Programme Officer-Climate Change, SID-CHT Project

Rangamati

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Rangamati
Grade: Consultancy - SB-4 (SC8/SC9), Service Contract, Local Contractors Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Environment
- Crisis Prevention and Recovery
- Meteorology, Geology and Geography
- Civil Society and Local governance
- Crisis Response
- Climate Change
- Project and Programme Management
- Peace and Development
- CLIMATE CHANGE
Closing Date: Closed

Background

Bangladesh is the world’s biggest delta landscape (situated between the foothills of the Himalayan massif and the Bay of Bengal), developed by the huge amount of sediments deposited in their estuaries by three big rivers – the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. The country is highly vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters due mainly to its geographical location, coastal ecology, monsoon climate and hydrology including multiplicity of rivers. Nearly 90% of the country’s total area is lowland, and the highlands including the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) are located in the foothills of the Shillong Plateau having the highest rainfall in the world. The CHT and other undulating regions including parts of Sylhet and Chittagong, therefore, drain out huge amount of rain water to the Bay of Bengal, thereby creating water-induced natural disasters such as landslides and floods. Droughts are common in the country’s north-western parts, whereas coastal regions are prone to cyclones and storms.

Flash floods occur due to heavy rainfall but the slope gradients of the landscape and vicinity to the Bay of Bengal favor a rapid disposal of flood water. The water action from rivers and rains erode soft beds of hills in the CHT and resulting landslides cause severe damage to local community and ecology. The erosiveness of heavy and sustained rainfall leads to increased erosion risk due to continuing forest degradation and deforestation. The natural disaster situation in the CHT has of late aggravated in the CHT by severe deforestation, watershed and other land-use degradation, and unplanned and unsustainable human settlements developed by hill cutting, encroachments of waterbodies and other public lands, and leasing out of forest lands for raising mono-culture of commercial crops and trees.

The Government of Bangladesh (GOB) has of late taken a number of important efforts to address disaster and climate risk management concerns. Reduction of the impact of climate change such as disasters is multifarious and active participation of local community is a must in controlling climate- and water-induced natural disasters. For this to happen local community should get co-benefits of their active participation in participatory watershed and land-use management activity. In addition to the livelihood activities and local employment opportunities generated during field development interventions, the land-based benefits to active participants responsible for the protection and improved management of identified land-use including watersheds are essential.

Mainstreaming climate-induced disaster risk reduction in land-use planning and climate risk reduction interventions help achieve a number of sustainable development goals in the CHT. For instance, integrated watershed management as a suitable landscape intervention with socio-economic and environmental co-benefits is one such approach for reducing the risk of water-induced natural disasters in the CHT’s undulating and hilly regions, keeping in view of its land-use, geographical, topographical and socio-economic situation. Active and gainful partnerships of local community are however vital, besides an effective monitoring mechanism.

The prevalence of absolute and extreme poverty among communities in CHT is about 65 percent and 44 percent respectively, above the national average (7th FYP page 637-638). Skills required to move from subsistence livelihood practices to a market economy are hindered by a clear lack of public policies and investment aimed at sustainable empowerment. Both urban and rural areas are affected adversely by the situation.

In the Seventh Five Year Plan (FY 2016-20), it has been stated that “CHT is one of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable regions in the country in terms of almost all major development indicators, such as income, employment, poverty, health, water, sanitation, education, women employment, access to infrastructure and national building institutions, inter-community confidence, etc.” In virtually all social and economic indicators the region is disadvantaged with limited access to education, an absence of clear linkages between the capabilities and needs of communities and state institutions as well as a lack of understanding of key challenges . One of the key government strategies outlined in the 7th Five-Year Plan for tackling these challenges is to fully implement the provisions of the Peace Accord. The government also aims at implementing accelerated development activities in the region.

The Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (MOCHTA), in collaboration with UNDP and other Development Partners has implemented several projects in three Hill Districts during the last decade. To continue the momentum of development and confidence building successes the MoCHTA and UNDP, with assistance from a number of Development Partners, have undertaken a new 5-year project titled Strengthening Inclusive Development in CHT (SID-CHT 2017-21). The main objectives of SID-CHT project is “To strengthen the capacity of the population in the Chittagong Hill Tracts to shape and make decisions that impact on their lives”. Based on the above main objectives following are the specific objectives which will be achieved by implementing the project:

1.To strengthen community land, resource and livelihood management.

2.To increase participation and influence to shape decision-making.

3.To strengthen democratic governance with responsive institutions and effective services.

