Project Associate- Social Cohesion

As the development arm of the United Nations, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the leading organization working to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and cli-mate change, as well as the technical lead in the UN System's socio-economic response to COVID-19. Working with a broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, UNDP helps nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

UNDP’s mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

Since 1967, UNDP has worked in close partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) for over five decades, providing strategic support in crisis prevention and recovery, governance, poverty reduction, environment, and sustainable development. UNDP together with the GoSL work towards a sustainable Sri Lanka, building up institutional, legal and individual capacities to respond to the effects of climate change and natural and man-made disasters.

The recent economic crisis and the subsequent political changes, including a dramatic overhaul of the parliament in the recently held general election, indicate that the general public is demanding a shift in how previous governments have been working in Sri Lanka. Amidst this demand, Sri Lanka is witnessing a change in new government priorities, including creating an efficient public sector and an ethically and socially responsible nation devoid of ethnic and religious divisions. At a time when the social contract between the state and its citizenry has been disrupted and there is clear demand for revitalizing the same, identifying pathways to do so requires attempts to create collaborative dialogue and advocacy around multiple issue areas affecting peace and stability in the country.


Multiple and overlapping challenges, such as the economic transition amidst IMF imposed austerity measures, proposed revival of traditional industries, such as agriculture, for paving the way for financial stability and enhancing the growth potential of the country, addressing issues, such as the spread of hate speech and disinformation and promoting more ethical and responsible use of digital sphere for maximizing its potential for country’s development using opportunities for innovation and collaboration, requires partnerships across different sectors; agreements on new policies; and platforms for exchange and innovation.


The project “Promoting Participation Pathways for Human Development – 3P4D” under the Civic Space Flagship of the GPCR Funding Window is a global project with Sri Lanka included among four other developing nations in promoting structural reforms aimed at fostering an enabling environment for people's participation in public life. These reforms will focus on an appropriate combination of the following elements:


· Regulatory frameworks for civic space: Legal and administrative provisions regulating the exercise of freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly and the protection of human rights defenders.

· Citizen participation infrastructure: The concrete mechanisms and processes that allow people to participate in different aspects of public life, such as procedures enabling citizen input into policymaking.

· Civil society strengthening infrastructure: Mechanisms to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations, including by strengthening their financial viability either through public investment (e.g., social innovation funds) or private capital (innovative financing solutions).

The project adopts a strong gender equality lens, focusing on enhancing women’s participation and leadership in decision-making processes. As such, it streamlines gender equality principles and all of its outcomes, with one key output fully dedicated to women’s empowerment. In addition, the project will systematically address the issue of young people’s inclusion in public life with at least one result per country, explicitly contributing to advancing young people’s leadership and participation in public life by providing support to youth-led organizations.

• Support drafting/ monitoring and implementation of the multi-year/annual work plans and monitoring progress against the approved workplans.

• Support the Technical Specialist in drafting terms of reference, project concept notes, proposals related work

• Support the organizing/coordinating of public events such as meetings, launching events, training programmes, workshops, field visits, outreach and awareness-raising campaigns, and seminars

• Assist in preparing resource/ communications materials, and draft meeting notes/minutes.

• Assist in monitoring the progress of project related initiatives within the project team and stakeholders and work with the team for ensuring timely delivery of project interventions.

• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor