Capacity Development & Gender Officer

Strengthening local governance has been a key focus of not only the government of Bangladesh, but also different donor agencies. Considering the importance of the issue, UNDP has been working to strengthen the local governance system in Bangladesh for more than a decade. UNDP lead support projects to the LGIs have played an important role in reforming the Union Parishad (UP) and Upazila Parishad (UZP) tier of government. Since the Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) and Union Parishad Governance Projects (UPGP) are going to phased out in late 2016, UNDP in collaboration with SDC and DANIDA is planning to support UZP and UP through one project entitled Efficient and Accountable Local Governance (EALG) that will have three components, including Inclusive and Accountable Upazila Parishad (IAUZP: Component-1) and Sustainable, Democratic Union Parishad (SDUP: Component-2) and Policy for Effective Local Governance (PELG: Component-3). All three components of the project will have a common policy output to provide space for support to the overall devolution process. 

• Work with key stakeholders to develop interventions aimed at strengthening women’s leadership in the public sector and supporting the implementation of the National Strategy on Gender Equality 2011-2020 and other related policies;
• Advise project partners, ministries and LGIs in the development and implementation of their gender equality action plans;
• Provide advice to the concern ministry and stakeholders in identifying research gaps and designing research in support of policy objectives;
• Under the NPD’s guidance and based on stakeholder inputs, develop an advocacy strategy to share key policy messages. 

• Conduct an assessment on capacity-building initiatives to date and provide recommendations and lessons learned;
• Develop a training/capacity development strategy for LGI representatives;
• Provide advice to training institutions to ensure quality of training, including preparing TOR, reviewing technical proposals, and supporting monitoring and evaluation. 

• Contribute to build the relationship between the national counterparts, UNDP, UNCDF and other stakeholders working on gender issues;
• Serve as an advocate for UN core values on gender empowerment and gender equality in the dialogue with national counterparts and facilitate the practical implementation of this dialogue through project activities;
• Ensure coordination with international partners (e.g. UN Programme Coordination Group on Gender, Gender Action Partnership), technical advisors, national experts, and relevant stakeholders.

• Manage day-to-day routine administration of the project’s training component concerning personnel and logistic support;
• Prepare routine correspondence and general reference documents, organize data and information, maintain records and documents to facilitate monitoring of all training activities; 
• Contacts with resource persons;
• Prepare routine correspondence and general reference documents, organize data and collect information for relevant partners;
• Assist to conduct training programs;
• Maintain project and training files, documents and provide support to Project Coordinator and consultants/experts;
• Carry out any other job as assigned by the Project Management Team (PMT);
• Maintain excellent relationship with local government officials, traditional institutions, Civil Society representatives, NGO partners, donors and other relevant stakeholders;
• Assist the Technical Advisory Team in coordinating and managing project activities ;
• Provide assistance in implementation of the AWP and monitoring of the implementation progress.

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards (human rights, peace, understanding between peoples and nations, tolerance, integrity, respect, results orientation (UNDP core ethics) impartiality;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

• Excellent inter-personal, training, and communications skills;
• Have working IT  skills  ( ms word, Power point, excel);
• Have strong training & facilitation skills;
• Have a proven track record of being able to work in a team.

• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback, timely responses queries;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

• Ability to engage with high-ranking UNDP Managers, Government Officials and international donor community and provide policy advisory support services;
• Ability to identify opportunities, conceptualize and develop project reports;
• Capability to engage in team-based activity;
• Ability to support timely project implementation and to provide the necessary trouble shooting to keep project implementation on schedule;
• Ability to manage budgets and  transactions;
• Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioural/ attitudinal change.

• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral): Sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners, Respectful and helpful relations with all UN/UNDP, Project and GOB staff. 

• Masters’ Degree in Gender Studies, Public Administration, Development Studies or any discipline of Social Science. 

• At least 3 years of progressive experience in relevant field;
• Expertise in gender equality issues particularly relating to women in decision-making/ leadership;
• Experience in programme/project management;
• Experience in developing and implementing advocacy/communications strategies;
• Familiarity with UNDP policies and procedures is an asset.

• Fluency in written and spoken English and national language of the duty station.