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 Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). One of the key government strategies outlined in the 8th Five-Year Plan is to fully implement the provisions of the Peace Accord.  The Government of Bangladesh (GOB) aims to implement accelerated development activities in the region. Despite the good intentions and works, the CHT still suffers from its remote location, poverty, and limited infrastructure, impacting essential services such as 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 the 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 project (SID-CHT 2017-2023), MoCHTA and UNDP, with assistance from many 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, 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 project will be implemented in all 121 Unions of 26 Upazilas in the three Hill Districts of Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban. In the CHT, nearly 100,000 rural- and urban households will directly benefit from the project. It will include the extreme urban and rural poor and vulnerable groups, including women and youth.

The main objective of ERRD-CHT project is “to strengthen 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.

Chittagong Hill Tracts Watershed Co-Management Activity II (CHTWCA II), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is part of “Ecosystems Restoration and Resilient Development in Chittagong Hill Tracts (ERRD-CHT)” – a project of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (MOCHTA). The Chittagong Hill Tracts Watershed Co-Management Activity II, within the ERRD-CHT project, is being implemented with the goal: Strengthened gender-responsive local resilience through an integrated ecosystem management approach of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). CHTWCA II Outcome is to strengthen local resilience through an integrated ecosystem management approach that improves wildlife conservation and the governance of natural resources in the CHT.

S/he will play an interlinking financial and administration coordination and supporting role to all units/teams of the ERRD-CHT project (Forest, Biodiversity and Watershed Management Team, Planning, Monitoring and Reporting Unit, Livelihoods, Climate Change and NRM Team, Gender, Community Cohesion and Women Empowerment Team, and MoCHTA Coordination and Capacity Building Team) in order to achieve his/her deliverables.

Functions / Key Results Expected:

Financial:

• Ensure adherence to UNDP/NEX & DEX rules, regulations, policies, and strategies; implement internal control frameworks and proper financial resource management.
• Coordinate with USAID on budget and financial-related issues. Submit financial reporting to USAID per the requirements of the UNDP-USAID Agreement.
• Provide partner NGOs and other contractors with financial monitoring guidelines and ensure compliance with UNDP accounts, reports, and documentation standards. Provide progress reports and financial information periodically to the Chief Technical Adviser and other relevant parties.
• Ensure funds are disbursed on schedule, adhering to procedures, timelines, and budget provisions.
• Assist in preparing terms of reference, audit documentation, responses to audit observations, and review of accounts. Review audit reports, implement recommendations, build financial management capacities of implementing partners, and ensure continuous support and compliance.
• Ensure proper planning, expenditure tracking, anddit of financial resources in compliance with UNDP rules; oversee cash management, risk assessment, and transaction reconciliation. Monitor the financial status, reporting, and management in field offices, ensuring accurate record-keeping and compliance with financial regulations.
• Use and track funding provided by different donors, the Government of Bangladesh and implementing partners to ensure transparent financial procedures at a regional level, and use of USAID funding to meet CHTWCA II objectives.

Administration:

• Procurement and Asset Management: Manage procurement activities, maintain asset registers, prepare disbursement documentation, and ensure timely delivery of goods and services related to CHTWCA II.
• Technical and Administrative Support: Support the CTA in managing, supervising, and coordinating technical and administrative aspects of the program, including staff management.

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

Measurable Outputs and Performance Indicators:

• # of LoA and or RPA fund requests received and processed for fund disbursement
• # Contracts and agreements with partners maintained and documented (hard copies and soft copies)
• # training conducted on financial management issues
• # of Financial Reports (monthly, quarterly, annual) prepared with required quality and quantity
• # of Audit faced with responsive actions
• # of visits paid to partners for quality financial monitoring and assurance

Business Management

• Resource Management. Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity.
• Customer Satisfaction/Client Management. Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns

Finance

• Audit (General). Understands how regulations and professional standards in internal and external audit underpin audit work in public services.
  Understands the key stages of audit work, including planning, documentation, testing and reporting. Ability to examine and verify accounts and records. Understands wider mechanisms for assurance and scrutiny. Understands the law and best practices relating to anti-bribery and corruption controls and the fraud risks faced by public bodies.
• Budget Management. Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.

Administration & Operations

• Documents and records management. Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy, including storing and archiving.

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