Under the above-stated specific objective 1: strengthened community land, resource and livelihood management main aim of the DANIDA funded CHT Climate Resilience Project (CCRP, 2018-2021) is to “improve community livelihoods and watersheds that are resilient to climate change”. This will be achieved through the following 3 inter-related outputs to be achieved in 10 Upazillas of the three CHT districts:

Supporting rural communities and institutions in the CHT to conduct site-specific Community Climate Vulnerability Assessments (CCVAs) and prepare Local Resilience Plans (LRPs),
Supporting them to undertake priority actions in identified micro and small-watersheds with particular emphasis on community resource management of forests, conserving the watersheds including forests and their associated watersheds, and diversification of resilient livelihoods with focus on improved natural resources-based income generating opportunities, and
Developing capacity of the CHT institutions, leaders and community people so that they are able to fully discharge the expected planning, field implementation and other responsibilities.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Programme Officer Climate Change, based in Rangamati with frequent travels to all 3 districts of CHT, will be a key member of the Livelihood and NRM Unit of the project and under direct supervision of the Chief, Livelihoods and NRM, and closely working with the Chief Technical Specialist, including Programme Officer-M&E, Programme Officer-Livelihoods and other team members The incumbent will be responsible for planning, designing and implementing CCRP activities and playing vital role in SID-CHT project when related to Climate Change issues.. The project is being implemented in 10 Upazilas (sub-district) of 3 hill districts covering over 100 communities in 20 selected geographical areas (Approx. 10,000 population) who are more vulnerable due to climate change impacts.

Overall, as a technical expert s/he will provide technical support to SID-CHT, UNDP on the CHT climate change issues. S/he will assist the Chief, Livelihood and NRM in analysis and evaluation of relevant climate change issues and data for program planning, field implementation and decision-making, and also in preparing regular reports on relevant climate change issues. S/he will assist in the field implementation of climate change related activities, results, lessons learned and risks on a regular basis. S/he will closely work with Livelihood and NRM team and also with PMR (Planning, Monitoring & Reporting) unit of SID-CHT and other Programme Officers of the Cluster, District Managers District FFS Experts as well as the Hill District Councils and partner NGO.

The incumbent will be responsible for mainstreaming climate change issues across the SID-CHT results and activities. S/he will manage and maintain database in relation to the project activities. S/he will design climate change and environment related policy papers, strategy and briefs for improved performance/capacity assessment of the stakeholders, as well as climate change related tools. S/he will be responsible for developing capacity of project staff and PNGOs and HDC staff, and community stakeholders on climate change issues including developing awareness raising and training materials in order to ensure quality climate change performance of the project.

Functions / Key Results Expected:

Functions:

Lead Climate Change Assessments, Planning, Budgeting, Field Implementation, Monitoring and Coordination;
Climate Change Analyses, Evaluation and Reporting;
Capacity Building on Climate Change;
Any other functions and duties as assigned by SID-CHT management.

1.Lead Climate Change Assessments, Planning, Budgeting, Field Implementation, Monitoring and Coordination

Closely work with other team members in preparing annual work plans and field implementation guidelines, and achieve results with respect to climate change issues under different projects/components;
In consultation with other Programme Officers, design and develop climate change vulnerability assessments and plans, activity implementation with necessary guidelines (implementation modalities) and budgets on climate change related issues;
Coordinate with Hill District Councils (HDCs), partner NGOs and other stakeholders in relation to programme planning and field implementation on climate change;
Develop and implement effective assessments and planning tools / formats relevant to climate change issues and indicators;
Monitor project field activities, inputs, outputs, effects and impact of the project with respect to climate change issues;
Monitor the progress of planned activities and budget;
Conduct field visits for monitoring field implementation of climate change related activities and results regularly.

2.Climate Change Analyses, Evaluation and Reporting

Design appropriate formats for the project staffs for climate change related field activities, collect and analyze field information and provide necessary feedbacks to field teams;
Design and manage climate change surveys for assessing capacity/performance of the concerned institutions and targeted beneficiaries;
Work with partners (PNGOs, HDCs, others) to ensure the collection and use of relevant data for effective field implementation of climate change resilient activities ;
Conduct field visits regularly and prepare field visit reports on climate change issues;
Prepare regular evaluation and presentations on climate change to program/cluster management;
Capture lessons learned/good practices on climate change resilient and disseminate as appropriate;
Design necessary tools and techniques for capturing successful cases on climate change resilient related successes;
Produce reports on issues related to climate change resilient activities.

