. OR 
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in UN/Government of Bangladesh/INGOs in the field of  Livelihood Management related to in Climate Change, Environment and Rural Development. 
• At least 2 years of practical working experience in gender inclusivity, empowerment and sustainable development in a relevant to CHT region of Bangladesh. 
• Experience in capacity building on gender equality and women empowerment is desirable.
• Experience in working with UN agencies or international NGOs is desirable.
• Proven experience in leading gender analysis, gender strategy formulation, gender action planning is desirable.
• Experience working to promote and develop gender-sensitive policies, procedures, and practices is desirable.
• Experience in organizing events (training, conference, workshop etc) is desirable.
• Working experience in CHT is desirable.
• Strong coordination, negotiation, networking, lobbying and advocacy skills is desirable.
• Experience in generating innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations is desirable. 
• Excellent time management and ability to produce outputs as per agreed deadlines is desirable.
• Experience working with diverse range of partners, including UN  organizations, international and domestic NGOs, government and private sector institutions is desirable.
• Ability to consolidate information from multiple sources is desirable;
• Able to prepare strategic information for decision-makers is desirable;

Required Language(s):

• Fluency in English and Bangla is required.
• Working knowledge in any of the CHT languages or Chittagonian dialect will be added advantage.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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