Climate change-induced soil and water salinity are projected to adversely impact freshwater-dependent agricultural livelihoods (leading to loss of productivity or livelihoods) as well as the availability and quality of drinking water in vulnerable coastal communities. Furthermore, given women’s crucial role that play in water security and household level resilience, and their socio-economic marginalization, the climate change-induced threat to agricultural livelihoods and drinking water security of the affected coastal communities disproportionately affects women and girls.

Therefore, the key objective of the project has been to support the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) in strengthening the adaptive capacities of coastal communities, especially women, to cope with the impacts of climate change-induced salinity on their livelihoods and water security. An estimated 719,229 people will be benefitted from the project interventions.

The project is empowering target communities, especially women, as ‘change agents’ to plan, implement, and manage resilient livelihoods and drinking water solutions. The project is expected to enable those communities to address climate change risks on livelihood and drinking water security to promote synergistic co-benefits. GCF resources are invested in promoting a diversification from currently non-adaptive, freshwater-reliant livelihoods of small-scale farmers, fishers, and agro-labourers towards climate-resilient agricultural livelihoods. GoB co-financing is leveraged to support the adoption and scale of these alternative, climate-resilient agricultural livelihoods through strengthened value chains and market linkages for their long-term viability in the face of increasing salinity and extreme weather. Finally, through investments in institutional capacities, knowledge dissemination, and evidence-based learning, the project is enabling pathways for replication and scale of project impact to secure livelihoods and drinking water across the vulnerable districts of the southwest coast of Bangladesh.

a)    Strategic oversight and development of Market and Value Chain guidelines, implementation, and follow-up process:

1.    Implement the selected livelihood options for Producer Groups (WLG), ensure production sales through value chain activities and effectively communicate with market actors
2.    Ensure business and marketing strategy to develop  Local Value Chain mechanism
3.    Identify key market players, value chain directions, inputs, services, outputs and entry points of value chain activities
4.    Identify market opportunities and constraints of gender-sensitive aquaculture and agriculture value chain
5.    Conduct value chain analysis and sectorial analysis, and oversee the development of the report
6.    Develop a high-level plan for the implementation of the local value chain model across target communities
7.    Provide technical support in identifying market development opportunities, understanding evolving market trends, and conducting targeted research on new /potential market channels, and business models.
8.    Closely work with the concerned staff of the project management unit in particular the adaptive livelihood analyst to formulate and design the market development plan and ensure effective implementation of the plan.

b)    Technical Knowledge, Capacity & competency development of project & partner staff members and community organizations etc.

1.    Support and review the ongoing market development activities as per the project’s Annual plan and prepare the implementation plan by coordinating with the respective department for implementation. Generate ideas on livelihood options, training components, etc. based on the market survey findings and skills in demand in the market.
2.    Facilitate the development of gender-sensitive value chain training materials and ensure capacity building in value chain development in the project areas.
3.    Collaborate with other project team members to integrate livelihoods, WASH, monitoring & evaluation, and other cross-cutting issues into the value chain development process.
4.    Capacity building events, orientations/training, workshops and visits/exposure organized and facilitated for community and project staff.
5.    Support project staff, partners and community members with technical and other expertise that will assist producers to meet the requirements of buyers.
6.    Support community members, project staff and volunteers for the development of action plans and strategies based on market demands.
7.    Assist in the coordination and facilitation of learning events or workshops linked to Value Chain Development programming issues. Lead individual learning sessions on climate adaptive & gender sensitive Value Chain Development programming.
8.    Monitor the performance of project staff and their communities, and offer support as required to ensure quality programming delivered

c)    Internal and external liaison and coordination with different Stakeholders.

1.    Identify market development opportunities through the value chain analysis report, networks and relationships with other institutions and organizations, and NGOs working in the areas of Market Access and development
2.    Work through GCA project & partner staff members to facilitate the direct contact, placement and supply of orders between buyers and producers
3.    Coordinate a peer action learning group of Value Chain Development practitioners and relevant national office departments to facilitate system, process and program management innovation in Value Chain Development programming.
4.    Participate and actively contribute to the partnership forums, working groups and networks related to Value Chain Development programming
5.    Identifies relevant market actors, assesses end markets, develops value chain maps, identifies constraints, market-based solutions, and incentives to integrate project’s livelihood interventions into value chains and commercial distribution networks.
6.    Maintain close working relationship with the partners, value chain actors, appropriate stakeholders in the government and other relevant stakeholders for smooth delivery of the project.

d)    Documentation & Reporting

1.    Project performance and relevant data documented properly and required reports delivered on time
2.    Program document developed, and reviews case studies conducted
3.    Performance reports submitted on monthly, quarterly and annual basis
4.    Technical/special reports prepared and submitted to meet donor requirements
5.    Take part in process documentation, collection and compilation of required information from the entrepreneurs and stakeholders preparing regular report (interim, final, donor report and others)

e)    Quality Assurance

1.    High quality monitoring, supervision and evaluation of Value chain programs to ensure quality implementation. Includes technical backstopping, reflection, lessons learned events, and other activities to ensure programming on track and learnings are integrated into project
2.    Participate with M&E team in designing, redesigning and elaborating logframes for Value Chain programming.
3.    Ensure standardization of Gender sensitive indicators and project models across projects
4.    Conduct regular intensive field visit to troubleshoot field problems, monitor project activity progress, and collect data to measure the changes in the different level of the project

f)    Professional Development

1.    Demonstrate work and life balance.
2.    Personal and professional development goals consistent with UNDP Mission’s strategic goal.

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

4. Institutional Arrangement
This position will be supervised by the Adaptive Livelihood Analyst in “Enhancing adaptive capacities of coastal communities, especially women, to cope with climate change induced salinity” Project (Annex: Signed Project Document /Recruitment Plan 2024 supporting this position).

a)    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.
Digital & Innovation    Co-creation    Ability to design and facilitate a process that enables a diverse group of stakeholders to solve a common problem, develop a practice, or create knowledge together.
2030 Agenda: People
Gender    Climate Change and Risk Management of Disasters with a Gender Perspective

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements:

Secondary education is required.
University degree (Bachelor´s degree) in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, Development Studies or any other relevant field will be given due consideration, but is not a requirement.
Min. years of relevant work experience:     

Minimum 6 years (with secondary education) or 3 years (with bachelor´s degree) of working experience in market development
related projects preferably with a national/international NGO;
Required  skills:
    Experience in preparation of program budget, expenditure analysis, capacity building, networking, stakeholder engagement and progress monitoring reports on market and value chain development is required,
Desired Skills:
    Ability to effectively communicate with and coordinate activities of multiple partners, including field-based staff and work well under pressure and meet deadlines.
    Experience working with I/NGOs, private sector, and value chain actors.
    Experience in budget management, good problem-solving skills;
    Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
    Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development.

Required Language(s)     Fluency in English and Bangla is required.