3.Capacity Building on Climate Change

Guide the SID-CHT district teams, PNGOs, HDCs and other stakeholders in developing realistic climate change assessments, plans and field implementation;
Develop awareness raising materials on Climate Change and Environment related issues (CHT specific);
Organize and conduct need-based training on climate change planning and field implementation for project staffs;
Support field staff and partner organisations in preparation of reports on findings and lessons learned from project interventions on climate change resilient activities;
Facilitate capacity building for implementing partners to enable them in implementing, monitor and evaluate their own climate change activities and issues, gather relevant data and produce required reports;
Perform any other duties as assigned by the SID-CHT management related to the project.

In particular s/he is expected to carry out the following specific activities/outputs:

S/he will review different documents (from primary and secondary sources) relevant to environment and climate change in the CHT, it’s impacts on livelihoods and community-based adaptation. S/he will prepare report on current and future climate and environmental risks and mitigation strategies;
S/he will, in team effort, support to organize different consultative workshops on CHT environmental issues and climate change impacts (current and future) to endorse or validate the findings where s/he will be key facilitator as technical expert;
S/he will work with the Livelihoods and Natural Resource Management team in preparing different tools, guidelines which will be required during implementation of the CCRP project;
S/he will prepare training materials/modules on CHT environment and climate change issues and community-based adaptation strategies;
S/he will develop Community Climate Vulnerability Assessment tools, guidelines including Local Resilience Plans through field tests at community level;
Provide ToT to the project staff on climate change issues, adaptation, watersheds management, risks assessment and planning, community climate vulnerability assessment, local resilience plans, etc.;
S/he will provide technical guidance to the project staffs while they conduct Community Climate Vulnerability Assessments and develop Local Resilience Plans;
S/he will support to prepare/develop different awareness raising materials (poster, festoons, leaflets etc.) on (a) current and future climate and environmental risks, (b) climate change issues and CBA, (c) on integrated planning and management of common use of water and natural resources and actions at community level;
Organize skill development training (e.g. soil & water conservation, rain water harvesting, land use planning etc.) involving relevant technical institutions/organization/resource persons;
S/he will attend different coordination meetings and provide technical input in the discussions;
Organize workshops on experience sharing and lessons learning at Upazila and District level with relevant stakeholders;
Support to organize national level workshops on policy advocacy issues on the CHT (environment, NRM, climate change issues).

Measurable Outputs and Performance Indicators

1.# of climate change and vulnerability assessments/plans/monitoring/survey/analysis tools and reports developed on climate change resilient related activities;

2.# quarterly, annual reports;

3.# study report/fact finding reports produced on climate change and environment issues in CHT;

4.# of training and workshop conducted for project staffs on climate change;

5.# of training and workshop conducted for stakeholders on climate change;

6.# of case studies/success stories on climate change related issues produced;

7.# of training modules developed on climate change related topics and issues;

8.# of awareness raining materials on climate change and environment related topics and issues developed;

9.# of field visit conducted and report produced on field implementation on climate change related issues.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrate integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Very good knowledge on the integrated community development approach;
Excellent knowledge on climate change resilient system designing, project monitoring and evaluation in Bangladesh;
Familiar with participatory approaches like PRA, PM&E;
Very good knowledge on Logical Framework;
Skills on data collection, processing and analysis and high quality reports;
Ability to organize and facilitate training and workshop activities;
Ability to travel to the remote places and multi-cultural areas, and stay in the CHT;
Teamwork;
Familiarity with research and scientific data collection methods;
Plans, prioritizes and delivers tasks on time;
Advance level of skills on computer and IT applications and services;

Management and Leadership

Focuses on impacts and results;
Leads the teams effectively towards achieving the objectives;
Builds strong relationship with the working partners and stakeholders;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Masters Degree in Environmental Management/Studies/Science or Climate Change and Disaster Management from any reputed University.

Experience:

At least 3 (three) years of relevant working experience on handling climate change programmes, preferably in an integrated development project.
Have extensive experience in designing climate change plans and projects, tools, assessments and strategies.
Experience in climate change data collection, survey and assessments, analysis and planning, and production of reports.
Demonstrated ability in the design of climate change methods and strategies to produce, analyze data, use and share information with a variety of actors in different environments.
Demonstrated ability of high-quality report writing with state-of-the-art graphs, charts etc.
Proven experiences in developing training materials including awareness raising materials on climate change and environment related issues.
Practical working experience in development and natural resource management projects in hilly regions will be an added advantage.
Working experience in CHT and/ or good understanding of CHT situation desirable.

Language Requirements:

Excellent skill in English and Bangla;
Computer literacy is essential particularly Bangla typing skill is a must.

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