Background

As a result of the Rohingya refugee influx to Bangladesh, the population of two Upazilas (sub-districts) of Ukhiya and Teknaf in the southern part of Cox’s Bazar has risen to around 1.5 million people. This has enormously contributed to health and environmental challenges, including under-resourced solid waste management (SWM) services. It is estimated that over 10,000 tons or around 22,000 cubic meters of waste per month is generated in the two Upazilas, which do not have a functioning SWM system. Similarly, the refugee camps generate approximately 140 tons of waste per day.

Solid waste discarded by refugee and host community households and markets both inside and outside the camps and resulting from the distribution of humanitarian support at random sites lacking management and disposal, is likely to lead to outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, diarrhea, and malaria. Environmentally, uncontrolled solid waste also causes contamination of surface and groundwater sources. The situation is usually aggravated during the cyclone and monsoon season.

UNDP has received funding to implement a project titled “Solid Waste Management Support Project for Host & Rohingya Communities in Cox’s Bazar District of Bangladesh.” The project is a response to the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh and the resulting pressing need for SWM in both the host communities and refugee camps.

The UNDP’s Solid Waste Management Support Project for Host & Rohingya Communities in Cox’s Bazar District of Bangladesh targets the protection of women and children, the prevention of diseases, and the promotion of hygiene and proper sanitary standards. It will be implemented in the host and refugee communities. Additionally, the project aims to build the capacity of local government, create immediate and long-term employment, and promote a circular economy while at the same time contributing to a conducive environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will directly report to Project Development Specialist-SWM based in the Sub-Office in Cox’s Bazar. S/He should also consult technical issues with the Programme Specialist- Resilience and Inclusive Growth Cluster based at UNDP Country Office for guidance.

The Project Analyst will provide programmatic and technical support to the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Unit to ensure effective planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of project activities. Working under the direct supervision of the Project Development Specialist–SWM, the incumbent will be responsible for the following key tasks:

Implementation and Technical Support

• Coordinate and follow up on the implementation of project activities in line with the approved Annual Work Plan (AWP) and results framework, ensuring timely delivery and technical quality.
• Provide substantive inputs to design and execution of SWM interventions, ensuring alignment with national policies, UNDP frameworks, and best practices in sustainable waste management.
• Draft and review Terms of Reference (ToRs), budgets, and other technical and procurement documents/evaluations, ensuring consistency with project objectives, environmental safeguards, and quality standards.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Quality Assurance

• Contribute to the development and application of monitoring and evaluation tools, including baselines, indicators, and data collection protocols linked to the project’s logical framework.
• Conduct field visits to monitor project implementation, including civil works and environmental and social safeguard compliance; identify implementation challenges and recommend corrective actions.
• Support the identification and tracking of social, environmental, and operational risks; maintain the risk log and propose mitigation actions where needed.
• Analyze monitoring data and field reports to produce evidence-based insights and support adaptive project management.

Reporting and Documentation

• Contribute to the drafting of high-quality progress reports (monthly, quarterly, annual), donor reports, technical briefs, and other reporting deliverables, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and alignment with UNDP and donor requirements.
• Document and synthesize lessons learned, good practices, and innovations to inform current and future programming.
• Assist in audit preparation by consolidating required documentation and ensuring compliance with donor and institutional reporting standards.
• Maintain comprehensive project documentation and ensure timely submission of required reports for audits, evaluations, and knowledge management.

Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

• Contribute to the preparation of knowledge products, training materials, and communication tools that capture and disseminate project methodologies, results and innovations in the SWM sector.
• Support the organization of learning events, workshops, and knowledge exchange platforms with local government, NGOs, and community stakeholders
• Promote internal and external sharing of technical insights, tools, and practices relevant to waste management, circular economy, and climate-resilient infrastructure.

Support to Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization:

• Assist in stakeholder engagement, including local government, development partners, NGOs, and private sector actors, to promote collaboration and leverage synergies.
• Support the preparation of concept notes, project proposals, and technical inputs for resource mobilization and expansion of solid waste management, environmental conservation and public health interventions in Cox’s Bazar.
• Conduct background research and analysis on emerging SWM challenges and opportunities, including circular economy, climate-resilient infrastructure and environmental management.

Operational and Administrative Support:

• Collaborate with operations teams to support procurement, recruitment, financial tracking, and logistical arrangements for project activities.
• Ensure timely preparation and clearance of project-related contracts, agreements, and procurement documents in line with UNDP policies.

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

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Achieve Results: Level 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: Level 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• Learn Continuously: Level 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: Level 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with Determination: Level 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: Level 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Level 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction and Strategy

• Effective Decision Making. Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one”s authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications.

Business management

• Project Management. Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Business Development

• Integration within the UN. Ability to identify and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system and engage in joint work; knowledge of UN system and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations.

Finance

• Budget management. Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.
• Financial reporting and analysis. Understands changes in regulatory, legal and ethical frameworks and standards for financial reporting in the public sector. Ability to extract, evaluate financial data, derive relevant findings and present them in a meaningful and coherent manner to facilitate effective decision making and performance monitoring. Understands the benefits of integrated reporting, including non-financial resources such as human, social and intellectual capital, and environmental and governance performance.

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.

2030 Agenda: Planet

• Nature, Climate & Energy. Chemicals and Waste Management: Waste to Energy

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master”s degree or equivalent) in Civil or Environmental Engineering, Environmental Management, Urban or Rural Planning, Programme Development, or closely related discipline is required, or
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

Experience:

• Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in humanitarian response and/or development programmes with a proven track record in Environment, WaSH, Climate Change, and Waste Management.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), and web-based management systems, and up-to-date, advanced knowledge of data management tools and database packages.
• Experience related to management, including drafting reports, data evaluation, and sustainability reporting;
• Experience with the United Nations, I/NGO (developmental organization) and/or Government will be an advantage.
• Experience in Project Cycle Management & Result Based Management tools.
• At least 2 years of hands-on experience in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of environment or waste management projects.
• Experience of working with international/donor agency.
• Previous experience in capacity development and knowledge transfer.

Required Language(s):

• Fluency in English and Bangla (national language) is required.
• Knowledge of Chittagonian and/or Rohingya languages is an asset.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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